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Battling through team sickness and some key injuries the Vipers just couldn't do enough and settled for a disappointing tie in the first game of the Mass Hockey Tier II Bantam State Play Down. The Vipers put forth a gutsy effort but were clearly lacking that jump in their step. Despite the adversity the Vipers were able to generate quality scoring chances, hit 3 posts and were stymied by a very hot Rats goaltender who made at least 3 point blank saves off Viper sticks which for sure should have been in the Viper net. Dante Maribito fed Kyle Hentosh on a 2v1 in the second period, Hentosh seemed to have poked it through the 5 hole but the tender had no idea where the puck was as it sat in the crease behind him and was eventually cleared. Christian Kukas also blasted a slapper off the bar early in the game. Kyle Hentosh was robbed again point blank in front as Kyle Lynch set him up but the tender swiped it out of the air with his glove on a shot that was destined for the back of the net. And then with just a minute left in the game the Vipers thought they had solved the puzzle only to have the goal waved off as it seemed the puck never crossed the line as it hit the post then the back of the goalie. The Vipers get back at it today with 2 must win games if they plan on advancing to the playoff round tomorrow. Zach Laramie at the other end played a solid game, he was tested with about 3 quality scoring chances and handled them with poise and stood tall making other saves.

 

 

The Vipers used 4 different goal scorers went up 3-0 after 2 periods and used their speed and skated to a solid 4-1 win over the PA Selects. Kyle Lynch (1-1-2) got the home team on the board just 3 minutes into the game as he capitalized on a Panther turnover and went in alone and buried a nice shot far side. Dante Maribito (1-1-2) and Kyle Hentosh would hook up for a pretty 2nd goal as Dante would chip the puck into open space and Hentosh would win a race to the puck and immediately slide it over to Maribito who buried the wrister for the 2-0 lead. Brendan White (1-1-2) would strike early int he second on the PP to stretch the lead to 3-0 as Maribito and Lynch picked up the helpers. The visitors would cut it to 3-1 just 45 seconds into the third on the PP, but Braden Haley would put this one away just 2 minutes later on a fine set up from JT Chamberlain and Brendan White. Zach Laramie would shut down the Panthers the rest of the way as he pitched in with a solid game, as defenseman Steven Tettoni, Aaron Dollin, Patrick McCarthy, Ryan Connearney, Alex Delvento, Christian Kukas and Dom Cappadona all contributed with a fine game on the blue line.

 

The 98 Elites and 97 Red Ranger Selects squared off late last night in a winner take all battle to see which team would represent the New England Hockey League for the Tier II Bantam spot. The 98s scored 5 unanswered goals in Tewksbury to take down the bigger and stronger Red Rangers. The Elites will now await a meeting on Monday evening to learn of their next step. This one started off on the wrong foot for the visitors as the more experienced Red Rangers team came out and controlled the opening 5 minutes of play which led to their first goal, a screened slapper from the point that avoided Zach Laramie. It took two thunderous checks, one by JT Chamberlain and the other by Kyle Lynch to change the momentum in this game, as the first 5 minutes would be the only stretch that the Vipers would not carry the play. JT Chamberlain (1-1-2) who would turn in one of his finest efforts of the season would start the scoring for the Vipes and tie the score half way through the first period, Brendan White (1-1-2) wold pick up the helper after some fine forechecking. The Red Line who have really been playing well of late would hook up again as this time "Beasley" Haley (1-2-3) wold benefit from a fine pass from JT for the 2-1 lead. And the Red Line would strike one last time in the first as Brendan White White would knock in the eventual game winner. The Vipers would send a dagger into the Red Rangers just 1 minute into the crucial 3rd period and up 3-1, Ross Wahl would win a racre in his own zone, chip the puck to himself and would end up on a 2 on 1 with Evan Daddario, at the very last minute Ross would fire a pass through the crease that a hard charging Daddario would bang home for the back breaker. Daddario (2-0-2) would continue his torrid pace as he banged home a goal mouth scramble for the 5th and final Viper goal, Noah Maercklein would pick up the assist on that one. The Red Rangers would tack on a meaningless goal late in the third as they would resort to some less than tasteful play down the stretch. Zach Laramie although not called on often was up to the task coming up with a big save set in the second period when the game was still close. This was a complete team effort from start to finish turned in by the 98s, every player, they rose to the challenge of a big game and passed with flying colors. As they now sit and await their plans on the National Tournament which begins next weekend in Tyngsboro they will entertain 2 very tough games against the Vermont Glades today.

 

The Vipers got their legs back for the second half of the doubleheader with the Glades as they scored on their very first shift of the game and never looked back in a 5-3 win. Kyle Hentosh (3-2-5) had a monster game in this one as he was in on all 5 goals.The green line started the game and got the puck deep and it never came out of the Glades end until the ref was picking the puck out of the back of the net as Henny cashed in after a Steven Tettoni (0-1-1) slapper from the point was stopped, Kyle Lynch (0-2-2) also picked up an assist. Dante Maribito (2-1-3) would put the home team up by 2 with assists going to both Henny and Lynchy. The third goal came via the most exciting play in hockey as Kyle Hentosh was taken down from behind on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot, he cashed in and the Vipers lead was 3-0. Hentosh would complete the "hatty" with just about a minute left in the second, again with help from both his linemates Lynchy and Maribito as the Vipers were up 4-0 after 2 periods. The Glades would get a PP goal to cut the lead to 4-1, and then score again with 5 minutes left to close the score to 4-2, but with just 2 minutes left Dante Maribito from Henny would seal the deal for this one. The glades would score a goal as the buzzer sounded in this one but the damage was already done and the Vipers came out with a solid win. Evan Daddario again sat this one out and hopes to return to the line up soon.

 

After playing a huge emotional game on Friday night and not getting off the ice until 10:30 in Tewksbury the night before, the Vipers had a tough task at hand made tougher yesterday morning against the very talented Glades. And the game went just as planned by some as the Vipers just had no spring in their step in a tough 3-2 loss to the Glades. The Vipers found themselves in a hole early down 2-0 after one as they just could not get their legs going. The second period was a different one as the Vipers battled back to tie the game. Dom Cappadona would get things started for the home team as hepinched down the wall cashed in on a turnover and fired a low hard shot far side for the 1-0 lead, Brendan White picked up the assist. Kyle Lynch would tie the game just 4 minutes later as he took a nice feed from Kyle Hentosh and the Vipers had a bit of momentum heading into the crucial third period. The boys would just not have enough gas as they gave up the game winner with just 5 minutes left. The 98s gave everything they had in the face of some adversity but it just wasn't enough against a very strong Glades team. Matters were made worse as the red hot Evan Daddario went down with an injury in the first period not to return for the game. Ryan Connearney and Christian KUkas turned in a pretty solid game on the blue line for the Vipers and Alex Delvento did a fine job once again jumping between forward and defense