Tobey Leads Falmouth Boys' Hockey Past Duxbury

By Tom Joyce (@TomJoyceSports)

BOURNE, Mass. - When tragedy struck the Falmouth High boys’ hockey team, senior defenseman Cam Tobey knew it was time to step up.

Earlier in the season, the Falmouth High boys’ hockey team tragically lost two of their seniors -- forward Owen Higgins and defenseman Jake Lavin -- who died in a car crash in December. Devastated by the news, Tobey left the Philadelphia Revolution (Eastern Hockey League) and enrolled back at Falmouth High School.

For the No. 6 Clippers (14-8-1) in the first round of the Division 1 South playoffs against the  No. 11 Duxbury Dragons (10-11-2), Tobey was the difference-maker in his team’s 4-3 win at Gallo Ice Arena Friday night.

With the game tied at three apiece late in the third period, the Clippers won a faceoff in Dragon territory. Senior forward Matt Schreiner passed the puck back to Tobey, who slapped in the go-ahead goal from near the blue line.

Tobey scored two goals and had an assist in his team’s win. With 14 goals scored thus far, he is the Clippers’ third highest scorer, despite playing defense and joining the team midseason.

“I wanted to help my boys out after everything happened,” Tobey said. “I just want to go as far with them as we can. We’ll see what happens.”

The last time the two squads faced off, the Clippers took a 6-2 win (February 22) over the Dragons. This time was a lot closer, but their experience against one another proved beneficial.

“It definitely helped with our confidence, but I tip my hat to Duxbury,” Clippers head coach Paul Moore said. “They’re a well-coached team. They play the game the right way. I really think that last time was an off game. We knew we were going to be in a dogfight. We knew this one would come down to the end. And that’s exactly how it went down.”

Neither team scored until the game was more than halfway over.

Gifted a 5-on-3 opportunity midway through the second period thanks to roughing penalties, the Clippers took advantage. Just as the first penalized Dragon hopped out of the penalty box, Tobey smacked the puck into the back of his opponent's net, giving his team a 1-0 lead. Senior forward Jacob Miller had the assist.

Under a minute later, the Clippers got a strong rush and freshman forward Nick Champani netted his team's second goal off a pass from senior forward Patrick Coyne. Tobey also earned an assist on the play.

It would not take the Dragons to respond. About a minute later, the Dragons speed helped them to an odd-man rush in their offensive zone. Senior defenseman Hunter Smith passed to junior defenseman Ethan Donnelly and his goal cut the Clippers lead in half.

Two minutes into the third period, the Dragons tied the game up at two apiece. Senior forward Jack Demio capitalized on a Clippers turnover and netted it himself.

The Clippers took the lead back just 30 seconds later on senior forward Matt Schreiner’s goal assisted by Coyne.

Of course, the Dragons tied the game back up for the second time about 90 seconds later. Junior forward Andrew Violandi scored the game-tying goal and senior forward Ethan Craig had the assist.

Putting up 97 goals in 23 regular season games, the Clippers' high-powered offense managed to top the Dragons and their stellar defense yet again. In 21 games not against the Clippers, the Dragons allowed 1.19 goals per game.

With the win, the Clippers move on to face No. 3 Braintree (12-6-2) in the Division 1 South Quarterfinal at Gallo Ice Arena this Sunday night (7 p.m.).

“I’m so proud of them,” Moore said of his team. “It’s serious adversity they faced so for us to be facing Braintree this Sunday is a feather in their caps. They never quit.”