WINTHROP — When local hockey fans first saw a game scheduled between Essex Tech and Winthrop for the first time ever this past winter, no one truly knew how things would eventually play out. Only one thing was for certain. There was history between coaches and players alike, dating back a few years through past club and school programs.

So naturally, the two squads engaged in a somewhat heated affair, with plenty of highlights.

Senior forward Pete Silverman sniped a pair of goals and fished out an assist, as Winthrop (10-0-1) kept its undefeated run going with a 5-2 romp over the Hawks at Larsen Rink.

“We knew it was going to be a tough, hard-nosed game,” said Winthrop coach Dale Dunbar. “We just keep talking about our maturation, how to win a game. Don’t take ourselves out of the game by doing stupid things. If we just play our game, stay out of the box, we can play with anybody.”

A perfect litmus test to determine some of the North Shore’s elite teams, Essex Tech entered the contest as the sixth-ranked program in the MIAA’s latest set of Div. 3 power rankings (1.3142 team rating). Winthrop, meanwhile, was slotted as the top-seeded school in Div. 4 (2.7487).

The showdown lived up to expectations in the early going, with Winthrop drawing first blood. As he skated in transition, Mike Holgerson spotted a teammate to his left. He fed a pass over to Silverman, then watched as the senior potted a highlight-reel goal before careening into the cage. With only 53.7 ticks left in the opening period, the Vikings were up 1-0.

However, after knocking on the door to open the second, Essex Tech responded. Cam Casey fired a shot into traffic. The puck took what seemed like five to six hops before settling at the stick of Anthony Bisenti, who sniped the open net to tie things at 1-all with just under seven minutes to play in the stanza.

Yet, as they have done time and again this season, the Vikings answered with force. In the span of just 1:24, Rob Rich and Nate Previtte buried consecutive tallies to put Winthrop ahead, 3-1 entering the third.

“I was happy once we set up the second with a two-goal lead,” Dunbar said. “Once we get into the third, we can pretty much shut down teams by not giving them much to go on.”

While tensions continued to rise in the final stanza, the Vikings maintained composure. Luke Gthinji extended the lead to 4-1 with a tipped shot, before Silverman put the game on ice with a rocket of a shot with 5:18 to play.

“I saw Essex Tech play,” Silverman said. “They play a good schedule, they’re a tough team. I guess with their coach (Mark Leonard from his time) at Peabody, that’s a huge rivalry from back in the day. Still is, but coming into the game, we knew what we had to do.”

In addition to Silverman’s heroics, Winthrop also received a boost from junior Aidan Survilas (two assists).

Chris Maher tacked on a goal for Essex Tech to cap things with 54.2 seconds remaining.

“It was an intense rivalry,” said Dunbar. “I expect nothing different.”