FPHL Federal Prospects Hockey League

FPHL Ice Chips - Game Recaps

Published on February 24, 2024 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) News Release


ELMIRA RIVER SHARKS at DANBURY HAT TRICKS

HAT TRICKS SMASH RIVER SHARKS 10-4, EXTEND WIN STREAK TO FOUR

by Doug Lattuca

Danbury, CT -The Hat Tricks speared the River Sharks 10-4 Saturday night marking their fourth consecutive victory. Three different Hat Tricks tallied four points and all but four Danbury skaters recorded a point. The Hat Tricks scored three power-play goals and have 13 over the last five games.

In Frankie McClendon's return to Danbury, the veteran netminder surrendered seven goals on 28 shots in two periods of action.

At 14:51 of the first period, the Hat Tricks trailed 3-1. Then the tides shifted and the Hat Tricks exploded offensively. Danbury rattled off nine of the next ten goals to pull away and notch its highest output of the season.

4:09 into the first period, John Scully scored his fifth power-play goal on a deflection in front. But just two minutes later, Elmira netted the first of three unanswered goals. Trailing 3-1, Danbury cut the score to one with a net-side tap in goal from Connor Woolley. That created an avalanche of scoring for the Hat Tricks.

In the second, Captain Jonny Ruiz buried three goals for his second hat trick of the season (8:43, 13:13, 15:04) while forward Connor Woolley secured his second of the night (9:45), and defenseman Josh Labelle slapped a point shot in on the power play for the fifth and final score of the period (17:14) .

The Hat Tricks added three more in the third. Daniel McKitrick tipped home a wrist shot on the power-play at 4:48, Samuel Tetreault snuck one through traffic from the point for his first professional goal (6:05), and Labelle grabbed his second of the night at 19:01 to shut the door.

Elmira's fourth goal came via a penalty shot at 4:26 in the second period. Davide Gaeta, at the time, cut Danbury's lead to two.

The Hat Tricks finish off the three-in-three weekend Sunday versus Binghamton. The puck drops at 3 p.m.

River Sharks Fall Despite Early Lead, 10-4

by Jon Kliment

Danbury, CT -After a comeback fell just short on Friday night Elmira came into Saturday night knowing they needed points against Danbury and Watertown this weekend.

After a boarding call on MJ Maerkl the Hat Tricks capitalized scoring on a rocket of a shot from Samuel Tetreault deflected past Frankie McClendon just 4:09 into the game. Elmira did not sit back however 1:59 later Dustin Jesseau scored for the River Sharks his second goal in as many nights tucking one behind Connor McCollum to tie the game back at 1-1. After a cross-checking minor to Tetreault, Trevor Neumann netted his first professional goal on the power play on a feed from Steven Klinck and Darius Davidson to give Elmira the lead 2-1. Jesseau found the back of the net again on a perfect feed from Neumann into the slot Dustin hammered it past McCollum for the 3-1 lead. The Hat Tricks responded 2:17 later on an odd man rush as Connor Wooley closed the gap to just a goal, 3-2.

Danbury found their game in the second frame as their captain Jonny Ruiz continued his hot streak after coming back from the birth of his child he added a hat trick in the second period, Connor Wooley and Josh LaBelle also added goals for the Hat Tricks, but 15:34 into the period Elmira's Davide Gaeta was taken down on a breakaway and received a penalty shot which he was able to put behind McCollum to keep the River Sharks in the game the second period ended 7-4 Hat Tricks.

The onslaught continued into the third as Danbury added goals from McKittrick and LaBelle on the power play and an even strength from Samuel Tetrault his first professional goal.

McClendon stopped 21 of 28 in the loss while Sammy Bernard who replaced Frankie in the third period stopped 12 of 15.

The River Sharks go to Watertown tomorrow night at 7pm trying to keep their playoff lead. Follow along on Youtube and Mixlr! #FeartheFin

COLUMBUS RIVER DRAGONS at MOTOR CITY ROCKERS

Motor City Ends Columbus' Win Streak With 5-4 Win

by Ben Szilagy

Fraser, MI -After being shut out for the first time this season a night ago, the Motor City Rockers made sure it wouldn't happen again.

The Rockers jumped out to a four goal lead, but had to hold on to a 5-4 win against the Columbus RiverDragons to end the RiverDragons' 16-game win streak.

Motor City was led by forward TJ Delaney who scored two goals for his first two goal game since Dec 30th against Port Huron. It's his ninth multi-point game of the season and his third multi-goal game of the 2023-24 campaign.

The first goal of the night was scored by Scott Coash on a pure hustle play by Pavel Svintsov. Svintsov chased the puck behind the net and created a turnover. He then centered it to Coash who put away a team leading 21st goal of the season 3:17 into the first period.

The second goal of the period was Delaney's first of the game. Danny Vanderwiel won the draw on the far side dot. Josh Colten fired the puck from the point that was deflected by Delaney in front of the net for a 2-0 lead.

The Rockers added to the lead in the second period when TJ Sneath earned his first goal since coming back from injury. The Forward battled for the puck along the boards and came out with the puck. William Lavaillere came out of the crease towards the RiverDragon bench as if a penalty was called; there wasn't one. Sneath fired the puck on the empty net for his 10th of the season before Delaney got a power play goal nine minutes later for a 4-0 lead.

Columbus stormed back into the game thanks to two power play goals to close out the middle frame when Cody Wickline fired a laser from the slot and Justin MacDonald fired a howitzer from the far circle that cut into the lead 4-2 with 3:33 to play.

Motor City built the lead back up in the third period when Nick Gullo accepted a pass from Jonathan Juliano and deked and scored for his third as a Rocker for a 5-2 lead before Columbus added on from Carson Andreoli that brought cut back into the lead, 5-3, with 5:30 to play.

Then the second controversial goal of the weekend happened with 3:35 to play.

Ricky Gonzalez, who stopped 35-of-39 shots, tried to cover the puck to free it. The loose biscuit popped out to Josh Pietrantonio who fired it back on net. Colten was behind Gonzalez and stopped the puck from entering the net, and the goal judge agreed. However, at the next stoppage of play, the goal was awarded to Pietrantonio to make it a one goal game, 5-4.

Motor City killed a power play in the final 2:11 of the game to ensure the win.

The final game of the three game series will take place on Sunday at 2:05pm at Big Boy Arena before Motor City looks to regroup and face the Blue Ridge Bobcats the following weekend.

RIVER DRAGONS WIN STREAK ENDS AT 16

by Tom Callahan

Fraser, MI -The Columbus River Dragons team record winning streak was halted at 16 games as the Motor City Rockers held on for a 5-4 win on Saturday night.

The Rockers raced out to a 4-0 lead halfway through the second period, but Columbus began to mount its comeback with a pair of power play goals before the end of the period from Cody Wickline and Justin MacDonald.

Then in the third, after the Rockers pushed the lead back to 5-2 Columbus would once again respond. First Ryan Gil scored on a delayed power play, tipping a Carson Andreoli shot past goaltender Ricardo Gonzalez to make it 5-3. Then Josh Pietrantonio scored a shorthanded goal with 3:35 left to pull within a goal.

Despite a late power play, the River Dragons were unable to tie the game, and the win streak came to a halt.

Notes:

Pietrantonio's goal was his 350th pro point of his career.

MacDonald's league-record scoring streak has now reached 27 games (22-38-60).

William Lavalliere's River Dragons debut was spoiled by the loss. He made 26 saves.

The same two teams go back at it Sunday afternoon at 2:05 pm ET to settle the three-game weekend series. The next River Dragons home game is Friday, March 8 against the Carolina Thunderbirds. Tickets for all remaining River Dragons home games are on sale now through the Civic Center Box Office and online at TicketMaster.com.

MISSISSIPPI SEA WOLVES at CAROLINA THUNDERBIRDS

Carolina Dominates Mississippi, 6-2

Thunderbirds put up six goals in first two periods to take three points

by Brendan Reilly

Winston-Salem, NC -Following an 8-0 shutout victory on Friday night, the Carolina Thunderbirds scored six times over the first two periods to take down the Mississippi Sea Wolves, 6-2, Saturday evening at the Annex in front of a sold-out crowd.

Carolina (28-9-1) jumped on the visitors early on the penalty kill. With just over seven minutes gone, James Farmer snapped a stretch pass to Gus Ford who walked in on a breakaway to beat Mississippi (18-19-3) netminder Anthony D'Aloisio to give Carolina the 1-0 lead. Six minutes later, the Czech Line combined for the second goal with Petr Panacek finding Jiri Pestuka in front to double the Thunderbirds advantage heading into the 2nd period.

In the 2nd period, Ford scored on an odd man chance with Roman Kraemer to make it 3-0. Two minutes later, Panacek beat D'Aloisio at the 5:12 mark and Carolina was rolling leading 4-0. 38 seconds later, Dawson Baker recorded his 19th goal with assists from Kraemer and Ford to build the lead to five.

Carolina wasn't done in the 2nd. With 8:26 remaining in the period, Jacob Schnapp found the back of the net tying his career high in goals with 15 this season and the Thunderbirds took a 6-0 lead into the 3rd period.

In the 3rd, Dalton Anderson scored twice but the Thunderbirds coasted to their 28th win on the season taking down Mississippi, 6-2.

In the win, Ford was named 1st star with Kraemer earning 2nd star honors. Tucker Firth was given the 3rd star with two assists on the evening.

Carolina took all six points on the weekend from Baton Rouge and Mississippi and now get ready to head back on the road to Baton Rouge for three games. Puck drop on Thursday is set for 8:30 p.m. EST from the Raising Canes River Center

BATON ROUGE ZYDECO at WYTHEVILLE BOBCATS

ZYDECO CHASE 'CATS 3-2

by Brett Wiseman

Wytheville, VA -The Baton Rouge Zydeco jumped out to a quick lead, extended it and held off a late charge from the Blue Ridge Bobcats to earn a 3-2 win.

Baton Rouge put up a trio of goals in the first period, heavily outshooting and hemming Blue Ridge in their own zone. Connor Green only lasted one period and was relieved by Owen Liskiewicz in an effort to turn momentum, and it did just that as Danny Martin put home his 10th goal of the season for the only marker in the middle frame.

Despite a late third-period power play goal from Justin Daly, the Bobcats spent most of the night chasing the game and ran out of time to equalize.

The two teams will meet for the final time in the regular season tomorrow afternoon at 4:00.

ZYDECO SNAP 11-GAME LOSING STREAK, BEAT BOBCATS 3-2

by Joseph Furtado

Wytheville, VA -Saturday night's 3-2 victory over the Blue Ridge Bobcats marked the end of the Baton Rouge Zydeco's 11-game losing streak. The team's first win since January 6th when they defeated the Mississippi Sea Wolves 6-5 on the road.

Baton Rouge looked like a completely different team, controlling the opening 20 minutes of hockey and posting 14 shots on Bobcats goaltender, Connor Green. Josiah Roen got the Zydeco going early, just 5:12 into the period to make it 1-0, recording his third goal of the season. Minutes later, Scott Shorrock would pick up his 10th goal to extend the lead to make it 2-0. Tyler Larwood would close things out for the Zydeco just before the end of the period, giving a controlling 3-0 lead heading into the 2nd.

In the second, Martin Daniel scored the only goal of the period on the rush to put the Bobcats on the boards, beating Bailey Stephens on the glove side at 9:43 to make it 3-1. Meanwhile, the Zydeco were held to just eight shots and would go 0/1 on the power play.

The third period was an exciting one, as the Zydeco clung to a two lead, the Bobcats tried to rally. Trailing by two, the Bobcats came out swinging with a goal from Justin Daly at 8:15, to cut the lead down to 3-2. Despite the strong push from the Bobcats, the play of the game came from Bailey Stephens who robbed Gehrig Lindberg from tying the game stretching post-to-post to make the save with six minutes left in the period. Stephens would finish the night with 27 saves on 29 shots.

Baton Rouge would survive and win the game 3-2, snapping their 11-game losing streak. With the win, they improve to 7-24-4-1-0, while Wytheville drops to 7-22-5-3-1. Both teams will meet for the final time of the regular season tomorrow at 4:00 pm EST.

WATERTOWN WOLVES at BINGHAMTON BLACK BEARS

Binghamton Erases 4-goal Deficit in 6-5 Win

by Brooks Hill

Binghamton, NY -The Binghamton Black Bears erased a four-goal deficit in the third period and went on to defeat the Watertown Wolves 6-5 in the shootout. Binghamton celebrates the victory along with boasting their fifth sellout of the season, first back-to-back occurrence in franchise history.

Watertown jumped out to a 2-0 lead early into the second period. Jestin Somero, in his return to Binghamton, put the Black Bears on the board, right after a power play expired. However, Watertown was able recapture a two-goal lead with a power play tally of their own. The Wolves' Tate Lesson added another goal and carried a 4-1 lead into the second intermission.

Binghamton needed to regroup, not panic. Unfortunately for the home team, their deficit would get bigger before it got smaller. Michael Mercurio made it 5-1, and some fans headed for the exit with their favorite team down four.

Then the script flipped like a switch.

Anderw Logar gave the building life with the Bears only power play of the night for Binghamton. Connor Smith scored with 10:24 left in regulation time, and hope was given to the home squad. JT Walters inched the Black Bears closer with his second goal of the season, making it a one-goal game with 5:24 left.

Tyson Kirkby scored the game-tying goal with three minutes left. The crowd erupted as the Black Bears had climbed the mountain, erasing a four-goal deficit in a span of 13 minutes. After 60 minutes, we headed to overtime for the first time in the season series.

Back-and-forth action commenced but neither side was able to break the tie. The shootout would commence. The only player to score was the last one, as Smith walks-off the Wolves with his first shootout goal of the season. Binghamton storms back and wins 6-5 in the shootout.

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Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2024


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