November 13, 2007

Monarchs make strides over showcase weekend

Haverhill, MA - The New Hampshire Junior Monarchs made great strides over this weekends showcase event, going 2-1 and earning four points in the process. The weekend began with a 4-2 loss to the Junior Bruins, followed by wins against the Shamrocks and the Division leading Syracuse Stars. “As a coaching staff we are pleased with our squad’s play all weekend long, they battled hard, played together within the system and came together as a group”, Stated Associate Head Coach Bob Corkum.

Junior Bruins (4-2 Loss)

 New Hampshire came out of the gate quickly to take a one to nothing lead on a Juri Bouharevich goal at 1:02 of the first half. Bouharevich’s goal brought the game to a torrid pace, both teams realizing the importance of the next goal. For the next thirteen minutes each team would trade chances, but neither team able to score. Junior Bruin forward John Henrion evened the score at one apiece while on the power play, courtesy of an Adam Kaiser slashing call at the 13:54 mark. Monarch’s goalie Justin Gates and his opposition Russ Stein would turn aside all other bids during the first half, sending the teams to the locker rooms tied at one.  The Bruins broke the tie early into the second half with another power play tally of the stick of Justin Alonzo. Monarch’s forward Ben Ketchum was serving a two minute minor for interference. Bruins forward Byan Kriner would strike next just over a minute later beating Gates on a rebound goal from a Cory Kane shot putting the arch rivals ahead by two. Ansel Ivens-Anderson would get the Monarchs back within one scoring at the 17:21 mark with Adam Kaiser and Angelo Vrachnas picking up assists on the play. During next five minutes the Monarch’s would throw everything they had at the Bruins trying desperately to even the score, but Stein would answer continually. John Henrion would put the icing on the cake scoring an empty net goal with 37 seconds left in the game. “It came down to special teams today and we found ourselves on the short end of the stick. We battled hard today and played together and that is a very big positive”, noted Corkum.

Boston Shamrocks(9-0 win)

 This game had all the makings of an old fashion blow out from the drop of the puck, and the Junior Monarchs did not disappoint. The Monarchs would score 6 first half goals. Ansel Ivens Anderson would start things off with a net front tally from a Ryan Miniaci point shot. Brian Flynn would light the lamp six minutes later off a nice Greg Burke feed after constant pressure in the Shamrock zone. From the 11minute mark until 17:58 of the first half it was the Jeffery Velleca show. Velleca scored 3 goals in just over six minutes to give the Monarch’s a five goal lead with still over seven minutes to play in the first half. The Shamrocks clearly had no answer for the hungry Monarchs. Greg Burke would add to the lead before the buzzer sounded ending the first half of play, with Russ Franey and Brian Flynn picking up assists on the goal. Monarch goaltender James Mello saw little action throughout the first half and only thirteen shots total for the game. The second half was more of the same. Lance Herrington would score with Velleca and Graham Sisson assisting. Just over two minutes later Flynn would score with Miniaci and Burke assisting and finally Ben Ketchum would round out the scoring with Vrachnas assisting.

Syracuse Stars (2-0 win)

The New Hampshire Junior Monarchs played arguably there best game of the year, defeating the Northern Division leading Syracuse Stars 2-0. This was an exciting, tight checking, and high tempo game from start to finish. James Mello was excellent between the pipes turning away all 26 shots he saw. The power play failed the Monarchs two days prior against the Junior Bruins, but today it won them the game. The first half began with some excellent puck movement and defensive zone play from both teams; neither squad was willing to give away free ice. Monarch Captain Owen Carpino opened the scoring at the 18:44 mark while on the power play. Carpino took a Rence Coassin feed and buried a slap shot over the glove of an out stretched Chris Noonan to give his team a 1-0 lead that would hold up for the remainder of the first half. Coassin would pick up a goal of his own and his second point of the afternoon when he converted a Jeff Velleca and Juri Bouharevich feed at the 10:37 mark of the second half, again on the power play. Coassin’s goal would be all the scoring for the remainder of the game. Mello and Noonan were excellent throughout the last half. “We were rewarded today for our attention to detail. We played hard and smart for most of the game, got great goaltending and paid the price all game long. This is a game we can build from”, chimed Associate Head Coach Bob Corkum.

  The Monarch’s look forward to next weeks single game against the Valley Junior Warriors at 8:10 in Haverhill.