WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Two Upper Valley rivals squared off in an early season contest in the final of a holiday tournament on Saturday as Hartford picked up a 3-0 win over Woodstock to claim the Mariotti Cup at the third annual Kay & Bob Mariotti Tournament on Saturday evening at Wendell A. Barwood Arena.
The sustained offensive pressure from the Hurricanes proved to be too much for the Wasps, Hurricane outshot Woodstock 44 to 12. But both coaches came away with praise for the performance of their respective team.
Eighth grader Jaylin Haley and junior Grace Hayes paced the Canes’ offense with a goal and an assist each. Senior Zoe Zanleoni also lit the lamp, while eighth grader Johanna Kissell and freshman Maria Chaput added assists.
“I think today was a good one,” Canes’ Head Coach Jason Gramling said. “We needed to expect to win this game, and yeah, they came out, they showed up.”
Despite the loss, Woodstock Head Coach Ian Coates was pleased that his squad kept competing.
“We were in the game right from the start, and I can say — we’ve only had two other games — and sometimes we fall asleep at the wheel, and I felt like they were aware of what they needed to do in almost every instance,” Coates said. “It wasn’t perfect execution, but we were in the game.”
Wasps’ junior goaltender Pippa Shaw recorded 41 saves on the night.
“Our goalie obviously stood on her head, which we need her to do,” Coates said.
The Canes started mounting pressure early in the first period, and less than five minutes in, found the back of the net on Hayes’ goal, which Haley assisted.
Three minutes later, Haley got her second point of the night on a nifty close-quarters shot that went top shelf to beat Shaw. Hayes assisted for her second point of the game.
Shaw made multiple saves under pressure to keep the score at 2-0 . The Wasps failed to capitalize on a five-on-three opportunity and could not sneak a puck past Hartford’s eighth-grade goaltender, Aubree Gramling, who had 12 saves in the game.
Hartford finally got a shot past Shaw with about 90 seconds to go in the second period to make it 3-0. The tally came off the stick of Zanleoni by way of Kissell and Chaput.
The teams played a scoreless third period.
After the final horn sounded, both squads lined up on their respective blue lines for the announcement of the all-tournament team.
The tournament, which spanned Friday and Saturday and also included Essex and Chittenden, honors Kay and Bob Mariotti, who spent 40 seasons running the clock and keeping the book for Hartford ice hockey. Last season was their final one taking care of those responsibilities.
“The Mariottis have been a part of Hartford hockey for generations,” said Hartford Athletic Director Jeff Moreno. “They love the game of hockey, and they’d do anything and everything for it.”
The Mariottis greeted and gave all-tournament medals to Shaw, Wasps’ sophomore Josephina Palazzo, Haley, Canes’ junior Chase Stockwell, Chaput and Zanleoni, all of whom made the all-tournament team.
The duo also presented the Mariotti award to Hayes. The honor goes to a player who demonstrates a love for hockey.
With the win, the Canes continue their strong start to the season and are 3-0. They host Harwood on Saturday.
The Wasps (0-3) will look to pick up their first win of the season when they return to play on Jan. 3 on the road again against Hartford.