#21 | Marshall Blackman

Walpole, MA  - The Walpole Express MJHL team wrapped up its third weekend in a row of three games in three days. And all three games were contested away from the friendly confines of Rodman Arena as the Express faced off against the Boston Junior Rangers on Friday and the New England Wolves on Saturday and Sunday.

Defense was the name of the game with the MJHL team allowing only 1.50 goals in each of their three games. The result: two victories, a share of the lead in the Mullen Division, and a share of the lead in the MJHL.

Game Overviews
Friday’s game versus the Boston Junior Rangers started with the Express putting two quick goals (from Brady Cunningham and Austin Mininger) in for a 2-0 lead in the first period. The second period was all about the defense with the Express killing multiple power play chances for the Rangers. In the third the Express defense outlasted the Rangers’ forwards. It was little sloppy but the Express held on for a 2-1 win. 

Saturday’s game pitted the Express against one of the few teams to beat them this season: the New England Wolves. The Express looked for a little revenge but the offense struggled against Wolves’ goalie Skop. While the Express dominated the game, throwing 40 shots on net, the team never recovered from early setbacks: two untimely penalties early in the first that put the Express in a 2-0 hole. Goalie Chris Leclaire stopped 20 of 22 shots.
Sunday’s game started the same way the game on Saturday ended: with the Express going down 2-0 in the first five minutes of the first. However, this time the Walpole men solved the Wolves goalie and put 45 shots on net. Six goals were scored by Chris Nunninnk, Kirk Underwood, Ryan Gilboy, Brady Cunningham, Per Neuburger and Marshall Blackman.

It wasn’t the most orthodox of games – and going down early 2-0 was never in the plan – but the Express are getting used to being in this position. This was the third game in the last three weeks the Express bounced back from a 2-0 deficit to win the game. Chris Leclaire stepped into net partway through the first period stopping all 19 shots he faced.

The Express are in action this weekend at home for the Winter MJHL Showcase. They face off on Friday against the Philadelphia Little Flyers, and Saturday against the Philadelphia Revolution and later, the Philadelphia Junior Flyers. The Express are now 19-7-1 on the season and look to eclipse the 20-win mark this weekend.

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