WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Standing outside Wendell A. Barwood Arena after picking up his first career victory, Davey Bradley answered media questions nonchalantly.
The goaltender made 14 saves for the Hartford High boys hockey team in his first varsity appearance, helping the Hurricanes get past St. Johnsbury Academy, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon in the season opener for both teams.
Bradley doesn’t attend Hartford; he’s a freshman at Rivendell Academy. Thanks to the VPA’s member-to-member program, the Vershire native is able to play high school hockey. The nearly seven-week delay in a return to competition in Vermont has allowed for Bradley to get acquainted with his new teammates, such as learning first names.
“In the beginning, I was very, very nervous,” said Bradley, who took over for Colby Boyce, the freshman goalie who transferred to Kimball Union Academy. “I just had butterflies in my stomach; nothing felt right. I get on the ice, and I’m taking the shots (in warmups). Then I got my first shot, and it was a lot easier after that.
“The team has just been awesome. They’re super supportive. I’ve always had that before, but it’s nice to have it on a new team.”
St. Jay’s Nathaniel Adams scored off a faceoff with 3:17 remaining in the second period, squeezing a one-timer past Bradley. The goal gave the Hilltoppers a 3-2 lead at the time.
Later in the period, a shot to the far post of the rookie netminder could’ve made it a 4-2 game, but Bradley made the save to keep a one-goal deficit. Hartford coach Todd Bebeau called it a gamechanger, and it was: The Canes scored two goals in the final 90 seconds of the period to take a 4-3 lead they never lost.
Jacob Dwinell intercepted a Hilltopper forward’s pass and finished off the breakaway to tie the game. Bentley Boonyaharn scored the game-winner on a pass from Aidan Boonyaharn with 17.2 seconds until intermission.
“If there is a silver lining to the seven weeks of preseason, it’s that it allowed him to get acclimated to this environment,” Bebeau, Hartford’s 23rd-year head coach, said of Bradley. “He has improved every single day; he showed what he’s capable of doing. We’re going to be OK.”
Hartford jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a Bentley Boonyaharn one-timer with 9:06 to play in the first frame. St. Jay (0-1-0) forged a tie before intermission, however, when Viktor Pallasvesa found Ethan Howell with 3:28 to the break.
The Canes came out quick again in the second and retook the lead on a Blaine Gour rebound off Connor Tierney’s shot.
Pallasyesa scored unassisted, deking a Hartford defender out before getting past Bradley to make it a 2-2 game.
In the third period, Aidan Boonyaharn sealed the win for Hartford (1-0-0) thanks to a great entry shot from Tierney.
“I thought the kids were buzzing from the beginning,” said Bebeau, whose team outshot the visitors, 28-17. “I think we ran into trouble when we didn’t manage the puck, and that’s going to come with the first game of the year. We haven’t had any scrimmages; we haven’t played anyone. Those are things we can correct.”
The real win on the day was being able to play.
Indoor sports in Vermont were just allowed to begin competition on Friday. Players wore masks under their helmets, no spectators were allowed and officials used electronic whistles.
Still, for the first time in nearly a year, Barwood Arena saw competitive school-based hockey on its ice.
“It went from being incredibly happy just to be practicing and then to the point of, ‘Wait a second, when are we going to get to play?’ It started to show a little bit,” Bebeau said of the wait. “I don’t want to say the kids started to lose hope, but we didn’t know if they were going to give us a green light. It’s kind of hard to coach; do you hold them accountable when they’re not working hard?
“When we got the OK, there was a switch that turned. And the focus, and the work ethic, and the way they practiced — they practiced with conviction — especially the last week.”
Notes: The Canes won the season series with the Hilltoppers last year, 2-0. … Hartford is scheduled to host St. Jay again on March 10. … St. Johnsbury goalie Nathan Hughes had a great game with 23 saves. … Hartford is scheduled to host Missisquoi on Wednesday.
Pete Nakos can be reached at pnakos@vnews.com.