Salem Sasquatch Dominate in Game 1 of PPSHL Playoffs, Defeat Norfolk Mallards 6-2

Salem Sasquatch Dominate in Game 1 of PPSHL Playoffs, Defeat Norfolk Mallards 6-2

Salem, NH - March 1, 2025 – The Salem Sasquatch came out strong in Game 1 of their best-of-three playoff series, securing a commanding 6-2 victory over the Norfolk Mallards at the Salem Icenter. The game featured an explosive offensive performance from the Sasquatch, who outshot the Mallards 47-24 and dominated the final two periods.

The opening period saw both teams trade early goals, setting the tone for what would be a high-energy game. Salem struck first at 12:12 with Andrew Contrada's unassisted goal, giving the Sasquatch a 1-0 lead. However, Norfolk responded quickly with a goal of their own just over a minute later. At 11:05, David Duffy found the back of the net for the Mallards, evening the score at 1-1.

The action picked up in the second period as the Sasquatch regained control. At 3:10, Norfolk briefly took the lead when Jack Halloran scored with an assist from Matt Guertin, putting the Mallards up 2-1. But Salem wasted no time answering back. Just 49 seconds later, Gaetano DeLonge scored his first goal of the night, assisted by Kyle Weeks, tying the game at 2-2. Less than a minute later, DeLonge struck again, this time with assistance from John Hamilton and Kris Cecere, to give Salem a 3-2 lead heading into the final frame.

The third period was all Sasquatch. Gaetano DeLonge completed his hat trick at 9:26, with an unassisted goal that extended Salem's lead to 4-2. Luke Plumley then added to the Mallards' misery, scoring at 5:15 to make it 5-2. Finally, in the dying seconds of the game, Andrew Contrada netted his second of the night at 0:28, assisted by Tucker Twardosky and Nick Newman, to seal the 6-2 victory for Salem.

In goal, Salem’s Keegan McLaughlin was a steady presence, stopping 22 of 24 shots for a solid .917 save percentage. On the other side, Norfolk's Parker Butler faced a barrage of shots, stopping 41 of 47 but finishing with a .872 save percentage. While Butler made some key saves, he was ultimately overwhelmed by the relentless Salem offense.

Three Stars of the Game:

1. Gaetano DeLonge- Salem - 3 Goals

2. Andrew Contrada Salem- 2 goals

3. Keegan McLaughlin- Salem- Win 22 saves on 24 shots

Looking Ahead to Game 2

With a 1-0 lead in the series, the Sasquatch will look to close out the series in Game 2, set for March 8, 2025, at New England Sports Village in Attleboro, MA, at 7:40 PM.The Sasquatch will look to continue their dominant play and secure the series win next week, while Norfolk will be hoping for a bounce-back performance in Game 2.