Jersey Hitmen Hockey - Morrow honored at All-Star Classic

Morrow honored at All-Star Classic
Hitmen goalie selected as #1 star of game
January 20, 2009

Jon Morrow

Hooksett, NH - In the perennial EJHL mid winter all star classic, the Northern Division team came out flying from the opening faceoff and put heavy pressure on the Southern Division net. For the first twenty-two minutes of the half, the North kept the play in the South zone, however, goaltender Jon Morrow (Jersey Hitmen) and defenseman Nick Grasso (New York Apple Core) successfully kept the North off the board. The Green Mountain Glades duo of Peter Massar and Riley Wetmore looked to take the early lead, but were consistently denied.

With 16:30 remaining in the half, Syracuse Stars teammates Matt Wilson and Rob Morton took rapid fire shots, Morrow turned them away.

Ten minutes later, Wilson, Morton, and Joe Wilson (Syracuse) executed a neat passing play, only to have Morrow make the save and pounce on the rebound.

With exactly three minutes on the clock, Matt Wilson hit Morton in the neutral zone. Morton skated in, found an opening, and flipped the puck into the net.

Morrow finished the half with 22 saves, and Robert Dawson (Syracuse) turned away all twelve shots he faced.

The second half started off with the South taking the offensive. Nick Grasso had an opportunity in the opening minutes, but his shot from the point was swatted away by North goaltender Russ Stein (Junior Bruins).

With 14:33 remaining, Greg Merrill (Bay State Breakers) set up Kevin Czepiel (Jersey Hitmen in the corner. Czepiel sent a pass to Garet Chumley (Jersey Hitmen) on the point, and Chumley’s shot snuck inside the post to tie the score.

Morton scored his second of the game with 12:21 remaining when Joe Pendenza (Bruins) passed from the corner to Morton, who was waiting in the slot. Morton poked the puck past Erik Mihalik (Bay State) to take the lead for good.

The Junior Bruins line of Pendenza, Dennis Ors, and Steve Morra had a chance to ice the game with two minutes left, but Morra’s shot rang off the post.

Mihalik skated off with 1:10 on the clock and Zak Stone (Apple Core), Adam Mitchell (Bay State) and Anthony Principato (Bay State) swarmed the net, but could not find another crack in Stein, who made 27 saves in his half. Erik Mihalik finished with twelve saves.

THREE STARS: Jon Morrow (Jersey Hitmen), Rob Morton (Syracuse Stars), Nick Grasso (New York Apple Core)

-compliments of Mike Klein (EJHL)