Auburn's Jason Vrushr knots the game winner with 5:30 left in the game after a furious crease scramble
Photo credit: Steve Balestrieri

MILLBURY, Mass. - The Auburn-Millbury Boys Hockey Team won a close, hard-fought game over Shrewsbury 3-1 on Wednesday night in Auburn. Jason Vrushr scored the winning goal with just 5:30 left after a furious crease scramble to net the game winner.

Auburn had a shot that was blocked by Shrewsbury goaltender Chris Shelby. That touched off a wild chain of events that saw the puck stay active while many Shrewsbury defenders try to clear it before the Rockets Vrushr finally backhanded it home. It was initially credited to Tucker Falk before the official scorer changed it shortly after. Tyler Maher sunk a long empty net goal from his own blue line with 1:13 left to finish off the scoring after Shrewsbury had pulled Shelby.

The game started out with Shrewsbury carrying the early play. They got sustained possession in the attacking zone but not many solid scoring chances, and those that did were turned aside easily by the Rockets Evan Lockwood.

The game seemed to turn about halfway through the period, at the 8:58 mark, Auburn had cycled the puck in low and when it came out to the left point, defenseman Tucker Falk wristed a low shot to the far side that found its way through a screen and eluded Shelby for a 1-0 Auburn lead.

Shrewsbury had a couple of nice scoring chances off the sticks of Dave Duva and Matt Bodley but Lockwood was equal to the task. The first period would end with Auburn holding the 1-0 lead.

Auburn began to assert itself early in the second period. Just seconds in, Falk fed Connor Brochu in close, but Shelby stopped it cold. Auburn had to kill off two second period penalties, but carried the play for the majority of the period with much more time in the attacking zone.

Shrewsbury began the third period shorthanded but picked up their skating tempo and began to get better scoring chances. They finally solved Lockwood at 10:13. After Lockwood made an initial stop on Cole Ambach, Lockwood couldn't cover up the rebound and Jack Quinlivan scooped it up on the doorstep, pulled it back and stuffed it into the net to knot the score at one.

That set the scene for Vrushr's eventual game winner with five minutes left. Shrewsbury had pulled Shelby for an extra attacker with 1:24 left and a face-off in the Auburn zone, but were unable to control the puck. It was scooped up by Maher at his blue line and he sent it down the ice to finish the scoring at 3-1.

Lockwood was once again outstanding in net for Auburn, turning aside 22 shots. Shelby was also solid, but his defense couldn't clear that one chance that proved to be the game winner.

Auburn-Millbury (7-3-2) will go back into action on Saturday night in Auburn against St. Peter Marian, Shrewsbury also plays Saturday against Fitchburg.