U-19’s Sweep Into November
Defeat Top Gun, Boston Jr Eagles to start month
Nov. 5, 2008

After a sub par October the Hitmen U-19 team looked to turn a new leaf along with a calendar page as they headed into November. The boys traveled north to kick off the month with games against Top Gun and the Boston Jr Eagles and returned home with the desired results. 

After falling behind just over two minutes in the U-19’s quickly responded. Just 15 seconds after defenseman Kei Toeda was whistled for a hold Michael Conte sent a puck the length of the ice where a tenacious forecheck from Connor Leen resulted in a turnover. After corralling the loose puck Leen tucked the puck away into an empty net to draw the Hitmen even. However, midway through the first half Top Gun would once again take the lead. A lead they would hold going into the intermission.

Heading into the second half the Hitmen seemed to shake off their bus legs and carried the early play. Andrew Serpico would once again draw the Hitmen even just over a minute in with assists going to Nick Maniaci and Kenny Pilanski. The game would continue to be a back and forth affair as Top Gun would once again take the lead only to see it vanish once more as Anthony Daniels would net a power play goal with just under eight minutes to play. Craig Wyszomirski and Kenny Pilanski would pick up the assists. The score would remain deadlocked through the end of regulation.

With regulation time not being enough to decide a winner the game would go to a shootout. Top Gun would shoot first only to be stymied by Hitmen goaltender Anthony Tabbacchino on a beautiful stick save. The U-19’s would send David Rose as their first shooter. Rose would build speed heading towards the net before releasing a snap shot that rang off the post and into the corner. Top Gun would score on their net shot, but as had been the case all game long the Hitmen responded. Steve Drizis would come down and make a pretty move to his backhand before slipping the puck through the legs of the Top Gun goaltender. On the next round of shots Tabbacchino made a miraculous toe save after he had seemingly been beat by the Top Gun shooter. Next up for the Hitmen Andrew Serpico would carry the puck down the ice on his forehand before quickly pulling the puck to his backhand and releasing a shot over the shoulder of the Top Gun goaltender, a move reminiscent of that used by New Jersey Devils star Zach Parise. For the first time all game Top Gun would have to score to stay alive and they did just that. Ali Thomas was the next shooter and made sure that the game would not last any longer. He cruised down the ice a fired a wrist shot past the outstretched blocker of the Top Gun netminder to seal the victory for the U-19’s. Tabbacchino made 19 saves during regulation before his two beauties in the shootout to lock up the victory.

After Saturday’s hard fought victory the U-19’s had to refocus before taking on a very highly touted Boston Jr Eagles team. The Hitmen brought some of their left over excitement to the ice and controlled the play for most of the first half. Despite dominating the period the boys in blue could not muster any offense and late in the period Casey Cronin would capitalize on a poor defensive play by the Hitmen and put the Eagles up 1-0 heading into intermission.

The second half would not only see the Hitmen continue their strong play, but find their goal scoring touch as well. Kicking things off with a hard working, net front goal was Michael Conte with assists from Connor Leen and Ali Thomas. Shortly after the U-19’s would take the lead as Kenny Pilanski feed Scott Steinel on a 2 on 1 rush. After collecting the Pilanski pass Steinel released a lethal wrist shot past the blocker of the Eagles goaltender. The Hitmen would not stop there as shortly after the Steinel goal the Hitmen would take advantage of another 2 on 1 opportunity. Mark Powell would start the play with a breakout pass to Steve Drizis who was joined on the rush by David Rose. Drizis would make a pass to Rose who snapped a shot over the glove of the Eagles netminder.

At 12:45 of the second half the Hitmen would take two penalties on one stoppage sending the Eagles on a 5 on 3 power play for a full two minutes. The U-19’s made it through the first minute unscathed, but the Eagles eventually struck when goaltender Matt Braun’s got stuck in some net front traffic allowing Will Gray to burry a puck in the top corner drawing the Eagles within one. The Hitmen would kill of the remainder of the Eagles power play before their offense would strike again. With his linemates headed to the bench for a change Anthony Daniels would skate the puck up ice and around the Eagles net before finding Scott Steinel streaking down the slot. Daniels would make a perfect pass to Steinel who hammered home a one-timer for his second goal of the game.

With just under two minutes to play the Hitmen would once again find themselves on the kill as Connor Leen would head to the box on a tripping call. The Eagles would quickly pull their goaltender setting up a 6 on 4 scenario in favor of the home team. The Hitmen would continue to thwart the Eagles efforts and with 2 seconds left sealed their victory on the strength of a Craig Wyszomirski empty net goal. Nick Lotito and Kenny Pilanski chipped in the assists. Braun made 30 saves en route to picking up his team leading 5th victory of the season.

The Hitmen return home this for the first time in a month for a two game set wtih the South Jersey Raptors. The puck will drop Saturday at 3:30pm and Sunday at 9:30am. Be sure to come down to the Ice Vault and catch out the action!