The East Boston boys hockey team got the chance of a lifetime on Monday to play at America’s oldest ballpark.
The Jets faced off against Latin Academy in the first game of the first day of high school hockey play at Fenway Park as part of this year’s Frozen Fenway event.
Despite Eastie’s Sean O’Halloran making 50 saves during the game the Jets fell to the Dragons 4-3 and are now 1-7 on the season. But the loss was cushioned by the opportunity to play on the ice at Fenway said head coach Bob Anthony.
“This is something these kids are going to remember for a lifetime,” said Anthony. “I even got butterflies walking out from the locker room onto the field and then the ice, it was a great opportunity and honor for the high school and these athletes.”
The players were even paid a visit by Red Sox President Larry Lucchino.
“He came by to talk to the coaches and some of the players and we thanked him for the opportunity he gave these kids Monday,” said Anthony.
As for the action on the ice, Anthony said he was proud of how his struggling team played.
“We were right in the game the whole time,” he said. “We got a couple of breaks and missed one opportunity in the final minutes of the third period to tie it but Latin Academy’s goalie got a piece of the puck.”
That shot was by Danny Auch and would have been his second goal in the game.
The Jets were down 2-0 in the first period but a goal by Patrick Sullivan made it 2-1.
Then with 57 seconds left in the second period Auch slipped one past the goalie to tie the game.
The Dragons regained the lead in the third with a goal by Latin Academy’s Kevin Moran. Moran would finish the game with a hat trick and was an unstoppable force on offense. Latin Academy built on their lead with another goal giving them a two-point lead over Eastie.
However, Zach Leavitt blasted one into the net off a face-off making the score 4-3.
With minutes left in the game, Auch surprised Latin Academy’s goalie with a slap shot that nearly tied the game.
“He wasn’t expecting the shot and was able to just get a piece of it,” said Anthony. “If it was a second earlier we would have tied the game on that shot.”