Westfield Jr. Bombers 9, Ludlow Red 7
January 5th, Lossone Rink
Division: Mite 2
Westfield Mite 2 came out strong against their rivals, the Ludlow Red Team, for an intense battle. The Jr. Bombers played a strong passing game and formed powerful offensive attacks. Cody Collins (5 goals) gave the Jr. Bombers a 2-0 lead early in the game, only to have Ludlow fight back hard. Brody Fitzgerald was able to break up the Ludlow attack and get in close for a nice goal. Hunter Stockseth (3 goals) was able to pick up a few rebounds to add to the Jr. Bombers lead.
Westfield kept their heads up and sticks down to pick multiple assists during the game from Jax Grady, Cameron Gainley, Brendon Morse, Ryan Major and Gwenn Hosmer. Jacob Jarrell proved to be a solid net minder with multiple saves, keeping Ludlow working hard for each point and holding them off for a win.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 14, Ludlow White 4
January 6th , Smead Ice Arena
Division: Mite 2
From the first drop of the puck, the Jr. Bombers were passing and moving the puck up the ice. Westfield saw early goals from Jax Grady (2 goals) and Cody Collins (2 goals) which got the Jr. Bombers momentum going in this early morning game. Once the Jr. Bombers got going, Ludlow played hard, but was negated by the strong defense and goalie skills of Jacob Jarrell, who made multiple saves.
Westfield saw goals from Cameron Gainley (2 goals), Brody Fitzgerald (1 goal) and a hat trick from Hunter Stockseth (7 goals). Again, the Jr. Bombers showed off their growing passing game and racked up assists to Ryan Major, Gwenn Hosmer, Brendon Morse, Cody Collins and Cameron Gainley.
Holy Name Stars 11, Westfield Jr. Bombers 3
January 5th , Lossone Rink
Division: Mite 1
Westfield Mite 1 suffered a tough loss on Saturday, battling against Holy Name. The Jr. Bombers came out strong with a quick goal from Gage Sperlonga off a pass from Colin Foyle. Foyle scored next on a backhand shot off a rebound from Sperlonga. Foyle scored a third time for a hat trick. The rest of the game was all Holy Name. Cole Chapman, Ethan Porter and Andrew Morris played a strong defensive game. Anna Chrisanthopoulos, Matt Kotfila and Drew Glenzel worked hard on offense, and Bryce Russ played a great game in goal, but the Jr. Bombers struggled to get any more pucks in the net.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 12, Wililbraham Twin Meadows 5
January 6th , Fitspatrick Ice Arena
Division: Mite 1
The Jr. Bombers came out strong in an early Sunday morning game and never let up in a contest that showcased a lot of offense with solid defense. The team showed persistence around the net as five of the 12 goals came from rebounds off of primary shots. There were a team high three hat tricks from Matt Kofila, Gage Sperlonga and Colin Foyle. Drew Glenzel contributed with two goals and Anna Chrisanthopoulos also put one in the net. A solid defensive effort, led by Cole Chapman, limited WTM’s shot opportunities and the dependable Bryce Russ stopped most everything that was shot at him.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 6, Amherst 4
January 5th , Amelia Park Ice Arena
Division: Squirt 1
The squirt A team started the new year with a solid win against Amherst.
The game started with Nick Mee scoring the first goal of the game with the assist coming from Ciro Calvanese. The second goal was set up by some great passing by the Fitzgerald brothers, Aidan and Connor, to Ciro Calvanese for his first goal of the game. The great defensive play of Noah Jubb, Jordan Kowalski, Pat Martell and Connor Fitzgerald kept the Amherst team with only five shots on goal. The first period ended with the score 2-0 in favor of Westfield.
The second period started just like the first with Nick Mee scoring on an unassisted goal. Jordan Kowalski assisted on the second goal of the period which was scored by James Ackerman. Amherst finally got on the board with a goal of their own. The period ended with Westfield leading 4-1.
Again, Westfield scored first in the third period with a Cam Schnopp goal on an assist from Jason Rokosz. Amherst scored the next goal making it 5-2. Moments later, Cam Porter scored his goal on an assist from Nick Mee. Even though the Amherst team scored the last two goals of the game, the Westfield team held on.
Nick Ensign as always played a great game. CJ Czarnecki had a solid game in goal, making 20 saves in all.
Simsbury 5, Westfield Jr. Bombers 4
Simsbury CT Holiday Tournament
December 27th, Simsbury Farm Arena
Division: Squirt 2
It was a seesaw battle from the initial face-off with both teams taking turns being the aggressor. In the first period, Simsbury had the first goal at the 9:07 mark. At 5:47, Daniel Bennett tied it up with an assist from Bobby Miele. Evan Iglesias fired one from the point through the five-hole to put the Bombers ahead, 2-1. Simsbury pulled even with 3:06 left in the first but the Benett notched his second goal of the game with a quick shot, following the face-off with 1:07 left in the period, putting Westfield ahead 3-2.
The second period was all Simsbury as they tallied twice to take a 4-3 lead.
In the third, Simsbury padded the lead, scoring at 3:27. Nine seconds later, Iglesias scored to close it to one. With one second left, the Bombers put on a valiant effort but the last second shot was deflected just at the crease.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 3, Millbrook NY Kights 0
Simsbury CT Holiday Tournament
December 28th, ISSC Olympic Arena
Division: Squirt 2
It looked as if the Bombers may have been up against the NHL lockout Boston Bruins as the Millbrook Knights entered the arena with quite an impressive and extensive pre-game stretching work out. When they got on the ice not only did their colors match the Bruins but so did their size. Then they began their pre-game ice warm-up from something you would expect if the 300 Spartans had an ice hockey program.
But what turned out from the opening faceoff was the Bombers’ Brian Daly, not only being his usual stellar self between the pipes, but threw a shutout as his team played a near flawless team game. Westfield rarely had a lull in keeping their feet moving, first to the puck, keeping their heads up, making the outlet pass and playing shut down defense.
The first period ended in a scoreless tie as both teams were very evenly matched.
At 9:43 in the second period, Bobby Miele scored the first goal of the game with Brandon Powell assisting. With 2:51 left in the second, Evan Iglesias made a great shot playing the angle on the side of the Knights’ net with the puck deflecting off the goalie into the net.
In the third period, with one minute left, the Knights pulled their goalie, but Matt McMahon made them pay for it lighting the lamp with only 23 seconds left in the game. The Bombers outshot the Knights, 15-10.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 10, Wilbraham Twin Meadows 0
Simsbury CT Holiday Tournament
December 29th, Westminster Arena
Division: Squirt 2
The WTM hockey team was overwhelmed by Westfield as the Bombers picked up right where they left off from Friday’s effort. The Bombers’ goalie Brian Daly threw his second shutout in as many days as the constant offensive pressure and shut down defense kept the biscuit in the attack zone throughout most of the game.
It did not take the Bombers long to get things going their way as Daniel Bennett scored at 10:49 in the first. Only 16 seconds later, Bobby Miele then scored on a tip-in. Bennett would score his second of the night less than 30 seconds later with almost the exact same play. Aidan King then scored at the 9:23 mark of the first with Matt McMahon and Garrett Bacon assisting on the goal. With 5:25 left, Bacon would then score a goal of his own with both King and Bennett getting the assist. With 4:52 left in the first, Miele notched his second of the period rifling one by the goalie with Matt assisting.
There was no scoring in the second period.
Matt picked up the scoring again at 8:21 in the third. Miele would then complete his hat trick at 7:29. Tommy Whalley then scored the first of his two goals of the game at 6:20 then closing out the scoring with 2:36 left in the game as Joey DiGennaro and Bobby assisted.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 3, Amherst 2
January 5th, Mullins Center
Division: Squirt 2
The Bombers gave their coaching staff reason to have a happy new year as they rang in 2013 with a win in an early morning game in Amherst. Thank goodness only the fans of the game had ill effects as the Bombers skated well.
In a very evenly-matched contest, it wasn’t until 2:51 left in the first as the Bombers’ Bobby Miele finally broke a scoreless tie putting the Bombers ahead 1-0. Miele scored on a power play goal with Joey DiGennaro assisting.
Amherst then tied it up at 8:06 in the second period. Amherst then took a 2-1 lead when the puck just trickled in after the Bombers’ goalie Brian Daly made the initial stop. The Bombers would then tie the game when Miele’s hard work paid off. He pickpocketed the puck, then worked past two defenders to take the initial shot, scoring on a wrister off Garrett Bacon’s assist.
In the third, it was the Bombers’ Alex LaCourse who fed Aidan King who then made a sensational centering pass to a wide open Evan Iglesias to score the go-ahead goal with only 1:51 left in the game to close the scoring.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 6, Ludlow Red 4
January 6th, Smead Arena
Division: Squirt 2
In a game where Westfield had many chances to put the game away it seems as the Bombers just could not get the puck in the net. The Bombers outshot Ludlow 27-12 but just could not light the lamp. Thanks to the tenacious play on both ends, the Bombers would not give up and dug deep to have a fine come-from-behind victory.
Ludlow scored at 7:04 in the first. Daniel Bennett made a fine play when he charged the net for a rebound to score with Joey Cigal assisting to tie it up.
At 9:44 in the second, it was the Bombers’ Matt McMahon scoring on a rebound off a hard shot by Evan Iglesias with Tommy Whalley also assisting on the goal. Ludlow would then score three unanswered goals in 1.5 minutes late in the second to take a 4-2 lead. With only 1:15 left in the period, Matt McMahon scored his second goal of the game on a rebound with Evan and Tommy assisting on the play. The second period ended with Ludlow leading 4-3.
It was in the third when the Bombers took over to mount a comeback with three unanswered goals of their own. At 8:19, Iglesias tied the game with a rebound with Garrett Bacon and McMahon assisting on the goal. Bobby Miele then scored on a wrister. Aidan King and Brandon Powell assisted on Miele’s goal to take the lead. At 3:22, Brandon closed the scoring, putting the game out of reach when he sniped a shot top shelf off another fine assist from Garrett.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 4, Amherst 1
December 22rd , Mullins Center
Division: Peewee 1
The Jr. Bombers dominated play early and held on for the victory, defeating Amherst 4-1 in a road game Saturday morning. Westfield was paced by Spencer Cloutier’s goal and 2 assists. Linemate Joe Cernecki chipped in a goal and an assist with Alex Beauchemin and Scott Bussell also tallying goals. Matt Brady was solid in goal for the Jr. Bombers.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 11, Ludlow 0
December 23rd , Amelia Park Ice Arena
Division: Peewee 1
The Jr. Bombers Pee Wee A squad jumped out to an early lead and kept the pressure on throughout the contest, dismantling Ludlow 11-0 Sunday morning. Alex Beauchemin started the scoring on a nice feed from Connor Koziol at the midway point of the first period, which opened the floodgates. Spencer Cloutier made a steal at the blue line and deked the goalie moments later. Joe Czernecki followed with a goal and then fed Nik Chepurin for another before the horn sounded to end the opening period.
The carnage continued in the second period with three more goals highlighted by a great 2-on-1, give-and-go between Czernecki and Beauchemin and a repeat steal and breakaway goal by Cloutier.
The intense forechecking pressure never waned as the Jr. Bombers poured in four more goals in the third period led by a beautiful goal by defenseman Matt Pelletier who steamed into the Ludlow zone, faked through two defenders, dragged the puck all the way around the back of the net stuffing it into the other side before the goalie could close the door. Cloutier rounded out his hat trick with a power play goal. Other goal scorers were Koziol, Scott Bussell, and Quinn Powers.
Matt Brady earned the shutout, making eight saves for Westfield, who outshot their opponents 35-8.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 9, Salisbury 3
Simsbury CT Holiday Tournament
December 27th , Westminster Rink
Division: Peewee 1
Patience was key in the opening game of the Pee Wee A Simsbury Tournament Thursday. The Jr. Bombers had no answer for Salisbury’s best player early as he registered a hat trick in the game’s first 16 minutes, putting the Redhawks ahead 3-1 a minute into the seond period. That is when the Scott Bussell show began.
The young speedster played his best all-around game of the season and started the Jr. Bombes roll by stealing a puck at the opposing blue line and sniping a shot past the prone goalie. Thirty-nine seconds later, Bussell took a feed from defenseman Connor Koziol and scored. He followed that up with a pass of his own to Quinn Powers (2 assists), who scored and then pumped in his third goal of the period. Basically in a 4:45 span, Bussell had a hat trick and an assist and the Jr. Bombers had all of the momentum it needed holding a 6-3 lead after two. Bussell added a fourth goal in the third period for good measure along with Joe Czarnecki and Alex Beauchemin (hat trick).
The keys to the game were persistent fore-checking pressure and solid defense which took its toll as Westfield scored eight unanswered goals to come away with a 9-3 victory. Other goal-scorers included: Nik Chepurin, Wyatt Jensen, Spencer Cloutier, and goalie Matt Brady chipped in assists.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 3, Simsbury 1
Simsbury CT Holiday Tournament
December 28th, Westminster Rink
Division: Peewee 1
The Jr. Bombers hustled their way to a 3-1 victory moving to a 2-0 record in the Simsbury tournament. Great pressure, defense, and stellar goaltending paved the way to the victory. Quinn Powers hammered home a rebound at the 4-minute mark of the first period off of a shot from the red-hot Scott Bussell to put Westfield in the lead early. Alex Beauchemin made a great steal, juke and goal going in unassisted with 1:36 remaining.
Beauchemin found the back of the net again 19 seconds into the second period, assisted by Justin Oski and Nik Chepurin. The only blemish on the Jr. Bombers occurred when a Simsbury shot deflected in off of Connor Koziol’s blocked shot attempt with 4:38 remaining in the game. Ryan Roskey anchored the strong defensive game played by Westfield, breaking up threats and starting the offense. Offensively, the Jr. Bombers buzzed the zone with pressure on Simsbury’s defense and a much improved passing attack which led to a 29-14 shot on goal advantage. Matt Brady made several stellar saves in preserving the victory.
New York Stars 3, Westfield Jr. Bombers 0
Simsbury CT Holiday Tournament
December 29th, Simsbury, CT
Division: Peewee 1
Westfield brought a 2-0 record into the third and final game of pool play in the Simsbury Holiday tournament. Their third game matched them up with the New York Stars who skate out of Abe Stark Rink at Coney Island.
The first period saw terrific end to end hockey from both teams. Westfield’s stingy defense of Connor Koziol, Wyatt Jensen, Ryan Roskey and Matt Pelletier limited the Stars to only five shots in the first period. Unfortunately, the Stars also played excellent defense, limiting the forwards of Westfield to only five shots during the period.
The second period saw the number of shots increase slightly to eight for Westfield and seven for the Stars. Nikita Nesterenko was able to capitalize on one of the Stars shots with 7:39 left in the second period to net the first goal of the game. With the Stars up 1-0 it only took 17 seconds for the next goal to come in the game. Elias Cohen, of the Stars netted a strong shot past Westfield goalie Matt Brady to put the Stars up 2-0. Westfield finished the second period with some strong momentum heading into the third period.
Westfield showed some of their best hustle in the third period winning many of the 50-50 pucks. Strong scoring chances occurred for Joey Czarnecki, Katie Neilsen and Quinn Powers as Westfield outshot the Stars 15-4 in the period. However, the Junior Bombers were not able to find the back of the net during the period. The Stars netted a final goal on a strong slap shot by Douglas Butler with less than six minutes to go in the game. Overall, Westfield outshot the Stars 28-16 for the game.
New York Stars 4, Westfield Jr. Bombers 3
Simsbury CT Holiday Tournament
December 30th, Westminster Rink
Division: Peewee 1
Westfield advanced to the finals of the Simsbury Holiday tournament with the second best record in pool play. The Junior Bombers found themselves facing the only team to defeat them in the tournament, the New York Stars.
Much like the previous day’s game, the first period was full of back-and-forth hockey. Westfield was able to pressure the Stars slightly more. With less than a minute left in the period, the tenacious efforts by the Junior Bombers resulted in a goal from Scotty Bussell on a feed from Quinn Powers.
Westfield was riding a wave of confidence going into the second period.
The extra hustle of Nikita Chepurin was a difference maker with eight minutes to go in the period. Chepurin jumped in front of a Stars’ slap shot and knocked it down. Nikita and Justin Oski broke out on a 2-on-1 rush. Chepurin finished his strong shift with an excellent pass to Oski who buried the goal. The score remained 2-0 Bombers until the last three minutes of the period.
The Stars took advantage of a power play opportunity when Douglas Butler drilled a slap shot from the blue line past Westfield goalie, Matt Brady to make the score 2-1. However another Westfield penalty gave the Stars another power play chance. With just over 30 seconds to go, Brian Kovyazin, of the Stars evened the game and the second period came to a close with the teams tied at 2-2.
The third period was also marred by penalties from both teams as tensions were running high. The Stars were able to score their third power play goal with 8:39 remaining when Elias Cohen skated through the Junior Bombers defense and gave the Stars the lead. Westfield continued to press the Stars, but with 4:29 remaining, the Stars were able to net a fourth goal.
Westfield thought the puck had been frozen by their goalie but Anthony LaTona was able to push the puck across the line to extend the lead for Stars. The Junior Bombers were able to net one more goal with 10 seconds remaining when Joey Czarnecki found the back of the net. Unfortunately for the Junior Bombers, time expired and they were not able net the tie to force overtime. The Junior Bombers however can take solace in their second place finish knowing they played one of their best games of the season.
Notice:
Westfield Youth Hockey will be hosting its second annual “Social” on Saturday, Feb. 2 at Tekoa Country Club from 6:30-11:30 p.m. The purpose of this event will be to create an environment for league members and the local community to socialize and celebrate the organization and the great game of hockey. All proceeds from this event will be dispersed to the teams to be utilized to offset the costs of tournaments for the 2013-2014 season. Tickets are $25/person and can be purchased online at www.westfieldhockey.org. There will be raffles, dancing, appetizers, entertainment, and a cash bar. – COURTESY OF WESTFIELD YOUTH HOCKEY
