Sasquatch Edge Papermen in Thrilling Shootout Victory

Sasquatch Edge Papermen in Thrilling Shootout Victory

December 7, 2024

Springfield, Ma at Olympia Ice Arena

Salem Sasquatch at Holyoke Papermen

In a game that lived up to all the hype, the Salem Sasquatch defeated the Holyoke Papermen 6-5 in a thrilling shootout finish at the Olympia Ice Arena on Saturday night. The contest, a showdown between the two top teams in the PPSHL, was a back-and-forth affair that saw Salem eventually prevail after a dramatic third period and overtime.

Salem came out strong in the opening two periods, taking control early. The Sasquatch’s Kyle Weeks opened the scoring just 49 seconds into the first period, finishing off a beautiful pass from Luke Plumley and Gaetano DeLonge. Just four minutes later, Andrew Contrada doubled the lead for Salem, converting a feed from Kellen Gelinas. The Papermen tried to settle things down but were unable to respond, and the first period ended with Salem in command.

The Papermen began to show some life early in the second period when Cam Cacolice put Holyoke on the board with a quick strike, assisted by Brendan Riley. However, the Sasquatch regained their two-goal cushion before the end of the period. Gaetano DeLonge potted his first of the night off a pass from Contrada and Plumley, and the teams headed into the second intermission with Salem leading 3-1.

The third period was a wild one, with six goals scored in the frame. Max Breon got things started for Holyoke, capitalizing on a pass from Riley to cut the deficit to 3-2. Contrada answered back with a shorthanded goal to make it 4-2 for Salem, but Holyoke wasn’t finished. The Papermen scored three unanswered goals in the span of five minutes to take a 5-4 lead.

Breon struck again, this time on the power play, with assists from Cacolice and Danny Loughlin. Loughlin then tied the game just two minutes later, with Cacolice again providing the helper. Finally, with just over two minutes left in regulation, Mark Laviolette gave Holyoke their first lead of the game with an unassisted goal.

But the Sasquatch weren't done yet. With time running out, DeLonge scored his second goal of the game with just 22 seconds left on the clock to send the game into overtime off of pass from Cody Woodward and Contrada. The teams couldn’t decide a winner in the extra frame, and the game proceeded to a shootout.

In the shootout, Salem’s Tucker Twardosky and DeLonge both found the back of the net, while Papermen goalie Griffin Spear was unable to stop either shot. Sasquatch goalie Keegan McLaughlin, who had already made 31 saves in regulation, stopped both of Holyoke’s attempts, securing the victory for Salem.

McLaughlin finished with 31 saves on 36 shots and was perfect in the shootout, while Griffin Spear, despite making 32 saves on 37 shots, took his first loss of the season for Holyoke.

Three Stars of the Game

1. Andrew Contrada (Salem) – 2 goals, 2 assists

2. Camden Cacolice (Holyoke) – 1 goal, 2 assists

3. Gaetano DeLonge (Salem) – 2 goals, 1 assist

Looking Ahead

Both teams will be back in action next Saturday. The Salem Sasquatch will host the Boston Gold Kings at 8:35 PM, seeking to avenge their only regulation loss of the season. Meanwhile, the Holyoke Papermen will travel to Norfolk to take on the Mallards at 6:00 PM at their new home, New England Sports Village in Attleboro.