RallyNorth.net

The Newburyport Clippers traveled to Lawler Arena in North Andover Saturday night looking to break a four-year curse. "This place has been a house of horrors for us," said Coach Paul Yameen. "We've been 0-3-2 (here) including our loss to Central Catholic last year."

Derek McCoy became the 21st player in Newburyport High hockey program history to tally 100 points in his career last evening during his team's 5-2 victory over North Reading at Graf Rink.

McCoy's 100th point came on an assist to Gavin LaValley with 2:21 left in the second period, giving the Clippers a 4-2 lead.

Lightning struck thrice last night at the Graf Rink.

Not only did the Newburyport Clippers (8-6-1) avenge an early-season loss to the North Reading Hornets (7-9-1), but senior forward Derek McCoy recorded his 100th career point, and sophomore Kyle McElroy notched a hat trick in the Clipper's 5-2 victory.

Saturday's hockey game between Gloucester and Newburyport saw two teams come in with two contrasting styles of play. The Fishermen came in looking to use their speed and get into the open ice, whereas the Clippers wanted to throw their weight around and play physical.

After being bested by Newburyport in a 1-0 nail-biter earlier this season, Lynnfield co-captain Ryan Smith returned the favor Saturday, scoring twice to send Clippers fans home with a loss, 2-1.

"Ryan's one kid you don't want to see with a stick in the slot, uncovered." Clippers coach Paul Yameen said of Smith after watching him slip the game-winner past Anthony Federico's left skate with 1:59 left on the clock. "Both teams played well enough to win today. We came out on the short end."

In what has become easily the biggest River Rival game over the last five years, Triton and Newburyport played their usual slug-it-out, high-intensity hockey game yesterday afternoon.

After jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead, the Clippers barely hung on for a 5-4 victory.

In what has been an up-and-down, rollercoaster season for the Masconomet Regional hockey team, this ranks as one of the highlights of the winter thus far.

In a physical contest, the Chieftains tied the game late in the second period, then netted the game-winner with five-and-a-half minutes to play to sweep their two-game season series from Newburyport with a 4-3 victory over the Clippers at the Graf Rink in Newburyport.

Newburyport coach Paul Yameen knows better than to underestimate an opponent, and as last night's final buzzer sounded, it was evident that he has taught his team well.

The Clippers (5-3-1) outscored rival Pentucket 8-3 at the Veterans Memorial Rink in Haverhill last night, pouncing on early and never relinquishing their lead. The Clippers are 3-0-1 in their last four.

The grand opening last December of the exquisite and state-of-the-art Whiston-Bragdon Arena on the Governor's Academy campus has opened new doors for two of the local hockey programs: Newburyport and Triton.

The Amesbury hockey team's quest to record its first win will continue as the Indians were treated to an old fashioned spanking from their cross-town rival Newburyport Saturday night.

The Clippers (4-3-1) pasted Amesbury (0-8) by a count of 9-1.