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The 98 Vipers showed up this morning and played 3 complete periods and skated to a 5-3 win over the Terriers. The Vipers used a patient foecheck and some dogged work in the D-Zone to take the victory. The Vipers jumped out to the 1-0 lead on a goal by Kyle Lynch (3-0-3) that was set up by some nice work on the wall by Kyle Hentosh(0-2-2) and Dante Maribito(0-2-2), and Lynchie sent a shot to the far side that snuck through. The same combination hooked up again to put the Vipers ahead 2-0 after 1 period. The Terriers would then score 3 straight goals in the middle frame to take a 3-2 lead. With 4 minutes left in the period Heath King(0-1-1) provided some nice forechecking down low, got it to JT Chamberlain(1-1-2) behind the net who swung the net and made a nice pass to the front of the cage where Chris Goggin was waiting and lifted the tying goal into the top corner, for a 3-3 tie after 2 periods. Three minutes into the third Chamberlain would jump on a turnover just inside the Terrier line walk in on a breakaway and slide a nice backhand in the net to give the Vipers the lead for good. Maribito would provide some crucial forechecking with about a minute left which would pin the Terriers in their own end, and then Lynchie while providing great help in his own end would pick up the puck just inside his own blue line and deposit it into the open net with 4 seconds left to give him the hattrick and more importantly a well deserved win for the Vipers. All six defenseman did a great job of keeping the play in front of them and clearing the net the entire game. The Vipers get back at it later on tonight against the Springfield Pics.

The 98 Vipers went up to the North American Winter Championships in Marlboro on Friday night to take on the powerful Mercer Chiefs of New Jersey.  It took the Vipers  some time to dust of the Christmas cheer, but it was to little to late for the Vipers as they dropped a 5-3 decision to the Chiefs. The Vipers found themselves on the wrong side of a 3-0 score before they would get anything going.Just 10 seconds into the third period Kyle Lynch would chip the puck down low to Dante Maribito who would then feed Kyle Hentosh high in the slot and he would fire a one-timer through the 5-hole to get the Vipes on the board, The same line would hook up again as Hentosh (2-0-2) would bang home a rebound under the goalies glove to make it a 4-2 game and the momentum had swung, Maribito(0-2-2) and Lynch(0-2-2) would again pick up the helpers. Just under a minute later Chris Goggin would finish off a nice rush by JT Chamberlain by stuffing in the rebound to make it a 1 goal game with just under 4 minutes to play, thats as close as they would get though as the Chiefs would add an empty netter with 10 seconds left to seal the game. The Vipers will take on the Boston Jr Terriers in Game 2 Saturday morning

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98 Vipers Skate Past 98 PHD   The 98 Vipers had an offensive explosion in route to a big win over PHD on Saturday morning. The Line of Noah Maercklein (4-1-5), Rob Murphy (1-5-6) and Brendan White (0-5-5) combined for 16 points in the game. The other two lines also hit the sheet as the Vipers were in control from start to finish in this one Kyle Lynch, Dante Maribito and Kyle Hentosh all posted 1-2-3 and Chirs Goggin (2-0-2), Jt Chamberlain (0-1-1) and Heath King (1-2-3) also contributed, the highlight of the day though belonged to Jack Moretti (1-1-2) as he notched his first career Viper goal in the third period. Aaron McDonnell and Andrew Krajeski held the fort between the pipes   The Vipers now gear up for a grueling Christmas Tournament where they will kick things off on Friday against the powerful Mercer Chiefs of New Jersey.

Due to the snow storm, please check with your coaches as to whether events have been cancelled or not.  Some rinks have decided to preemptively close and cancel tonights events and some have not.  Please call your coach if you have questions.

It was one shift that separated JT Chamberlain from the rest of the deserving 98's over the weekend, as JT blocked 2 shots in one shift after completing a very nice backcheck. JT blocked a shot from the faceoff circle then raced back up to the blue line to block another from the point, he also scored the only goal of the game on a nice rush. Patrick McCarthy also was considered for the prestigious award, as on Saturday the entire team was given consideration as the entire roster did their part.

In the second of a two game series the 98 VJW Elites edged the 98 Vipers on Sunday by using a 3 goal second period to put the Vipes away. The Warriors would score 2 goals in 10 seconds 2 minutes into the second period to put the Vipers back on their heels, they would add a third to make it 3-0 before the Vipers would get on the board with a nifty rush and finish by JT Chamberlain, Aaron Dollin got the assist as he sprung Chamberlain out of the zone and down the left wing wall. This was another excellent game between the two teams as the first period was played even with a 0-0 score after 1 and the third period was played even, except for a meaningless empty netter with 26 seconds left. The Vipers could never recover from the 3 goal second period, even while gaining some momentum in the third. Patrick McCarthy and Jack Moretti played well on the blueline for the Vipers

98 VJW Elite scored with 2:20 minutes left in the game to salvage a tie with the 98 Vipers in a very entertaining game in Haverhill. In a game that saw the Vipers give back the lead 3 times to the Warriors the Vipers walked away with a disappointing tie to the first place VJW Elites. After falling behind 1-0 in the first, Dante Maribito (1-1-2) was able to redirect a beautiful shot from Ryan Connearney (0-2-2) to tie the score at 1. Just 40 seconds later the Vipers went ahead 2-1 on a beautiful goal from Kyle Hentosh (1-0-1) as he finished off a great rush started by Kyle Lynch (1-1-1) who sent Maribito away who then fed Hentosh on a beautiful 2 on 1. The Warriors then answered just 30 seconds later with a backbreaking goal with just 13 seconds left in the  period to tie the game at 2.  The Vipers jumped out to a quick 3-2 lead early in the second period as Kyle Lynch tapped in the rebound off a beautiful offensive rush by defenseman Connearney. Again the Warriors would score a very late goal with 59 seconds left to tie the score at 3. The third period was tense and exciting as each team exchanged chances, Noah Maercklein was denied on a breakaway with about 12 minutes left to preserve the tie and the Vipers Aaron McDonnell answered with his own breakaway save  with 9 minutes left to keep things at 3-3. With 2:49 left Brendan White made a terrific play behind the net and slid an incredible pass to Noah Maercklein in the slot who fired a wrist shot over the goalies glove to give the Vipes the 4-3 lead. Unfortunately just 29 seconds later the Warriors raced in on a 2-1 and deposited the game tying goal with just 2:20 left. The same two teams square off tomorrow in Haverhill.

Three Vipers were honored this week by the NEHL as players of the week ending 11/30/08.  Chris Goggin, Nick Salgado and Caroline Kukas were all outstanding in their league games throughout the weekend.  Congratulations!

 

SQUIRT EAST
Nashua had a win and a tie against the Vipers. Kyle Feeney had the winner late in the second period and Nashua built a 3-0 lead and held on for a 3-2 victory as Kyle Hentosh had 1-1-2 for the Vipers - and Chris Goggin scored with 2:13 left to give the Vipers a 2-2 tie with Nashua.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chris Goggin, Vipers

 

 

SQUIRT WEST
Nick Salgado had a goal and an assist as the Vipers beat the Monsters, 4-0.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Nick Salgado, Vipers.

 

 

 

MITE
Caroline Kukas pitched a shutout and Jake Mecrones had a goal and an assist to lead the Vipers to a 2-0 victory over the Cyclones.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Caroline Kukas, Vipers

This week's Green Helmet, which is given to the 98 player who best exemplifies the meaning of Team, goes to defenseman Aaron Dollin. There was one play that separated Aaron from the other qualified nominees this weekend, during the 98's 3-1 loss to the Falcons, a Falcon forward raced in on a breakaway, and Aaron could have easily pulled up and observed the play, but Aaron never gave up on the play and at the last minute knocked the puck off the forwards stick and he was never able to get a shot off. It was that play and his consistent effort all week that helped him wear the coveted green helmet out of the rink.The Green Helmet award is all about our players doing the little things that usually go unnoticed but go a long way to lead a team to victory. Brendan White and Patrick McCarthy were also nominated for this weeks award. It should be noted that the award is awarded based on an entire week of activities, from skills to practices to games and how the player carries himself in the room.