Colonials gain redemption.

• Author: Setterlund, Carl
• Position: Sports

Byline: Carl Setterlund

WESTBORO -- They already had big matchups against other opponents, but Saturday night at North Star Youth Forum marked the first game of the season between Quinn Conference rivals Shrewsbury High and Wachusett Regional.

The top two teams in the Hometeam boys' hockey media poll lived up to all the anticipation. The top-ranked Colonials (9-1, 4-0) limited the No. 2 Mountaineers (7-2-2, 3-1) to 12 shots on goal in a 2-1 victory.

Shrewsbury peppered Wachusett senior goalie Jake Strasser with 40 shots, getting goals from captain Dave Belbin and Jack Quinlivan.

The Colonials rebounded from their first loss on Wednesday at Groton-Dunstable. They also got some revenge for three losses to Wachusett last season, including an overtime heartbreaker in the Central Mass. Division 3 semifinals.

"Finally,'' exhaled Shrewsbury coach Steve Turnblom.

"This was a huge, huge victory for the seniors and everyone on the team,'' said defenseman Joe Buduo, who kept things clean in front of goalie Matt Andrews.

"They've knocked us out of the playoffs three years in a row,'' said Belbin, a four-year player. "It's a good win, and hopefully we can build off of it.''

The Mountaineers will get their chance at vengeance in two weeks when they play the Colonials again at North Star at 5 p.m. Feb. 3.

"They beat us on the scoreboard, they beat us physically, with shots, intensity, heart -- all the things that it takes to be a good hockey team and that we were lacking,'' Wachusett coach Matt Lane said. "I hope this was a...