Tewksbury Memorial High Boys Hockey Plays Outdoors At Fenway Park

BOSTON, MA — Ten months after capturing the Division 2 state title at TD Garden, the Tewksbury Memorial High School boys hockey team was back in Boston Wednesday, and this time they were playing outdoors at Fenway Park.

With the temporary rink free between Monday's NHL Winter Classic and this weekend's Frozen Fenway women's and men's college hockey doubleheaders, a handful of high school teams took the ice during the week.

Though considered an exhibition game, Wednesday's matchup between TMHS and Northern Highlands High from Allendale, New Jersey, featured a battle of two undefeated — b0th 5-0 — defending state champions. The Highlanders were the Public B State Tournament champions in New Jersey last spring.

The Highlanders earned a 3-2 victory, but the experience almost certainly will be one the players on both teams remember for a lifetime.

"To be able to play at a venue like Fenway is such an honor and something the kids, coaches and town will cherish forever," TMHS head coach Derek Doherty told Patch. "Our kids represented the town of Tewksbury with class and sportsmanship along with being competitive."

In addition to playing at the historic venue, the TMHS team got a police escort to the game from the Tewksbury Police Department, and the players got to meet Bruins legends like Ray Bourque, Zdeno Chara and Bob Sweeney.

TMHS junior Matthew Cooke scored both goals for the Redmen. The first —assisted by juniors Jeremey Insogna and Tyler Barnes — opened the scoring in the first period.

The Highlanders led 2-0 after the first period thanks to goals from Jake Baratta and Matt Gershengorn.

After a scoreless second period, Northern Highlands' Will Brown extended his team's lead in the third.

Cooke's second goal, assisted by Barnes and Cooper Robillard, brought the Redmen to within 3-2 with just under 8 minutes remaining. But TMHS could not find the tying goal.

Despite the loss, Doherty said Wednesday was a special day for everyone involved with TMHS hockey.

"Every kid got an opportunity to play on the ice at Fenway Park, which was a great experience for all," Doherty said. "I am very happy for the kids, coaches, trainer, and administrators."