'Cats skate past rivals; Johnson keys Gardner rally.

Byline: Jay Gearan

FITCHBURG - No traditional Mohawk haircuts for the Gardner High hockey team this playoff season. They've decided on completely shaved heads.

So far, it's a winning look.

The top-seeded Wildcats, bald and bold, are moving on in the Central Mass. Division 3 Tournament after last night's 4-1 quarterfinal victory over No. 8 Oakmont.

Junior Andrew Johnson netted two goals to lead the Wildcats, who fired 44 shots on Oakmont's talented sophomore goalie Aaron Testa.

Gardner (16-1-4) will meet No. 5 Wachusett in the semifinals at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the New England Sports Center.

Oakmont, closing out a solid season at 16-3-3, gave the favored Wildcats, their neighboring rival school, a real battle on ice, trailing, 1-0, after the first period and staying close for most of the second period.

"Nothing comes easy," Gardner coach Jean-Guy Gagnon said. "I have to give a lot of credit to Oakmont. They really impressed me. They played real hard. Testa is an excellent goaltender and he proved it tonight."

The first period was scoreless for over 12 minutes, with solid action up and down the ice. The Wildcats skated aggressively, challenging Testa with several shots.

The Spartans too, tested Gardner senior goalie Mike Colcord, who responded with 22 overall saves, and another postseason victory.

With 2:30 left in the first period, the Wildcats finally lit the red goal lamp when junior Pat Rodgers, off assists from seniors Eric O'Reilly and Lucas Paine, swept a shot between the pads of Testa.

"I got the rebound and luckily it went 5-hole," said a joyful Rodgers, who scored his first career varsity goal on his 17th birthday. Interestingly, Rodgers wears No. 17 for the Wildcats.

Gardner made it 2-0 early in the second period when junior Damian Blodgett wristed home a shot from the right circle. Jordan Davis and Paine assisted.

Oakmont cut the lead to 2-1 when Nick Carter, parked in the low slot, tipped in a slapshot from Brendon Gallagher past Colcord. C.J. Shell also assisted.

Spartan skaters Liam Rafferty and Shane Harrington then helped kill off a penalty. It looked as if Gardner would take a one-goal lead into the final stanza, but with 45 seconds left in the middle period Johnson scored on an unassisted goal after rushing toward the net through the left circle.

"I was trying to pass it the whole time, but the defenseman was in the way," said Johnson, who cleverly faked a centering pass to Blodgett, kept the puck on his stick and tucked it inside the left post.

With a 3-1 lead, the Wildcats outskated Oakmont in the third period and Johnson netted his second goal midway through the frame.

"Gardner is one heck of a hockey team," Oakmont coach Tony Gleason said. "They have a lot of speed and they pass the puck well. But I'm proud of our kids, and happy for them. They've come a long way."

Asked about approaching playoff games Gagnon said, "We don't want to look too far ahead. There are a lot of good teams left in the tournament."

Gagnon did make a hair-raising promise, however - only if his Wildcats make it to the state final game at TD Banknorth Garden. And with one important condition.

"If we win the state championship by 12 goals, I will shave my head right in the Boston Garden locker room," he said. "That's a guarantee."

NAME: GARDNER HIGH SCHOOL; OAKMONT REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL