Beaulieau nets 4, Pioneers blank SabreTitans, 6-0

NASHUA, NH — Junior Max Beaulieu scored a season-high four goals to lead Trinity High to a 6-0 win over Nashua North – Souhegan, Wednesday night at Conway Arena.

Beaulieu scored three of his four goals in the second period, with a fifth goal disallowed due to a high stick. He now has seven goals through three regular season games.

“It goes to my teammates, for sure. My guys were definitely giving me some good chances and I just happened to capitalize on them,” said Beaulieu.

A 6-5, 200-pound wing, Beaulieu has had an immediate impact in his first season with Trinity, after playing last season for the Mountain Kings, a 16-under, AAA Juniors team last season.

“He’s got the size and strength. He’s got a good shot,” said Trinity Head Coach Mike Connell. “(Conor) Hurley at center on that line is doing a nice job and Centerino at the left wing is starting to play well. I think that line is going to produce. Now, it’s just a matter of getting everyone else to join the party.”

Trinity (2-1-0) is almost completely healthy, after playing the first month of the season shorthanded due to injuries. With his roster nearly intact, Connell feels his squad will finally get the chance to show what it’s capable of in the coming weeks.

Beaulieu got Trinity on the board at 8:50 of the first period, off a feed from Centerino. Late in the period, it was Centerino finding the back of the net to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead.

Nashua North-Souhegan (0-4-0) played well, at times, but failed to take advantage of its scoring chances.

The SabreTitans best chances came during a three-minute stretch of the second period, when they were on the power play (including  52 seconds of 5-on-3) thanks to consecutive penalties on Trinity’s Max Saluto and Brady Sirois.

The best scoring bids came off the sticks of Jevon Anson and Christian Miller. But Trinity goalie Joe Ranzello (21 saves) came up with huge stops to keep the Sabre-Titans off the board.

In the meantime, Beaulieu was taking over the game, with goals 22 seconds apart off feeds from Centerino  to finish off the hat trick and push the lead to 4-0.

Later, he added an unassisted goal, before Anthony Ronzello scored right off a face off win by Pat Maher, making it 6-0.

Nashua North-Souhegan played some of its best hockey in the third period, putting consistent pressure on Joe Renzollo and tightening its defense.

SabreTitans’ defenseman Jake Dodge near spoiled the shutout with a blast from the point midway through the period. Ronzello made the initial stop but couldn’t hold the puck cleanly. The puck squirted loose and trickled toward the goal line before Ronzello jumped back into it to preserve the shutout.

Nashua North-Souhegan will be back on the ice Monday, on the road at Bedford (6 p.m.). Trinity will also be on the road, Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Exeter.