Tuesday, January 17, 2012

SOUTH PREVAILS IN ALL-STAR GAME

Press Release

Hooksett, NH- Zach Luczyk scored with 18 seconds remaining to force a shootout in the EJHL All-Star Game, but Collin MacDonald and Jimmy Vesey lit the lamp in the shootout to give the Southern Division a 5-4 win.

Nick Bligh put the South on the board 12:47 into the game when he received the puck in front of the net slid it past North goaltender Derek Metcalfe. Nick Cruice and Joe Prescott assisted.

Brett Mason evened the score with 4:28 on the clock when Cody Learned and KJ Tiefenwerth send him skating down the left wing. Mason broke to the net and beat South goaltender Tyler Kapp with his shot.

Fabian Sivnert relieved Metcalfe (10 saves) for the second period and his teammates gave him a 2-1 lead 5:26 into the frame. Vinny Scotti and Cody Learned stormed into the zone on a 2-on-1 and Scotti hit Learned with a pass across the slot and Learned knocked it in.

Ninety seconds later, Matt Vidal set up Matt Lynch in the right corner. Lynch passed the puck to TJ O’Brien, who redirected it past Sivnert.

Jamie Regan took over goaltending duties for Kapp (12 saves) midway through the period.

KJ Tiefenwerth put the North back on top with 7:54 remaining when he pounced on a loose puck from a Kyle Smith shot and slid it home. Kyle Williams set up Smith’s shot.

The North looked to take their lead into the final period, but Steven Swavely scored from Collin MacDonald and Jesse Petito with 17 seconds on the clock to tie the game at 3-3. Sivnert finished his period with 8 saves and was relieved by Gordon Ceasar for the final frame.

The South jumped ahead with 8:52 remaining when Eli Riddle and Peter MacIntyre sent Tyler Bouchard streaking down the right wing. Bouchard then ripped a shot from the circle that escaped Ceasar. Zach Luczyk then forced a shootout when he socred from Thane Heller and Brian Morgan with 18 seconds left.

In the shootout, Collin MacDonald scored on his first attempt to give the South a 1-0 lead. Trevor Braun shot for the North, but Regan made the stop. Gordon Ceasar denied Jesse Petito’s attempt, but Brian Harris was unable to even the score for the North. Jimmy Vesey then put the South up 2-0 and the lead held when Conor MacPhee missed. Derek Metcalfe saved Nick Bligh’s attempt, but Cam Brown was unable to put the puck past Regan, giving the South the win.

The Eastern Junior Hockey League would like to congratulate all participants in the 2012 EJHL All-Star Classic. Special gratitude is extended to the Sean Tremblay and the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs for hosting the festivities, Pop Tops Sportswear for providing the uniforms, and Pepper Sawyer for producing the line charts.


(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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