Westfield Jr. Bombers
Mite 3 Jamboree
December 29th, Amelia Park Ice Arena
Division: Mite 3 Black
On Saturday, December 29, 2012, the Westfield Jr. Bomber Mite 3 Black team participated in a Mite Jamboree at Amelia Park, playing in three 20-minute mini-games. They started out slow, losing to the Nonotuck Knights 5-2 with both Westfield goals being scored by Aidan Jubb. Westfield came back for a 3-2 win over the Rifles in the second 20-minute game with one goal apiece for Patrick Rae, George Kimball and Jubb. In the final 20-minute game, Westfield once again took the win over Ludlow 5-4. Goals were scored again by Jubb, Kimball and Rae with Tyler Barker and Darrin Schnopp adding to the scoring mix. Ian Bacon defended the Westfield goal in all three games with several saves throughout the event. The entire team, including Evan Grant, Zack Kimball and CJ Watroba, worked well together to come back from their initial loss and take two victories.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 6, Pioneer Valley Lightning 3
December 30th, Fitzpatrick Ice Rink
Division: Mite 3 Black
The Westfield Jr. Bomber Mite 3 Black team took to full ice on Sunday, December 30, 2012 against the Pioneer Valley Lightning and hustled to a 6-3 victory. Ian Bacon was outstanding in goal, deflecting numerous shots by the Lightning. Scoring for the Jr. Bombers were Patrick Rae with one goal, George Kimball with two goals and Aidan Jubb with a hat trick. Westfield was on the defense throughout the rare full-ice game with excellent play by the rest of the team, including Evan Grant, Darrin Schnopp, Tyler Barker, Zack Kimball, Brayden Czarnecki, Johnny Blase and Jared Ritter.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 15, Amherst White 4
December 22nd, Amelia Park Ice Arena
Division: Mite 2
Amherst came out strong early in the game, only to be slowed by the Jr. Bombers defense and quick shots on goal. Jax Grady (4 goals) started the Jr. Bombers off on the offensive attack by hitting the net early in the game. He was then followed by Ryan Major (3 goals), Hunter Stockseth (3 goals), and Cody Collins (3 goals), all with hat tricks during the game. Gwenn Hosmer (1 goal) and Jacob Jarrell (1 goal) came alive in the second half, both with sweet shots past the goalies’ stick side. The team played a good passing game and held strong on defense with efforts from Brendan Morse and goalie Brody Fitzgerald.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 4, Holyname 2
December 22nd, Olympia Ice Arena
Division: Mite 2
Both the Stars and the Jr. Bombers came out to play hard in this full ice matchup, but Westfield was able to keep the Stars at bay. The Jr. Bombers were able to put one up on the scoreboard first with Gwenn Hosmer making back-to-back goals. Holy Name then countered and began to come back at the Jr. Bombers only to be turned away by their defense and goalie Brody Fitzgerald. Jacob Jarrell was able to capitalize off the Jr. Bombers’ momentum and found the back of the net in the second period, and Cody Collins was able score the final goal in the third period against Holy Names’ quick goalie. Although the Stars continued to attack, the defense was able to hold them off and the Stars could not recoup from the deficit.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 9, Nonotuck Knights 7
December 23rd, Smead Arena
Division: Mite 2
Although the Jr. Bombers were able to keep their lead over Nonotuck, the Knights were not going down without a fight. Luckily the Jr. Bombers played a strong passing game, which included assists from Cody Collins, Hunter Stockseth and Gwenn Hosmer. Ryan Major started off the scoring for the Jr. Bombers with a quick shot to the back of the net, followed by teammates Cody Collins (2 goals), Jax Grady (3 goals), Hunter Stockseth (2 goals) and Jacob Jarrell (1 goal). Nonotuck answered Westfield’s attack steadily throughout the game and their goalie stopped multiple shots on goal, but could not beat the Jr. Bombers’ defense and goalie Brody Fitzgerald in the end.
Holy Name Green 2, Westfield Jr. Bombers 0
December 15th, Olympia
Division: Peewee 2
The game got off to a fast pace by both sides, with goalie Ryan Bacon making a key early save. Holy Name gave Westfield an opportunity with two penalties at the same time but Westfield failed to capitalize. Austin Wolfe broke up a Holy Name breakaway, and Colin Scanlon and Peter Chrisanthopoulos were both strong on offense in the close-fought first period. In the second, Devin Baker was dogged in his pursuit of the puck. Charlie Bonatakis went off for tripping but did a good job forcing the attacker off to the side. A Holy Name power play goal made it 1-0 and Westfield appeared to be losing some of its cohesiveness. In the third period, Holy Name scored early, and while ordinarily a two-goal margin would not seem very big, against a team like Holy Name it can be tough to claw one’s way back from that in the third period. Baker almost scored late, and Westfield emptied its net in the final minutes but it was to no avail.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 5, Amherst 0
December 16th, Smead Arena, Blunt Park
Division: Peewee 2
Early in the game Jack Labbe brought the puck across the slot following a pass from Dan Buckelew and unloaded a crafty backhand to make it 1-0. As he scored he ended up in a dive reminiscent of Bobby Orr scoring the winning goal against the St. Louis Blues on May 10, 1970. Passing improved as the period continued. Branden Waitt continued to prove himself as a savvy and dangerous neutral zone player. In the second period, Charlie Bonatakis unleashed one of his patented slapshots but it went wide. Tyler Bennett did good work along the blue line for the entire game and Dan Antonellis toiled away in the corners like an episode of the show “Dirty Jobs.” In the third period, Nate Gendron knocked in a rebound off a shot from Colin Scanlon to make it 2-0. A minute later, Gendron fed Devin Baker for a one-timer that made it 3-0. Bonatakis made a solo rush to make it 4-0. Bennett shot a wrister from the point through a screen to make it 5-0. Goalie Ryan Bacon was not challenged very often but showed a strong hand when he was.
Holy Name Black 4, Westfield Jr. Bombers 2
December 22nd, Olympia
Division: Peewee 2
Westfield’s offense was sluggish in the first period and Holy Name jumped out to a 2-0 lead early. Colin Scanlon knocked in a rebound off a shot from Dan Antonellis to make it 2-1. In the second period, Nate Gendron pounded in another rebound off a shot from Branden Waitt to make it 2-2. Johnny Pitoniak made a long and graceful rush but was pressured as he shot and it went wide. Jack Labbe did good work along the boards, and Westfield did a good job of setting up a box with Pitoniak and Charlie Bonatakis, both powerful slappers, acting as pillars at the blue line. Westfield was saved from a Holy Name breakaway by the buzzer at the end of the second period. In the third period, Austin Wolfe used his speed to good effect on defense, as he has done often recently, including then reversing the flow of the puck back onto offense. Nate Gendron was robbed by a good save and Holy Name scored to make it 3-2, then an empty netter for the final goal of a toughly fought game.
WYH SEEKS ‘HOUSE’ PLAYERS: Westfield Youth Hockey is looking for players for the new “House League” for the 2013 Season. Westfield Youth Hockey Association’s “House League” program is designed for beginners from ages 9-13. The program provides youths in Westfield, Southwick and surrounding hilltowns the opportunity to the youth hockey experience at a reasonable cost and a reasonable time commitment. The program will consist of practices and cross ice games run by Westfield Youth Hockey coaches certified by USA Hockey. The House League program will be held every Sunday Jan. 27-March 17 at 6 p.m. Anyone interested in learning and playing ice hockey can register for this league at www.westfieldhockey.org. – Courtesy of Westfield Youth Hockey
