Jersey outscores DI schools 14-1
October 28, 2008
Exeter, NH - Heading into the Beantown Classic the Hitmen were on a 7 game winning streak and flying high, perched atop the EJHL. They also lead the league in both special teams categories, with their powerplay clicking at a gaudy 43% and their penalty kill at a modest 88%, much to the delight of the coaching staff.
On Friday night, the Hitmen would face off against the Jr Bruins in their only league game and from the start of things the Hitmen looked like they would continue their league leading winning streak. In the first eight minutes of the game the Hitmen had pelted the Jr Bruins goaltender with 11 shots and finally on shot 12 Hitmen captain, Garet Chumley, broke through on the powerplay for his fourth of the season to put the Hitmen up, 1-0. Just minutes later on a fluky wrist shot from the blue, the Bruins would draw even at one, but that equalizer would not last as rookie phenom, Jeremy Langlois, would notch his eighth of the season to put the Hitmen up again, 2-1. Despite being outshot at this juncture, 15-3, the Bruins would light the lamp again from the blue line to tie it up again, 2-2. This would be all for first period scoring, but the Hitmen would not head into the break fulfilled as they outshot the Bruins, 18-5 in the period, yet the scoreboard read, 2-2.
"I knew after the first that we would be in for a battle tonight, but I did not know it would end in this fashion," commented coach Harris after the game. There comments would come on the heels of a Hitmen penalty riddled second period where the league's least penalized team would be whistled for 5 straight penalties leading to 2 Jr Bruins goals. The Hitmen would not quit as they mounted a serious attack in the third period, outshooting the Bruins again, 19-4, but would fall short, 5-3.
"I really liked how the boys played in the first and the third, but this is a 60 minute game, and we did not do the little things to win shift in and shift out," said a dejected Harris. "We must now turn our attention to our next opponent and learn from this loss."
Saturday the Hitmen would get a chance to work out some frustration as they were pitted against DI prep Bridgton Academy, and from the drop of the puck the Hitmen would do so. Behind a hat trick from Jeremy Langlois, two goals from Ansel Ivens-Anderson and a 5 point night for Kevin Czepiel the Hitmen would hand Bridgton a 10-0 loss. On Sunday the Hitmen would face-off against perennial power, the Northwood school, and would continue on the same path outshooting Northwood 45-14, and closing out the prep, 3-1.
This week the Hitmen will play in the odd weekly game as they will face the Apple Core on Wednesday night at 5:45pm at the Ice Vault. Please visit www.fasthockey.com for the Hitmen league action.