This year marked the 18th Annual Bryan McGonagle Memorial Tournament and it was held on March 2nd , 3rd and 4th at the MDC rink in Charlestown. This tournament is held in honor of a young Charlestown hockey player whose life came to a tragic end 18 years ago. His family has been such a great supporter of Charlestown Youth Hockey and is very proud to have this tournament in his honor. A special thank you to all of the volunteers, coaches, parents and family members whom attended and gave their time to this very important event. The Board of Charlestown Youth Hockey extends it gratitude to the McGonagle, Kelly and Castro families for their generosity, time and their support of our program year after year! Thank you to all of the McGonagle, Kelly and Castro family members whom visited throughout the tournament and a special thanks goes out to Joe Gun, Barney McGonagle and Joanne Castro for their help all weekend long and for their part in awarding the winning teams their medals and trophies.
There were many raffles, great prizes and a delicious bake sale. A special thanks goes out to the following individuals for their donations to the tournament: Joe McGonagle, the Castro family, the Kelly family, Charlestown U14 and U12 girls, Toni Anne’s, Griffin Catering, Lisa Fama, Chris Tuite, Brenda Suppa, Reebok, J’s Skate Shack, Ironside Grille, Joe Slesar and Boston Beer Works, and Zume’s Coffee House. Also a big thank you to Edie and Nicole for their delicious food and their tireless efforts in the Snack Shak and DJ Kevin Cain for his CD donations, MC services and great tunes during the championship rounds.
The game summaries are as follows:
U12 Girls Division Charlestown Red
The teams participating in the tournament were Beaver Dam (NY), Winchester, Charlestown White and Charlestown Red. Charlestown Red started on their winning ways with a convincing 6-1 victory over their visitors from Winchester with Charisse Flanagan and Leslie Schwartz both scoring 2 goals each. Next up for Charlestown Red was Beaver Dam (NY) which was handed a 5-0 loss with Flanagan netting 2 more goals and Kaley Kyle with 2 assists leading the way. Charlestown Red then faced Charlestown White with bragging rights on the line in the preliminary round. White started out strong but Red goalie Madison Jalbert was equal to the task and then some. Meaghan Sheehan opened the scoring for White with the opening goal in the first period. Charisse Flanagan scored to tie it up and Katherine Porter got the go ahead goal for Red. Flanagan and Brigh Cote also lit the lamp with Cote scoring a picture perfect shot into the upper corner, giving Red a 4-1 lead heading into the third period. Nonetheless, Red went on to defeat White 4-2 to claim supremacy on the strength of good goal tending and excellent teamwork by Charlestown Red.
Charlestown White
The Charlestown White team’s first game was against Winchester which White defeated 3-0 behind 2 goals from Miceala Sindoris and a goal from Maeve Leahy. Next up was Beaver Dam (NY) which played hard and aggressive but could not slow down White with Ciara Wall scoring twice and Maeve Leahy and Cassidy Aiello both adding a goal and an assist in the victory. After the preliminary round the 2 top teams advanced to the Championship game. The two teams were both homegrown teams, Charlestown Red and Charlestown White. Both teams were evenly matched which resulted in a high-paced, up and down action. Both goalies Madison Jalbert and Kasey Libby were making great saves at both ends of the rink. The fast skating and excellent teamwork continued into the middle of the second period before White got on the board with Miceala Sindoris lighting the lamp. Red had numerous chances but could not break the shut out. Flanagan hit the post and crossbar on successive rushes in the third period on pinpoint passing and teamwork. Charlestown White took the championship but not without a gallant effort by Charlestown Red. Alas, it was a win – win for both teams of the Lady Townies and a credit to CYHA and the McGonagle Tournament.
U14 Lady Townies
The teams participating in the U14 division were Charlestown, Westwood, Winchester and Beaver Dam (NY). The home team’s first game was against Westwood which the Townies have faced 3 times in league play this year. The first period was scoreless with Emma Hamilton looking like Tim Thomas circa 2010-2011 between the pipes. She could not hold back a relentless Westwood attack that lit the lamp 3 times in the second period on their way to a 4-0 victory. The Lady Townies faced Winchester next on Saturday afternoon. Winchester got on the board first but Charlestown, playing with renewed vigor, started to take control and after one period Charlestown led 2-1. Winchester scored to even the score but Rose Sullivan scored the go ahead goal and from there it was clear sailing as Rachel Tassinari and Sullivan both scored to the Lady Townies a 5-2 win over the eventual champions Winchester. The third game saw Charlestown and Beaver Dam (NY) lock up in winner gets to the championship game. Charlestown started out slowly with their third game in 2 days. Beaver Dam was 1-0 after one period. The second period saw Charlestown with chances but they still couldn’t dent the Beaver Dam net, a couple of post hits later, the second period ended 2-0 Beaver Dam. The third period saw the Lady Townies storming the Beaver Dam end, playing aggressively and confidently which resulted in Rose Sullivan getting Charlestown on the board, The Beaver Dam goalie was peppered with shots the whole third period, making numerous awe-inspiring saves to thwart Charlestown’s chances. The Lady Townies dominated the third period showing their resilience on home ice. The Charlestown U14 Lady Townies can hold their heads high after giving everything they had in a 5-2 defeat to Beaver Dam.
Boy’s Squirt B Division
The Charlestown Squirt B team struggled against some tough competition and did not manage to squeak out a win with Stoneham and Wilmington making it to the final round.
1 comment for “18th Annual Bryan Mcgonagle Memorial Hockey Tournament”