Gavin Powderly's hat trick leads Falmouth boys hockey to win over out of state opponent

This played out on a small scale in the Falmouth boys hockey 4-2 win over Warwick, Rhode Island's Pilgrim High School. The out of state visitors jumped out to an early 1-0 lead just over five minutes into the first period after some sustained pressure, and Clippers head coach Paul Moore said slow starts have been an achilles heel all year long.

The Falmouth (8-7) boys hockey team knows what the best version of itself looks like.

When firing on all cylinders, the team can compete with the best teams in their division and in the state. At their best, the Clippers can overwhelm opposition, as evidenced by the 4-1 win over Sandwich back on Jan. 17.

The problem this year's Clippers team has faced, is that they haven't always been at their best. The word of the day, or really of the season, for Falmouth is consistency.

"That's been the pattern all year," Moore said. "We've had these problems with coming out of the gate with some urgency, and some energy. It's something we've been talking about all year."

Fortunately for the Clippers, their often able to turn the slow starts around, and Wednesday night's win was no different.

Freshman Gavin Powderly got the first of his three goals to level the game at one. His goal came just 22 seconds into the second period, and the slow start had been nullified.

Less than a minute later, Travis Smith's shot got through a few bodies, and crept in to give the Clippers a 2-1 lead. Moore said the message in between periods was one that his team has heard all year.

"The message, it's been the same. The compete level has to be high, we have to finish checks, and (we) can't take a shift off," Moore said.

Even with the fast start to the second period, inconsistencies crept in. An equalizing goal for the Patriots followed, and Moore said his team needed a reminder of what was required.

Another response followed. The Clippers closed strong, as they scored twice in the third period to pull ahead, and away late. Though it didn't cost them in the end, the players know they couldn't afford to have off moments on the ice.

"(We need to) just play all 45 minutes," Powderly said. "We can't take a shift off, (because) that just leads to errors."

Both goals came off the stick of Powderly to complete his hat trick. The freshman took his goal tally from five to eight this season, and has emerged as a steady contributor. After the game, he said his production is a byproduct of the team's play.

"We got pucks in deep, (and) we had a really good forecheck, and I was just in the right place at the right time," Powderly said.

Being in the right place at the right time requires the in-game IQ to understand all that's going on around him. His emergence has been a welcome surprise for the Clippers this season. After the game, Moore said Powderly already looks at home at the varsity level.

"I think as a freshman, expectations are low," Moore said. "His compete level is off the charts, so he's creating all those opportunities on his own."

In addition to Powderly's eight goals, he also has nine assists. His 17 points are second on the team behind only Chase Briggs, and Moore said his skillset far exceeds his youth.

"He's a crafty player," Moore said. "He's got the head, he's got the hands, he's got the feet. He's got the three most critical things you've got for this game. He's a special player, and he's a great kid too."

The win takes the Clippers over .500, and with the playoffs looming, they'll be looking to continue to build momentum. The latest MIAA Division 2 Power Rankings have the Clippers as the No. 18 seed, and the Clippers season is heading in the right direction.

The win is the Clippers third in four games, and sixth in their last eight. As the season winds down, Moore said despite a slow start and some inconsistencies, he believes in this team.

"When we compete, when we come to play, and play 45 minutes, good things happen," Moore said.

Next up for the Clippers is a matchup with Barnstable Saturday night. The game represents a chance for the Clippers to be two games above .500 for the first time this season. After a 1-5 start to the season, Falmouth is in the thick of the Division 2 playoff mix, and if they can can find consistency, can show the best versions of themselves into the postseason.

André Simms covers high school sports for the Times. Contact him at asimms@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @that1guyandre.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Falmouth beat Pilgrim (RI) at home to get over .500 on the season