Auburn's Joe Fahey is stopped on a 3rd period breakaway on a beauty of a stop by Algonquin goalie Andrew Cobb

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Tomahawk goalie Andrew Cobb turns aside another 2nd period chance

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Algonquin's Chris Lewis makes a nice rush up ice during action in the game with Auburn

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

Auburn's Justin Huard had a nice chance late in the game from the face off dot but was turned aside

Photo Credit: Steve Balestrieri

MILLBURY, Mass. - The Auburn boys hockey team skated to a 0-0 tie with the Algonquin Regional High team on Wednesday evening at the Northstar Arena.

Both goaltenders, Andrew Cobb for the Algonquin Tomahawks and Freshman Evan Lockwood for Auburn, were solid throughout and made the saves as needed, but neither faced any sustained pressure during the game.

The game started off in the first period a bit ragged as the teams were feeling each other out, and the passing on both sides was off. But then Auburn started to forecheck and pin the Tomahawks defense deep inside their zone. They were pressuring the defense,  Algonquin couldn't clear their own zone with passes and resorted to mainly chipping the puck out in the neutral zone.

The Rockets had a nice chance at 10:25 when Justin Huard  broke down the left side and, pulling the defense in deep, dished a perfect pass right in front to Conner Brochu, but his shot went wide.

With just 2:40 left in the period, Auburn's Jason Vrusho had another nice chance but was stoned easily by Cobb who smothered his shot. Algonquin actually outshot Auburn in the first period 9-5, but most of their shots were from long range and few were dangerous. Although Auburn enjoyed a lot of time in the attacking zone with their forecheck, they couldn't muster many shots.

With just under two minutes remaining, Dan Sheehy made a nice individual effort down the middle, generating a scoring chance, but Algonquin's other forwards went too deep where they should have left one player up high in the slot, and the result was Lockwood being able to cover up the puck.

The second period had more open skating room as the game opened up with better chances being generated by both teams. But once again, there were few shots on goal. Algonquin enjoyed the better of time in the attacking zone after killing the only penalty of the game, a tripping call on Sheehy.

Auburn couldn't get their forecheck established this time around as the Tomahawks were moving the puck out with their defensemen making much better outlet passes. The Rockets Huard went in all alone at 7:05 but was stopped on a beauty of a stop by Cobb, who turned in another four minutes later on a great bid by Joe Fahey. Shots on goal were six for Auburn and five for Algonquin.

The third perod was more of the same, great individual chances but little sustained pressure. Algonquin, with two minutes remaining, put together their best pressure of the game. Christian Miller cycled the puck deep and fed Brody Gardner all alone back across the front of the net. Lockwood made a great save with his foot to stop him.

Just 11 seconds later, a shot from the point off the stick of Nate Bautz found its way through a screen. But once again, Lockwood turned it aside.

The game ended at 0-0 where both teams can come away with both positives and negatives to work on.