Hockey: Agawam overcame a 3-1 deficit and is back in the final for the third time in four years.
WEST SPRINGFIELD - This was a comeback for the ages, a team effort if there ever was one and a character-building victory for a squad that has been knocking on the championship door for several years.
Agawam is back in the Western Massachusetts Division IIIA final for the third time in four seasons following a thrilling, 5-3 semifinal victory over Wahconah Regional of Dalton Monday night at the Olympia. Agawam (14-7-1) will play the winner of the South Hadley/St. Mary semifinal on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Olympia for the championship.
The Brownies needed to dig down deep to pull this one out. They overcome some sloppy first period play, the benching of their starting goalie for one period before they came alive with four third period goals.
Cam Pinkham, who did not start the game for violating team rules, came on following the first period with his team down, 3-1. Pinkham blanked the Warriors over the final 30 minutes of the game and finished with 25 saves.
Pinkham has played five shutout periods of tournament hockey and has shown why he is one of the region's best goaltenders.
Erik Wagner scored two goals, including the game-winner. Alex Abliantis, Seamus Curran and Luke Jodoin also scored.
Nick Montperret scored two goals for Wahconah, who played with only nine skaters. Lane Grogan had the other goal.
Christopher Walles, who shut out St. Mary in his only other start, got the nod in net. He gave up three first period goals, two of which came on rebounds.
"Chris stepped up and played well,'' Agawam coach Rich Feeley said. "We didn't do a good job of defensive zone coverage in front of him.''
But with the Brownies down, 3-1 after one period, Pinkham took over and was outstanding..
"We managed to pick it up and improve our defensive effort,'' Feeley said. "Cam's performance is indicative of the work he put in during practice.''
Agawam used its speed to wear Wahconah down. The biggest play of the game came late in the third period with the game tied at three apiece when defenseman Todd Ruby hustled back to break up a 2 on 1 break.
Wagner scored the deciding goal with 1 minute, 23 seconds remaining. He came around the net and scored on a wraparound..
He wasn't even trying to score.
"I just wanted to pass out to the middle , but the puck hit the goalie and bounced in,'' Wagner said. ".I was shocked it went in.''
Wagner added a power-play goal with six second remaining to give the Brownies a two-goal cushion.
Agawam began the comeback when Jodoin scored 5:19 into the third period following a pass from James Newsome. Curran scored the equalizer with 6:02 left when he powered a Billy Wysocki rebound past Chris Mazeau.
"We talked about how this is a three period game and we were pretty confident,'' Feeley said. "
Montperret opened the the scoring 2:13 into the game. Walles stopped a shot by Patrick Jamross, but Monperret converted the rebound to provide the Warriors with a 1-0 lead.
Agawam answered 13 seconds later. Abliantis scored the equalizer.
Wahconah turned the puck over in its own end. Abliantis collected the giveaway and scored to tie things at one apiece.
The Warriors were able to convert another rebound for their second goal. Montperret scored his second goal with 2:40 remaining in the period.
Walles made a pad save off Ryan Ouimet. But the puck was left out front in the high slot and Montperret was able to bang it home.
Grogan scored with only 6.8 seconds remaining in the period. Grogan swooped in after taking a pass from Ouimet and scored to give Wahconah a 3-1 lead.