NORTON SCORES TO STANCH SANDWICH SHUTOUT
The Whalers club hockey team averted a shutout against Sandwich last Friday night when team captain Gaven Norton scored at the 4:24 mark of the third period on an assist from Gary Caruso.

Gaven Norton (right) pursues the puck during Friday night's game. MICHAEL GALVIN/The Independent

Sandwich won the game, 8-1.

A large crowd came to watch the Whalers' first home contest of the season. In its third year as a club sport, the young team continues to improve as it takes on schools with more firmly established programs.

This proved to be the case against Sandwich, as many Nantucket scoring chances were denied and the puck was kept consistently in the Whaler end of the ice.

Goaltender Joe Bopp was stellar in net as he turned back a steady barrage of shots. After Sandwich scored four times in the first period, Bopp, under a relentless attack, held the visitors to two goals in the second period.

Nantucket tested the Sandwich goalie as well, with Norton getting off several stinging shots on net, as did assistant captains Taylor Thayer and Stephen Reis and forward Quinn McCusker.

The Whalers face another test this Friday, when they face off against Dennis-

Yarmouth at Nantucket Ice at 5 p.m. I

- Steve Sheppard