REVERE – The New England Future Stars welcomed in its ninth season of play this past Sunday, and with it welcomed its newest franchise as the Blackstone Valley Barons played their inaugural games. The Squirt, Peewee, Bantam and Varsity teams opened at home against the Southeastern Grizzlies, while the franchise’s two girls division teams traveled to the Cronin Skating in Revere.

That start, however, was a rough go for the Girls U14 Barons (0-1-0) as they fell to the North Shore Stingrays (1-0-0), 9-0.

It was a tough draw to start for the U14 Barons, going on the road to face the 2015 Girls U14 runner-up on Opening Weekend, and a tough go from the opening draw, Ava Alioto giving the home side a 1-0 lead just over two minutes into the contest. It was a lead that grew thrice more in the first on goals by Kelsey Sullivan, Meghan Banks and Sophia Kennedy, giving North Shore a 4-0 lead heading into the break.

A power play late in the first brought some life to the Barons offense, which carried into the second as Blackstone Valley held even with their foe for much of the middle frame. An offense spike came late for the Stingrays, however, North Shore putting away three more in the period’s final 90-seconds to all but seal their season opening victory.

Up seven with 15 to play, the Stingrays locked down on the defensive end in the third, netminder Mary Honan closing the door on her first shutout of the season, with Molly Doran and Anna McCluskey each scoring to round out the 9-0 victory. It was McCluskey’s second of the contest, completing a three-point outing (2G, 1A) to finish tied atop the game’s scorers list with Kennedy, who posted three goals on the afternoon.