Portsmouth’s hockey team celebrated its Seniors and then celebrated the team’s victory over the Providence Country Day / Wheeler Co-op Knights.  The contest, played at the Abbey, was the last regular season home game for the Patriots.  The rink was decorated as part of the festivity and before the game began, the team introduced the nine Seniors who are in their last season with the Patriots.  Student Managers Rachel Smart, and Rachel Borg, and players Don Larson, Ryan O’Connor, Dewey Rosa, Henry Lang, Matt Abraham, Aaron Towers, and Eric Eaken were each individually honored.  Each team member’s parents were also recognized.  As the managers and players were announced they met their parents on the ice and presented their mothers each with a rose before being photographed together.  When the presentation of the players was complete, everyone in attendance was treated to a live rendition of the National Anthem.  At the game as a special guest of the Patriots Hockey Team, Portsmouth Senior, Sarah DelSanto, sang the Star Spangled Banner in an exceptionally fine performance. 

With the completion of the celebration, Portsmouth’s hockey team got down to the hard work of stopping the Knights and their big offensive threat, league leading scorer, Eric Vargas.  In a tough and physical game that saw 15 penalties called before it ended, the Patriots found themselves on the penalty kill less than two minutes into the first period.  A minute and a half into Portsmouth’s penalty, two of the team’s co-captains seized an opportunity.  Mike Maggiacomo picked up a loose puck and hit Matt Abraham with a pass that gave him a jump on the Knights defensemen.  Abraham raced down the ice on the breakaway and fired the puck past the goalie to pit the Patriots on the scoreboard first.  It was Abraham’s second shorthanded goal of the season.  The team successfully killed the remainder of the penalty and both sides continued to play hard.  At the 10 minute mark of the period, the Patriots again found themselves in penalty trouble.  This time the ever dangerous Vargas demonstrated some of his scoring skill on the ice.  After the faceoff in the Portsmouth zone and only three seconds into the Knights power play he shot the puck past Portsmouth net minder Matt Maggiacomo to tie the score at one goal each.  The Knights found themselves a man short on the ice late in the period when they picked up two nearly consecutive penalties.  On the power play Henry Lang took a shot that was deflected by the Knights defense to the ready  stick of Chris Oliveira who beat the PCD goaltender to put the Patriots in the lead once again.  At the first intermission, Portsmouth led PCD / Wheeler by a score of 2-1.

The Patriots once again found themselves with a player in the penalty box less than two minutes into the second period.  With the Knights on the power play, Vargas struck again tying the game at two goals apiece.  Midway through the period PCD grabbed the lead in the contest with another power play goal, their third of the game.  Late in the period, Portsmouth, again on the power play, controlled the puck in the Knights zone but were unable to get the puck past the PCD penalty killers.  Five seconds after the penalty to PCD ended, and before the Knights could regroup to play at even strength, Matt Harrigan put the puck past the goalie for an unassisted tally that brought the Patriots back to even in the game.  At the second intermission the score stood at 3-3

Only two penalties were called in the third period, one for each team, and neither side was able to capitalize on their power play.  As the Portsmouth penalty wound down, Mike Maggiacomo, again on the penalty kill, threaded a pass to Kyle Alvanas who beat the Knights goalie to break the tie and put the Patriots in the lead once again.  It was Portsmouth’s second shorthanded goal of the game and the first for Alvanas this season.  Late in the period and down a goal, the Knights began to play a riskier style in an attempt to tie the game.  Portsmouth turned up the pressure and with 2:20 left in regulation, Abraham scored his second goal of the game, assisted by Harrigan and Cam Hebert.  In the next 40 seconds Aaron Towers put the game away by striking twice.  His first goal was assisted by Defensemen Eric Eaken and Dewey Rosa, and the second by Oliveira. When the buzzer sounded to end the game it was Portsmouth 7, PCD / Wheeler 3.  Patriots goal tender Matt Maggiacomo faced 29 shots and made 26 saves on his way to recording his 11^th regular season win.

The win was an important one as the Patriots continue their quest to improve their seeding position in the D-II State Championship Tournament which begins next Friday, March 4^th.  The victory also moved Portsmouth into sole possession of first place in D-II South and assured the team will finish atop its conference.  While Portsmouth was battling PCD /Wheeler, South Kingstown defeated Middletown 6-2 at the URI Boss Arena.  The Rebels’ win guarantees them a spot in the playoffs.  The final playoff spot will be earned by the winner of the PCD / Wheeler – Rogers game tonight.  The exact seeding order in the tournament will not be determined until all the regular season games have been completed tonight.

The Patriots play their final regular season game this evening at the Adelard Arena, at Mount Saint Charles, in Woonsocket.  They will be hosted by the Cumberland Clippers, the first place team in the North Conference.  Faceoff is scheduled for 9:00 pm.  This is an important game for both teams, as the winner will likely become the second seed in the playoff brackets while the loser becomes the third seed.  The contest promises to be exciting high school hockey.  Make the trip and root for the Patriots.