Fiery Colonials leave Devils in the dust.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: John McGuirk

WESTBORO - Last night's Roy Conference game between Leominster and Shrewsbury pitted two of the hottest teams in Central Mass.

What was expected to be a tug-of-war battle never materialized. The Colonials (7-3-2, 4-1) raced out to a 5-0 lead and beat the Blue Devils, 6-3, at North Star Youth Forum.

Shrewsbury is 6-0-1 in its last seven games. Leominster (8-4, 3-1) had won five straight.

The Colonials were nearly perfect in the first period. They passed well, skated well and checked at both ends of the ice - all of which allowed them several quality shots against Blue Devils goalie Tyler Crawford (25 saves).

Goals by Mike Centerbar, Dave Duva, Cam Cottam and Dave Belbin gave Shrewsbury a 4-0 lead after one period.

"This is my fourth year as head coach here and that was the best I've ever seen one of my teams play in one period," Shrewsbury coach John Binkoski said. "They were very aggressive. Our goaltender (junior Jim DeZutter, 22 saves) played very well for us. He's been playing very solid for us. In the last seven games we haven't lost. At one time we were 1-3-1. So it's pretty good right now."

Derek Dell'Olio's goal gave Shrewsbury a 5-0 lead 3:56 into the second period

"It was an all-around poor effort by us tonight for 45 minutes," Leominster coach Corey Beaulac said. "We got...