BURLINGTON – There were not too many blemishes on the Squirt South Middlesex Coyotes record in 2015 as they worked their way towards back-to-back regular season titles. The 2016 regular season is shaping up just the same, as the Coyotes ran their record to a perfect 4-0-0 on Sunday at the Burlington Ice Palace following a 10-1 defeat of the North Shore Stingrays.
The game opened with back-and-forth action as the Stingrays came out strong, but the Coyotes popped a couple quick goals and settled into a groove. Goals for Laz Giardina and Nate Parreira coming just 18-seconds apart at 3:43 and 4:01, respectively, for the early 2-0 advantage.
North Shore did what they could to contain South Middlesex and their speed, but a few spurts of offense put distance between them and their foe. Three more times in the first the Coyotes added to their goal total, leaving them with a 5-0 lead at the first break.
The quick strikes continued in the second, Luke Pazzia putting away his second of the game just 11-seconds into the frame, followed by another pair coming 18-seconds apart as the Coyotes opened their advantage to eight. The second set coming from Darby Ciavardone and Manny Carvalho at 6:59 and 7:17, respectively.
Though the damage was done, the Stingrays got on the board before the middle period expired. George MacKinnon took the puck away from the Coyotes defense and his own blue line for a lengthy breakaway opportunity. The North Shore forward deked, pulled to his backhand as the goaltender sprawled and netted the score at 10:52.
Unfortunately for the Stingrays, they were unable to crawl any closer on the scoreboard in the third, while the Coyotes tacked on one last pair to finalize their 10-1 victory. In total, five Coyotes were credited with multiple points in the contest, Aidan Hurley leading the charge with a goal and two assists. Giardina, Parreira and Pazzia were each credited with two goals, while Carvalho went home with a goal and an assist.