BLIZZARD SQUIRT “A”s SWEEP TWO!
The Blizzard Squirt “A”s, coached by TODD DREVITCH, swept two tough games the weekend of October 20-21 to improve their record to 7-3 (2-0 in the league).
First up on Saturday was an extremely well played and hard fought victory over a previously undefeated Princeton Tigers club at Chill Out. The Princeton squad seemed to carry the play in the 1st period, with the Blizzard defense weathering repeated attempts by the opposition to take the early lead. A solid defensive effort lead by TYLER LAPSHANSKI and DANNY MCGILLICUDDY, along with great back checking by all the forwards (including DALE PERAINO and RYAN TAGGERT), enabled the Blizzard to hold the Tigers at bay. Things settled down in the second period as the play leveled off, and the Blizzard outshot their opponent 4 -2 during the period. Tied 0-0 heading into the 3rd period, the Blizzard broke through at the 8:30 mark on a goal by THOMAS BRADY. Gaining the momentum, and with the Chill Out crowd rocking, the Blizzard began controlling the tempo of the game and TROY ZELLARS converted a turn over in the neutral zone into an unassisted goal for a 2-0 lead. Goalie GARRETT STENBERG (guesting from the “B” team) withstood a furious Princeton rally, turning away 8 shots in the period, allowing no rebounds and even stonewalling a questionable penalty shot during the final minute of play. The Blizzard defense was stout, needing to fend off 3 power play opportunities, 2 during the final 6:34 of play.
Right back at it on Sunday, the Blizzard traveled to the Union Sports Arena for an early morning tilt against the Devils White team, a league game. They must have caught the Devils still half asleep, netting 4 goals in the 1st period. NICK IWICKI opened the scoring at the 9:40 mark, followed 10 seconds later by TIMOTHY DREVITCH goal off the ensuing face-off. The Blizzard defensemen then got into the act, with STEPHEN KOSAR and CONNOR DUHE, each netting their first goals of the season to complement the play of the forwards, who all showed great sense of the ice, dropping back into defensive mode as their mates rushed the offensive end. Not to be left out, fellow defender JOEY FLORES assisted on the 4th goal The Blizzard had the game well in hand with a 4-1 lead after one period. Up 4-2 heading into the 3rd frame, the Blizzard salted the game away with a pair of goals coming 40 seconds apart, the first on a beautiful piece of teamwork set up with two assists from DREVITCH and BRADY culminating in IWICKI’s second goal of the game. The Blizzard closed out the scoring, again off the ensuing face-off, when RYAN PRUSS delivered a perfect cross ice pass to GRIFFIN MORONEY, who buried the puck over the goalie’s shoulder into the top corner of the net. The Blizzard welcomed back their goalie TIMMY POLGLASE, who looked sharp in turning away 22 of 24 shots.
Overall the team is looking very sharp heading into the heart of the league season. Their passing is unselfish and resulting in great scoring chances, the goals themselves are coming from many different players, including the defensemen, the hustle & back checking of the forwards is helping the rugged play of the defense and the net-minding has been outstanding. The Blizzard are enjoying the return to the squad of defensemen KOSAR and FLORES, who play so well together in protecting the defensive end. Along with the standout leadership of fellow defensemen LAPSHANSKI and MCGILLICUDDY, trying to muster any kind of offensive threat against the Blizzard has become a frustrating chore for the opposition. Linemates ZELLARS, BRADY and MORONEY communicate well together and continually demonstrate unselfish play, a clear testament to their off-ice friendship, while the toughness developed on the football field by Long Valley boys PRUSS and POLGLASE is evident. The play and knowledge of forwards DREVITCH, IWICKI and PERAINO reveal the benefit of growing up as coach’s sons in a hockey household! The future looks bright indeed for the Blizzard Squirt “A”s!