Our U8 Division playoffs capped a fun and exiting season as many kids that moved up from the Learn to Play group got their chance at a full season and playoffs in “the big leagues”!! In first round action, The first place Green Brook F.O.P. Lodge #23 Bruins took on the fourth place Andrews Tree Care Sabres. Despite finishing first, the Bruins certainly did not have an easy time of it in this game, as the Sabres played very well throughout the entire game. In the first half, the Sabres got on the board first as Dylan Betz scored for a 1-0 Sabres lead. But just one minute later, Seth Rubin got it right back and the Bruins tied it at 1-1. Then Ryan Martins got on a roll and scored 2 in a row for the Bruins to stake them out to a 3-1 lead. But just before the half ended, Dylan Betz scored again and the Sabres got the score to within one at 3-2. In the second half, the Bruins cranked it up and pulled away, though, by scoring 3 goals, 2 by Brian Reiss and one by Spencer Savulich, and their lead was 6-2, before Jimmy Girgus scored the final tally of the game for the Sabres. Final score: Bruins 6, Sabres 3.

The other first round game featured the Boretz Orthopaedic Mohawks vs the Shogun 22 Checkers. The Checkers definitely had the upper hand in the first half of the game, as four different Checkers - Ben Gomes, Mathew Piro, Michael Brady, and Daniel Lee, all scored goals and the Checkers had themselves a commanding 4-0 halftime lead. The Mohawks staged a comeback in the second half, though, as Michael Haliscak scored two in a row and suddenly it was a 4-2 game. But with about 3 minutes left Mathew Piro scored his second of the game for a 5-2 Checkers lead. Michael Haliscak would complete his hat trick a minute later, but that was all she wrote, as the Checkers advanced to the Championship Game with a 5-3 victory.

The 3^rd Place Trophy game would see a great battle between the Mohawks and the Sabres. Eric Isaacs got the Mohawks on the board first in this one, but that was quickly answered by Jimmy Girgus a moment later, and the game was tied early on at 1-1. Just a few minutes later, history would repeat itself, as the Mohawks retook the lead on a goal by Jessie Shapiro, only to see the Sabres answer that a minute later with a goal by Dylan Betz. Michael Halsicak then scored before the half ended to give the Mohawks a 3-2 halftime lead. He scored again for the Mohawks to start the second half, but the Sabres answered that with Jimmy Girgus’ second goal of the game, and the score stood at 4-3, Mohawks. But the Mohakws’ Philip Ciliberto and Jarad Venutolo added two more for a seemingly safe 6-3 lead. The Sabres weren’t done, though, as Dylan Betz would notch two more goals to complete his hat trick, and suddenly it was back to a one goal game at 6-5 Mohawks. Then the goalies, James Dassinger of the Mohawks and Emma Reedman of the Sabres, took over the rest of the way as no goals were scored for either team in the last nine minutes of play. Assists in the game went to the Mohawks’ Philip Ciliberto (who had two), Jessie Shapiro, and Michael Haliscak, while Sabres assists went to Ryan Betz, Jimmy Girgus, and Dylan Betz. Final score: Mohawks 6, Sabres 5.

The U8 Championship game Featured the Bruins vs Checkers in a game that pitted the regular season first place Bruins vs the Checkers, a team that was really on a roll at the end of the season. They got on a roll early in this one, as Mathew Piro scored a pair of goals to put his team ahead 2-0. The Bruins would get one of their own, though, as Spencer Savulich scored to cut the lead to 2-1. But Mathew Piro was on fire in this one, as he would score 3 more goals for the Checkers before the half ended, and the Checkers had themselves a 5-1 halftime lead. The Bruins would stage a comeback, though! Jonathan Chang scored early on in the second half and Brian Reiss would score with just under 9 minutes left, and the Checkers lead was down to 5-3. Then the Bruins’ Luke Harding made it even closer with a goal at the 5 minute mark to cut the Checker lead to 5-4. But that was as close as it would get, as Daniel Lee, Ben Giangrasso, and Mathew Piro would all score for the Checkers in the last 3:36 of the game and the Checkers won the Championship crown for the U8 Division. Assts in the game went to Tomasz Tarnawski of the Checkers and Brian Reiss and Ryan Martins of the Bruins.

What a great season for our U8 Division!!

Our U10 Division Fall 2007 Playoffs provided us with a lot of exciting moments and great games, some of which weren’t decided until the very end of the game!! In first round action, the Third place Atlantic Fence Predators took on the Appleton Electric Devils. The Predators got the big lead early in this one, as Jarad Jarari scored 2 goals, while Joseph Rau, Sam Shapiro, and J.T. Valley scored as well to give the Predators a commanding 5-0 lead at halftime. But the Devils fought back! In the second half, Paul Appleton scored two goals and Derek Siegal added another and with 10 minutes left in the game, the Devils had cut the lead to 5-3. That would be as close as they would come though, as the Predators scored four goals, two by Sam Shapiro and two by J.T. Valley, in the last 5 minutes of the game, as they skated to a 9-3 first round victory. Assists in the game were made by Zachary Heifitz and Stephen Seeley of the Predators, both of whom had two each.

The other first round game was a terrific one indeed. The Landau Consulting Wolfpack faced off against the Russomanno Trucking Smashers in what would prove to be a great battle. The first half was a very defensive minded one, as the goalies, Dov Landau of the Wolfpack and Kyle Bickerton of the Smashers were tremendous! There was one first half goal, though, and it was scored by the Wolfpack’s Jimmy DiGiorgio providing the Wolfpack with a 1-0 halftime lead. In the second half, the Wolfpack extended that lead to 2-0, as Alec Friedman notched one for his team early in the period. But the Smashers mounted a comeback, as Aaron Standish and Bobby Berehieko scored just a couple of minutes apart and with about 8 minutes left, the game was tied at 2-2. The game looked like it might be headed to overtime, when, with exactly 2 minutes left, Alec Friedman put the Wolfpack ahead 3-2. Jimmy DiGiorgio then sealed the victory for the Wolfpack, as he scored just 15 seconds later, and the Wolfpack came away with a 4-2 win to move on to the second round. Assists in the game went to Ben Gomes and Jordan Green of the Wolfpack, and Aaron Standish had one for the Smashers.

In the second round of play, one of the most exciting playoff games in the entire league’s Fall 2007 playoffs took place when the regular season first place D & M Trophies Phantoms took on the Landau Consulting Wolfpack. The goalies were great in this one, as Dov Landau of the Wolfpack and Danny Farrell of the Phantoms kept the scoring at a minimum in the first half, as each team scored just one goal each, one by the Wolfpack’s Paul Roushdy and one by Alek Minishak of the Phantoms, in the first 15 minutes of play. But the Wolfpack’s Jimmy DiGiorgio would score just before the half ended, and the Wolfpack went into halftime with a 2-1 advantage. As the second half started, the Wolfpack scored a stunning 2 goals right off the bat, one by Alec Friedman and one by Ben Gomes, in the first 4 minutes of play, and suddenly it was 4-1, Wolfpack. The Phantoms would come back, though, as Kevin Greenman and Alek Minishak would score back to back goals just a couple of minutes apart, and the Wolfpack lead was down to 4-3. Then, with just a little over 5 minutes left the Phantoms completed the comeback, as  Kevin Greenman scored again and we were are tied at 4-4. Both teams went through the rest of regulation and then through the overtime period without scoring, and so things all came down to a shootout. After Tyler Kulisz got the first shootout goal for the Phantoms, Alec Friedman scored one for the Wolfpack to tie the shootout at 1-1. After the Wolfpack used all of their shooters, it came down to the Phantoms’ Kevin Greenman for a chance to win it and that’s exactly what he did, as he a notched a goal to win the shootout for the Phantoms, who advanced to the Championship round. Final score: Phantoms 5, Wolfpack 4. The only assist in the game went to Paul Roushdy of the Wolfpack.

The other second round game in the U10 Division was yet another thrilling one, as the Balaney Contracting Hammerheads took on the Atlantic Fence Predators, with the winner to advance as the other team in the Championship round. Just 2 minutes into the game, J.T. Valley got the Predators on the board for a 1-0 lead, which held up for about 3 minutes until the Hammerheads’ Brian Coelho scored to tie the game at 1-1. The Predators would regain the lead with about 8 minutes left in the half, as Zachary Heifitz notched one for them for a 2-1 lead. Then, with 20 seconds left in the period, Sam Shapiro widened the Predators lead to 3-1 with a goal, and that was our halftime score. Brian Coelho scored again for the Hammerheads to cut it to a one goal lead, but then, Jarad Jarari scored for the Predators, who were back up by 2 goals at 4-2.  The Hammerheads would battle back though, as Nick Coelho scored with 8:20 left in the game and then Dustin Demarsico did the same a minute later to tie the game at 4-4. But the Predators’ Joseph Rau would put them ahead for good with 5 minutes left and the Predators came away with the 5-4 victory to advance to the Championship. Assists in the game went to J.T. Valley of the Predators and Brian Coelho of the Hammerheads.

In final round action, The Hammerheads and Wolfpack faced off for the 3^rd Place trophy. The Hammerheads got a great start in this one, as Nick Coelho, John Hansell, and Justin Scalera, each scored goals and the Hammerheads had a 3-0 lead. After the Wolfpack got on the board with a goal from Jordan Green, the Hammerheads’ Brian Coelho, Justin Scalera, and Nick Coelho added  3 more goals to give their team a 6-1 halftime lead. Nick Coelho would complete his hat trick early in the second half for a 7-1 lead and the Wolfpack’s James Hansell would get the game’s final goal, as the Hammerheads prevailed for the 3^rd Place trophy by the score of 7-2. Assists in the game went to the Hammerheads’ Dustin Demarsico, who had 2, and Brian Coelho, while the Wolfpack’s Jimmy DiGiorgio got their lone assist.

The Championship Game pitted the Phantoms vs the Predators as the 2 teams battled for the top spot. The Predators struck first on a goal by Sam Shapiro for an early 1-0 lead, but 6 minutes later that vanished as the Phantoms’ Alek Minishak scored to tie it at 1-1. Then the Predators struck for 2 more goals, one by J.T. Valley and one by Jarad Jarari, as they built a 3-1 first half lead. But in the last 8 minutes of the half, Alek Minishak and Kevin Greenman notched goals for the Phantoms, and the game was tied by halftime at 3-3. The second half of the game would see the Phantoms score 3 goals, one by Kevin Greenman, one by Jimmy Tupper, and one by Danny Hicks, as they shut down the Predators the rest of the way to come away with a 6-3 win and the U10 Division crown. The only assists in the game went to the Phantoms’ Kevin Greeman and Danny Farrell.

Thanks to all our U10 players for a fantastic season!!

Round 1 

Our U13 Division was certainly a great example of just how balanced our teams and our divisions were in Fall 2007, as any one of the 6 teams in the division looked like they had a real shot at winning it all!! In first round action, the regular season 3^rd place MJR Consulting Titans faced off against the 6^th place Metro Wire Rope River Rats. 6 minutes into the contest, Justin Capella got the games first goal for a 1-0 Titans lead. The Rats would answer though 4 minutes later on a goal by Tyler Hardgrove. Just a couple of minutes before the half ended, Zach Iverson scored to give the Titans the lead back at 2-1, which was the score at halftime. In the second half, The River Rats got the game tied again on another goal by Tyler Hardgrave just 2 minutes into the period. After Damien Quense scored to give the Titans back the lead at 3-2, the River Rats answered yet again, as Jaysen Correa scored with just under 10 minutes left to make it a 3-3 game. Damien Quense got the lead right back for the Titans just one minute later though to make it 4-3, while Eric Harding and Zach Iverson added 2 more goals down the stretch, as the Titans advanced to the second round with a 6-3 victory. Assists in the game were had by: David Johnson and Michael Zeloof of the River Rats and Zach Iverson and Damien Quense of the Titans.

In the other first round U13 division playoff game, the Event Capital Blackhawks battled the Investors Savings Bank Ducks. In the first 15 minutes of this game, it was all Ducks, as Chris Gavin, Ryan Chang, and Billy Stevens all scored 2 goals each, and the Ducks were out to a hefty 6-0 lead. The Blackhawks did get on the board before the period ended though, as Anthony Lubrano scored for them to make it a 6-1 halftime score. Kirk Hasson started off the scoring in the second half for the Blackhawks to make it a 6-2 game, but the Ducks just kept on charging, as Aaron Standish, Chris Gavin, Ryan Chang, and Daniel Amiano netted goals for the Ducks, who had an impressive 10-2 victory to advance to round 2. Assists in the game went to Ryan Chang (7), Chris Gavin (5), Sarah Isaacs, and Stephen Ratchko of the Ducks, while Chris Lubrano got the lone Blackhawks assist.

In the second round, the Ducks squared off against the Qualcare Sharks, who were the first place finishers during the regular season. The Ducks once again got the early jump as Sarah Isaacs and Chris Gavin scored goals to make it a 2-0 Ducks lead. There was some real girl power in this one, as Becky Turlip would score the first Sharks goal to make it a 2-1 game. But then the Ducks did what they had done in the first round and simply got on a roll. They scored 3 unanswered goals before the end of the half, one by Ryan Chang, one by Sarah Isaacs (her second of the game), and one by Chris Gavin (his second of the game) as the Ducks had a commanding 5-1 lead at the half. The Sharks tried to battle back in the second half, though, as C.J Girgus scored 1 minute into the period to cut it to 5-2. Both teams played great defense down the stretch, but the Sharks would break through for another goal, scored by Ryan Sloop, with 5:30 left to make it suddenly a 5-3 game. With time winding down to the 3 minute mark, Chris Gavin completed his hat trick to increase the Duck lead to 6-3. C.J. Girgus would score in the final few seconds for the Sharks, but it was not enough, as the Ducks advanced with the upset victory by a 6-4 score. Assists in the game went to Ryan Chang, who had 3 for the Ducks, and Ryan Sloop, Sean Mulqueen, and C.J. Girgus, who had 2 for the Sharks.

In the other U13 second round game, the Titans battled the regular season second place Fords Jewelers Warriors. What a defensive struggle this was early on, as neither team would score any goals in the first 11 minutes of the game! But the Titans would bust through for 2 unanswered goals, scored by Steven Sarnowski and Damien Quense for a 2-0 first half lead. Nick Martin would slice the lead in half though, as he scored for the Warriors, who trailed 2-1 at halftime. In the second half, the Warriors started things off by tying the score on a Michael Quense goal. Then the scoring really opened up, as the Titans would score 2 goals, one by Justin Capella and one by Zach Iverson, and the Warriors would come back with 2 goals of their own, both scored by Nick Martin to complete his hat trick, and the game was all tied at 4-4. Eric Harding got the Titans the lead back with a goal with 8 minutes left, but just a minute and a half later, the Warriors had the answer with a goal by Ben Neri, and once again the game was tied at 5-5. Could the Titans regain the lead again? Zach Iverson would answer that question with a little over 4 minutes left, as he scored and then his teammate Damien Quense did the same, as the Titans sealed the victory on those 2 goals and emerged the winners by a 7-5 score to advance on to the Championship round. Assists in the game were picked up by Titans players Justin Capella, who had 2, Eric Harding, Damien Quense, and Daniel Buccino. For the Warriors, Vinny Martine picked up 3 assists, while Ben Neri also had one for them.

In final round action, the Warriors and Sharks wound up playing for the 3^rd place trophy. Nick Martin scored the game’s first goal for the Warriors 5 minutes into the game for a 1-0 Warrior lead. The Sharks got the game tied just a couple of minutes later though, on a goal by Ryan Sloop. After C. J. Girgus gave the Sharks the lead later on in the first period, Vinny Martin tied the game with his first goal of the contest. With under 2 minutes left in the first half, Becky Turlip scored a goal and got the lead back at 3-2 for the Sharks. But with time running down to just 1:23 left in the first period, Anthony Sorrentino got the equalizer for the Warriors and the teams headed into halftime tied at 3-3. In the second half, the Warriors took control as 5 different Warriors – Cody Sorrentino, Anthony Sorrentino, Vinny Martin, Mike Pastuszak, and Ben Neri – all scored goals to lead the Warriors to the 3^rd place trophy by a score of 8-3. Assists in the game were gotten by Ben Neri (2), Nick Martin (2), Vinny Martin, Evan Regan, and Gordon Whitley of the Warriors and Connor Dempsey of the Sharks.

The U13 Championship game featured 2 teams that had to go 3 round in order to get there, as the Titans squared off against the Ducks. The Titans blasted out of the box early in the game as 4 different Titans, Damien Quense, Justin Capella, Zach Iverson, and Daniel Buccino all scored goals in the first 6 minutes of the game, and the Titans had a 4-0 lead. Daniel Amiano scored for the Ducks to get them on the board with 7:23 left in the half, but the Titans answered that with 2 more goals, both scored by Zach Iverson as they went into halftime with a 6-1 lead. Try as they might, the Ducks could not mount a comeback in the second half, as the Titan D shut them down, while they themselves added 3 more goals – 2 by Damien Quense and 1 by Steven Sarnowski – as they completed their 3 round quest for the title by winning the game by a 9-1 margin. Assists in the game went to Justin Capella (3), Nick Lally, Damien Quense, Daniel Buccino, and Joe Whalen of the Titans, while Stephen Rachko got the lone assist for the Ducks.

Thanks to all our U13 players for such a great and competitive season for Fall 2007!!

Our U17 Fall 2007 playoffs had some of the most interesting hockey action of the season as 4 teams battled for the Championship. In first round action, the regular season first place Sign – A – Rama Maple Leafs took on the fourth place Oksenhorn Jewelers Kings. The Maple Leafs got an early 2-0 lead in this one on goals by Georgie Margelis and Jimmy Sammon. Then, halfway through the first period, the Maple Leafs really turned up the heat by scoring four more unanswered goals, 2 each by Patrick Purcell and Georgie Margelis, as they took a commanding 6-0 lead into halftime. In the second half, Michael Lester got the Kings on the board with the period’s first goal, but that was answered shortly afterward on goals by the Leafs’ Craig Standish and Dylan D’Amato. As time wound down in the game, Stephen Detorres got one for the Kings and the Leafs answered with the game’s final two goals, scored by George Aller and Craig Standish. Assists in the game for the Leafs were picked up by Bryan Serge (2), George Aller (2), Craig Standish, Patrick Purcell and Georgie Margelis. Kings assists went to Billy Lester, Alex Pommer, Michael Lester, and Spencer Iverson. Final score: Maple Leafs 10, Kings 2.

In the other first round game we had one of the most thrilling battles of all of our Fall 2007 playoffs. The Carrabbas Red Wings squared off against the Gold’s Gym Rangers. This was a great defensive battle, especially  early on, as the two teams nearly played the entire first half without allowing a goal. But with just 30 seconds left in the half, Anthony Buonvicino got one for the Rangers to give them a 1-0 halftime lead. The goals were finally put up on the board in the second half, though, as Brian Weinger notched his first of the game for the Red Wings, and we were tied at 1-1. The Rangers’ Mike Lefanto responded, though, with a Rangers goal with 16 minutes left to give them a one goal lead back. But Brian Weiniger got it right back for the Red Wings just one minute later, and once again we were tied at 2-2. With about 5 minutes left in regulation, Frankie Buonvicino scored a controversial goal, which deflected off of another Rangers player, and suddenly the Rangers had a 3-2 lead with time running down. Mike DiPaolo would save the day for the Red Wings though, as he scored a short handed goal with less than 2 minutes left to tie the game at 3-3, and that was the score at the end of regulation, as well as the 5 minute overtime period. That brought the teams to a shootout to decide the winner. Both goalies, Laura Sammon for the Rangers and Andrew Todtenkopf of the Red Wings, played tough the entire game and now faced a big challenge with the game on the line in a shootout. After Mike Lefanto of the Rangers and Brian Weiniger of the Red Wings traded goals, Mike Dipaolo notched one for the Red Wings and Andrew Todtenkopf stopped the final shooter, as the Red Wings came away with a thrilling 4-3 shootout victory. Assists in the game went to Anthony Buonvicino of the Rangers and C. J. Girgus and Joshua Zeloof of the Red Wings.

In final round action, the Rangers and Kings faced for the U17 3^rd place trophy. Anthony Buonvicino got the Rangers on the board first in this one, but the Kings Michael Lester tied it shortly thereafter at 1-1. The Rangers then got on a roll as Patrick Sammon, Frankie Buonvicino, Mike LeFanto, and Anthony Buonvicino put 4 more points on the board for the Rangers for a 5-1 halftime Rangers lead. In the second half, Michael Lester notched his second of the game to cut it to 5-2, but the Rangers answered with another Mike LeFanto ghoal to make it a 6-2 game. The Kings would stage a bit of a comeback though, as Michael Lester completed his hat trick and Billy Lester scored also to trim the Ranger lead to 6-4. But that’s as close as they got, as Mike LeFanto completed his own hat trick in the final 2 minutes of the game to give the Rangers a 7-4 win for the 3^rd Place crown. Assists in the game went to the Rangers’ Patrick Sammon (3), Anthony Buonvicino (2), Frankie Buonvicino (2), Mike LeFanto, and Robert Lally, while the Kings assists went to Spencer Iverson (2), Stephen DeTorres (2), and Alex Pommer.

The U17 Championship game was yet another great playoff game in GBHC playoff lore, as the Maple Leafs and Red Wings met to decide who would win it all. John Fiorilla got the Red Wings started in this one, as he scored less than 3 minutes into the contest for a 1-0 Wings’ lead. But halfway through the first period, the Leafs’ Georgie Margelis got the equalizer to tie it at 1-1. Just a couple of minutes later, though, Sam Wolfson got one to put the Leafs back out in front at 2-1. Then, with time winding down to the last couple of minutes left in the first half, Bryan Serge scored for the Leafs and we had ourselves a 2-2 tie at halftime. The goalies in this one, Steven Isaacs of the Maple Leafs and Andrew Todtenkopf of the Red Wings were tremendous in goal for their teams, as both teams would only allow one goal each in the rest of regulation. Geogie Margelis put the Maple Leafs ahead with his second goal of the game, but with 7 minutes left in regulation Joshua Zeloof got one for the Wings to tie the game again, this time at 3-3, which is where things stood at the end of regulation. The overtime period nearly went the distance, but then, with 57 seconds left Georgie Margelis made a diving swipe at the puck to just barely pop it over the outstretched goalie, and the Maple Leafs won the championship in a game that will truly be regarded as a classic one indeed. Assists in the game went to Craig Standish of the Maple Leafs and Sam Wolfson and Matt Todtenkopf of the Red Wings.

Thanks to all our U17 players for a great season and playoffs!!

Round 1 

Sign A Rama Maple Leafs 10, Oksenhorn Jewelers Kings 2 

Maple Leafs Goals: Georgie Margelis (3), Patrick Purcell (2), Craig Standish (2), Jimmy Sammon, Dylan Damato, George Aller. Assists:  George Aller (2), Bryan Serge (2), Patrick Purcell, Geogie Margelis. Goalie – Steven Isaacs 

Kings Goals:  Michael Lester, Stephen DeTorres. Assists: Billy Lester, Alex Pommer, Michel Lester, Spencer Iverson. Goalie – Kurt Vivian 

Carrabba’s Red Wings 4, Gold’s Gym Rangers 3 (OT – Shootout) 

Red Wings Goals: Brian Weiniger (2), Mike DiPaolo. Assists:  C.J. Girgus, Joshua Zeloof.  Shootout goals: Brian Weiniger, Mike DiPaolo. Goalie - Andrew Todtenkopf 

Rangers Goals:   Anthony Buonvicino, Mike LeFanto, Frankie Buonvicino. Assists:  Anthony Buonvicino.  Shootout goals: Mike LeFanto.Goalie – Laura Sammon 

3^rd Place Game

Gold’s Gym Rangers 7, Oksenhorn Jewelers Kings 4 

Rangers Goals:  Mike LeFanto (3), Anthony Buonvicino (2), Patrick Sammon, Frankie Buonvicino. Assists: Patrick Sammon (3), Frankie Buonvicino (2), Anthony Buonvicino (2), Mike LeFanto, Robert Lally.Goalie – Laura Sammon

Kings Goals:  Michael Lester (3), Billy Lester. Assists:  Spencer Iverson (2), Stephen DeTorres (2), Alex Pommer.Goalie – Kurt Vivian 

Championship Game

 Sign A Rama Maple Leafs 4, Carrabba’s Red Wings 3 (OT) 

Maple Leafs Goals: Georgie Margelis (3), Bryan Serge. Assists:  Craig Standish. Goalie – Steven Isaacs 

Red Wings Goals: John Fiorilla, Sam Wolfson, Josh Zeloof. Assists:  Sam Wolfson, Matt Todtenkopf. Goalie - Andrew Todtenkopf