Day 3 of Nationals
Semi Final Game
Phoenix Polar Bears 2 - New Jersey Hitmen 4
The New Jersey Hitmen went into the semi final round as the #1 seed
vs. the Polar Bears the #4 seed. The game was a repeat of the game
played between the two teams on Tuesday Mar. 24. The identical
score of 4-2 was the final with the Hitmen advancing to the
Championship Game.
The game was well played by both teams, the Hitmen with tremendous
speed at all positions, and the Polar Bears with size in their
favor. The game was fast paced, with big plays and many good clean
checks. The game had few penalties overall, but half of those came
in the 2nd period. The 1st. period ended with the Hitmen up 2-1.
The Polar Bears came out strong in the 2nd, dominating the intial 6
minutes of the period, missed a great opportunity the pucked turned
over and unfortunately the Hitmen went down and scored their 3rd
goal on high rising wrist shot that caught the Polar Bear goalie off
the angle. Thereafter 6 penalties kept the 2nd period much in the
hands of special teams. The Polar Bears were short handed 4 times
during the 2nd period and gave up one power play goal.
Both teams came out flying in the 3 period, with the Polar Bears
scoring the only goal of the period. Cantor and Parsons scored for
the Polar Bears.
The Polar Bears finished a great season finishing 4th overall at the
National Tournament having had to play the #1ranked New Jersey
Hitmen twice through the Semi Final round. Comments around the rink
were that those two games might have been the two most competitive
games played by the Hitmen this season who dominated the Eastern Jr.
Hockey League.
The Championship Game will be played between two very good Eastern
Jr. Hockey League teams, the New Jersey Hitmen, and the Manchester
Monarchs. It should be a fantastic game.
El Paso 3 - Dubuque 1
The Rhinos won another well played game vs. Dubuque. The Rhinos
scored in all three periods from three different lines with goals
from LaBounty, Krueger and Wilhite. Goalie Hollinger saved 31 of 32
shots. The Rhinos finished with 2 victories and 1 defeat in the
round robin phase of the championship tournament. With two victories
they were in the running for the wild card spot in the semi final
round however lost out to the Phoenix Polar Bears in the plus/minus
calculations.
The Rhinos finished a terrific second season in the WSHL winning
the Mid-West Conference and the WSHL League Championship Title. The
team and Coach Corey Herman are to be congratulated for another
strong year.
Phoenix Polar Bears 6 - New Jersey Rockets 3
The Polar Bears took command of their second victory by coming from
behind entering the second period, scoring the go ahead goal 6
minutes into the second period and never looked back. Five
different Polar Bears scored goals: Edgeworth,
Clawson, Laricchia, Repka, and 2 goals for Cantor.
By finishing the round robin phase with 2 wins and 1 loss, the Polar
Bears were tied in win/loss points for the wild card spot in the
semi finals with El Paso, Helena, but earned the final semi finalist
spot by having the the highest net goals after taking all three
games played subtracting goals against from goals scored. Their net
total was a +7. The Polar Bears will play the EJHL New Jersey
Hitmen in the semi finals.
Day 2 of Nationals
Phoenix Polar Bears 6 - Seattle Totems 0
The Polar Bears pitched a shut-out in todays game with lots of scoring
and very good defense and goaltending. The Polar Bears worked hard in
the first period ending with no points on the board, in the 2nd period
they were more productive chalking up a 2 goal lead and the end of two.
In the penalty filled 3rd period, one of the longest periods in the
tournament the Polar Bears got 4 more goals to finish the game at 6-0.
The included 43 penalties with Seattle taking 27 and the Polar Bears
16. During the game Polar Bear Jordan Orasco was hit from behind,
suffered injuries and was taken to the hospital. Seattle received a
checking from behind/game misconduct for the dangerous check. After
that point in the game, Seattle took an 11 additional penalties and the
Polar Bears scoring 2 power play goals during that time.
Polar Bears will loose the services of Chris Walker (D) due to a game
misconduct penalty late in the 3rd. Hopefully Jordan Yhindopohl will
return from his injury which occured Monday in practice to shore up the
blue line for the Polar Bears.
El Paso Rhinos 5 - Minnesota Owls 4
The Rhinos played a much improved game today and came out with the win.
Although the Owls made a desperate come back late in the 3rd, the Rhinos
were able to hang on for the victory. Owl Edwin Hudick scored twice
late in the 3rd period to bring it within one goal, however Rhino Goalie
Hollinger made several key saves late in the game. Costi Hinn scored
twice for the Rhinos, Eric LaBounty, Tad Norris, and Austin Balko all
got a goal a piece.
This was a very good game for the Rhinos who were down 0-2 at the end of
the first period giving up 2 goals late in the period one of which was a
short handed goal. The game was well played by both teams, minimal
penalties with good offense and hard hitting clean hockey. Both teams
showed great sportsmanship.
News
Release 25 Mar 08
Opening Day of Nationals Phoenix 2 - NJ. Hitmen 4
Although the Polar Bears came up short today, the game against one of
strongest teams in the tournament proved to be exciting for the fans.
Midway through the first period the Polar Bears scored on a nice play
from Josh Larrichia to Blake Barkwell. The lead didn't last with the
Hitmen scoring a goal late in the first period and early in the 2nd.
The Polar Bears had their chances on a power play in the 2nd period to
tie up the score and build momentum on a terrific pass from Josh
Larrichia to Blake Barkwell again who was wide open in front of the
Hitmen goal. Unfortunately the shot was stopped by Hitman Goalie Jon
Morrow and the puck turned over to a short handed goal for the Hitmen
going up 3-1.
Even the the Polar Bears were out shot 2-1, the game in the bottom half
of the 2nd and entire 3rd period was back forth when the teams were
plaing 5 on 5. Power plays played a big part in the game, and excluding
the last minute of the game, the Polar Bears had 11 penalties to the
Hitmen's 9.
The Polar Bears go up against the Seattle Totems in Wednesdays game.
The Totems won their game today.
El Paso Rhinos 4 - Manchester Monarchs 11
The Rhinos were no match today for the Monarchs. Arriving late last
night into Boston, the Rhinos looked tired, sluggish and definitley off
their game.
The Monarchs controlled the game from start to finish with numerous out
numbered
attacks against Rhino Goalie Art Hollinger. The Rhino defense seemed to
pinch or try to hold the blue line, when they should have been backing
out and containing the Monarchs through the neutral zone.
Bill Krueger, Jeff Schmudlach, Nick Gorup, and WSHL Championship
Tournament MVP Eric LaBounty all had two points in the game. The Rhinos
had 2 power play goals and the Monarchs had 3 power play goals.
The Rhinos play Minnesota Jr. Owls in Wednesday game.
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