November 27, 2007

Monarchs Sweep Bandits

Hooksett, NH – The New Hampshire Jr Monarchs continued their winning ways with a weekend sweep of the Bridgewater Bandits in the only EJHL action during the holiday weekend.  Both Division One bound goaltenders Justin Gates (Providence College) and James Mello (Dartmouth College) played extremely well.

Saturday’s contest had the Monarchs jump out to a 2-0 first period lead on goals from Charlie Mullan (Greg Burke, Owen Carpino) and Jeff Velleca (Rence Coassin).  After a scoreless second period the Monarchs jumped out to a 3-0 lead just 16 seconds into the third when Charlie Mullan hit a streaking Greg Burke through the neutral zone.  Burke drove wide and slipped a backhand pass to Brian Flynn who one-timed the puck past Ryan Casey.  Less than two minutes later Jeff Hannan cycled the puck to Ansel Ivens-Anderson who walked off the wall and hit Ryan Miniaci coming down the far point; Miniaci used a quick release to the top shelf over Casey’s glove for the 4-0 lead.  Ross Gaudet would score a great goal at the 4:37 mark when he made a great move at the blue line to go in all alone on Justin Gates.  It would be the only goal Gates would surrender as he was brilliant in net and stopped 39 of 40 shots on the day.  Ryan Casey finished the day stopping 37 of 41.

Game two on Sunday was another great battle that started with the Bandits lighting the lamp first on the power play when Matt Davis wristed one past James Mello for a 1-0 lead 6:02 into the game.  Six minutes later the Monarchs netted their own power play goal when Ansel Ivens-Anderson tipped an Owen Carpino shot to knot the game at 1-1.  The Bandits would take a 2-1 lead into the second when their power play popped one home off a rebound goal from Jared Smith at 16:34.

The second would be a Monarchs flurry as they would score three goals in a 2:41 span.  The first would be a great shot from Graham Sisson as he one timed a shot from across his body into the far top side of the net past Ross McKinnon to make it 2-2 just 3:03 into the period.  Jeff Velleca and Kyle Mountain added helpers on the goal.  At the 4:57 mark Owen Carpino would come across the blue and unleash a snap shot that rang off both pipes and in for the 3-2 lead.  Adam Kaiser would finish the scoring clip when a Brian Flynn pass to the front went off his body and in the net past a helpless McKinnon.

The Bandits power play would strike again when Brian Yanovitch popped home yet another rebound at the 10:09 mark of the third period.  It would be the only goal they would score in the third as James Mello shut the door down and stopped the next 10 shots he faced to seal the victory for the Monarchs.  Mello finished the day stopping 40 of 43 while McKinnon stopped 29 of 33.

The Monarchs will now travel to Burlington, VT for a two-game series with the Green Mountain Glades this coming Saturday and Sunday.