March 28, 2007

Monarchs Claim Tier III National Title

Worcester, MA - The 2006-2007 New Hampshire Junior Monarchs put the icing on the cake last evening winning the Tier III Jr. A National Title by defeating the Bay State Breakers 5-1 at Iorio Arena in Walpole Ma. The championship, in its inaugural year, solidified the Monarchs place as the top junior team in the nation.

 The first period began with both teams playing very conservative. The Breakers knowing all to well the firepower of their opponent, and the Monarchs perhaps a little complacent from their 9-2 drubbing of the AJHL’s Cyclones the night before. The Monarchs found themselves in the penalty box for six minutes in the period, but the Breakers were unable to capitalize. It was Nick DelGallo who opened the scoring with twenty-one seconds to play in the period on the power play. Eric Baier and Matt Germain would assist on the play. The EJHL regular season and playoff champions would take a 1-0 lead into the dressing room after the initial stanza was completed.

 The Monarchs began the second period with the hunger and tenacity that has become a trademark of the organization. After ten minutes of ferocious checking and sustained pressure Ryan Miniaci gave the Monarchs a two goal lead converting an Owen Carpino and Austin Mayer feed with a hard snap shot to the short side of Breaker net minder Nicholas Krauss while on the powerplay.

 The 2006-2007 Monarchs began the third period with the realization that this would be the final twenty minutes of their time together. Pat Knowlton wasted little time scoring an even strength goal just 1:31 into the period, giving the Monarchs a comfortable three goal cushion. Rence Coassin would pick up the lone assist on the play. “Knowlton’s goal at the start of the third was an absolute back breaker,” stated associate head coach Bob Corkum. “The guys new the championship was well within their grasp”. Nick Del Gallo extended the Monarch lead with a high-light reel shorthanded goal to put the game out of reach. Blake Paige would eventually score the lone Breaker goal sliding a shot past Monarch goaltender James Mello while on the power play. It was the only goal surrendered by Mello in more than 170 minutes of play against the Breakers dating back to EJHL Finals where the Monarchs swept Bay State 5-0 and 6-0 to capture the EJHL crown. UNH recruit Paul Thompson would add one more tally for good measure, scoring into an empty net with 53 seconds remaining.

 Head Coach and General Manager Sean Trembley and Associate head coach Bob Corkum are very proud of this year’s team. “The guys became a tight family over the course of the season; they bought into our system and achieved every honor the league and USA Hockey put in front of them”. “As a coaching staff we could not be more proud of the young men that wore our colors this year, they deserve to be called champions. “They have earned that right on and off the ice, their dedication and development throughout the course of the year has allowed them to achieve both team and personal goals.” “This team will certainly rank among the best the New Hampshire Junior Monarch brand has ever produced.”