U-19’s Split in Syracuse
Pilanski, Tamminga, Steinel catch fire;
Combine for 17 points
This weekend saw the Hitmen U-19 team travel to Syracuse, New York to take on the Syracuse Stars of the Empire Junior Hockey League in a two game set. The Hitmen would go down 2-0 in the first before shaking off their bus legs and scoring two goals within a minute of each other late in the stanza.
Working low in the corner Kenny Pilanski would win a battle and find newly appointed team captain Vinny Lopes walking in from the point. After receiving the Pilanski pass, Lopes would fire a slap shot just under the blocker of the Syracuse netminder to get the Hitmen on the board with three minutes to play in the 1st. Exactly one minute later Steve Drizis would find Billy Laptosh flying in from the weak side point for a backdoor goal, his first of the season. Despite pulling even the period ended on a sour note for the U-19’s as they would lose forward Christian Meiley for the game with a rib injury late in the period.
The second period would see the Stars strike first yet again 6:37 into the frame. However, the Hitmen would find some magic when defensemen Scott Steinel was moved forward to play alongside Pilanski and Chris Tamminga after the Meiley injury. At 9:08 of the 2nd period Tamminga would score a power play goal with assists from Steinel and Pilanski. The trio would not stop there; Steinel and Pilanski would once again team up to find Tamminga would make a beautiful move to the backhand and net his second goal of the contest. Forward Steve Drizis would give the boys in blue a little cushion heading into the locker room as he converted on a semi-breakaway after creating a turnover on the forecheck to give the U-19’s a 5-3 lead.
Heading in the 3rd the U-19’s remained focus on the task at hand and played another strong period. Pilanski found his way onto the score sheet for the fourth time after intercepting an attempted clearing pass and burying it past the Syracuse goaltender. Steve Drizis would add the final touch with six seconds to play when he fired a beautiful shot under the bar giving the Hitmen a 7-3 victory. Goaltender Alex Effinger made 16 saves en route to recording the win.
Sunday would see the Hitmen strike first as Chris Tamminga would make a tremendous feed to a wide open Scott Steinel who would convert past a helpless Syracuse goaltender for the 1-0 lead. However, the tide would soon turn as the Stars attack took life scoring two goals and threatening for more. Alex Effinger would keep the Hitmen close and the boys headed into the locker room trailing 2-1.
Coming out strong the U-19’s took the play to the Stars early and Kei Toeda would draw the Hitmen even with his first goal of the season on a wrist shot from the left circle less than two minutes into the period. The up-tempo play wouldn’t last long and the Stars again took the play to the lackluster Hitmen and scored with 1:08 left in the 2nd to take a 3-2 lead into the locker room.
Hoping to charge some life into his team coach Chris Barling would make a change in net sending Anthony Tabbacchino to start the third. The change did not have the effect Barling had hoped for as the U-19’s began the third period in dreadful defensive fashion allowing 3 goals in the first eight minutes, falling into a 4 goal deficit. Embarrassment was enough to spark life in the listless team as the Hitmen would score two goals in a minute in a half. Tamminga would one touch a Pilanski pass into the Stars net at 10:29 of the 3rd. At 11:55 Captain Vinny Lopes would fire a shot from the slot into the top corner sending the water bottle flying off the net with assists going to Steinel and Pilanski. The comeback was derailed at 13:35 when Syracuse would find the back of the net yet again to give them a 7-4 lead. The U-19’s would not quit as Steinel scored his second goal of the game with just over four minutes left. Pilanski and Tamminga would pick up the assists to give every member of the line a three point night. However, the effort was too little to late and Hitmen would fall by 7-5 final score.
The U-19’s are off to the Beantown Classic in Exeter, NH this weekend where they will face off against the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers, Boston Little Bruins, and Buffalo Regals before crossover play on Saturday.