Squirt Minors Recognized on the National Hockey Rankings and capture the NEEHL Championship Title
The Squirt Minor National Hockey Rankings division posted the final results for the season. The CT Clipper’s Squirt Minor team ranked # 19 of 42 teams, hanging in with the top 20 that included the LI Gulls, Providence Capitals, Rochester Americans, Jr Flyers, Boston Jr Terriers, Freeze at Exeter, Little Ceasars, Bridgewater Bandits, LI Royals, Top Gun, Syracuse Stars, Worcester Crusaders, NS Wings, South Shore Kings, Mercer Chiefs, Cleveland Barons, Bay State Breakers, Ramapo Saints, CT Clippers and Buffalo Regals.This past weekend the Clippers’ Squirt Minor team, playing as the three seed, captured the New England Elite Hockey League Championship by defeating two formidable opponents. The tournament took place at the Olympia in Springfield, MA.
On Saturday the Squirts played the second seed New England Moose. While each game this year has been close, the Clippers’ have had the Moose’ number, giving them three of their four regular season league losses. This game started no differently. Each team skated well with the teams trading goals. Christian DiDonato scored the first two goals for the Clippers. Nick Adamsons and Taggart Corriveau added assists. When the Moose took a 3-2 lead in the third period, it looked as if the Clippers’ run against the Moose was going to end. However, with only a few minutes to go Nick Waznia and Adamsons swarmed the Moose goal and after several stabs at the puck, Adamsons was finally able to tie the game at 3-3. Waznia earned an assist for his efforts. The game went into the first overtime. Each team posted chances to score however; the defense and goaltending was superb. With 0:15 left in OT, Corriveau took a feed from Adam Shea to bury the game winner. It was Corriveau’s second goal of the game, but more importantly it allowed the Clippers to advance to the title game.
On Sunday, the NEEHL top seed New Hampshire Avalanche hosted the Clippers. Maintaining the momentum from the prior day, the Clippers’ jumped all over the Avalanche skaters, scoring three goals in the first period. Corriveau scored twice and Shea once. Adam Aresco, Evan Sliker, Mario Marena, Shea and DiDonato earned assists. The Avalanche won the second period, posting two goals to the Clippers’ one to make the score 4-2. Again Corriveau scored, this time skating with DiDonato and Adamsons, who earned the assists. As expected, the Avalanche increased their intensity and scored with four minutes to go to bring the score to 4-3. With about two minutes to go in the game, the Avalanche pulled their goalie to add a sixth attacker. The Clippers’ defense coupled with strong net-minding by Al Rogers turned away the Avalanche’s rushes. With just under ten seconds to go in the game, Shea out hustled an Avalanche defenseman and scored into the open net to seal the 5-3 victory for the Clippers. The tired Clippers Squirt Minors were all smiles as they received the tournament trophy at center ice.
Congratulations to the players and coaches on closing out the season on such a high note. Finally, thank you to the parents and friends who consistently provided positive vocal and moral support to the players throughout the long, long season.
Article written by Karl Adamsons, additional comments by Sona Sliker.
