COURTESY OF WESTFIELD YOUTH HOCKEY
Westfield Jr. Bombers 17, WTM – 7
February 16th, Amelia Park Ice Arena
Division: Mite 2
The Mite 2 teams from WTM and Westfield squared off Saturday morning for an action packed game. The Jr. Bombers started off the scoring with hat tricks from Cody Collins (3 goals), quickly followed up by a score from Jax Grady (4 goals). WTM kept Westfield on their toes as they applied constant pressure on their defense and kept rookie goalie Gwenn Hosmer busy between the pipes. Hosmer had her first showing as goalie, and did a great job fending off multiple shots on net. Luckily the Jr. Bombers played both defensively and offensively and the entire team was able to get into the scoring feast: Ryan Major (3 goals), Jacob Jarrell (3 goals), Hunter Stockseth (3 goals) and Brody Fitzgerald (1 goal).
Westfield Jr. Bombers 14, Amherst White 6
February 17th, Cyr Ice Arena
Division: Mite 2
In the last of their GSL scheduled 2012-2013 season games, the Jr. Bombers brought out their passing game and played a great game of hockey. Cody Collins (4 goals), once again started the Jr. Bombers off and set the tone for the game, as he was able to pick up a rebound for the first goal of the game. Jacob Jarrell (2 goals) was up next with a shot on goal, followed by three consecutive goals (hat trick) from Jax Grady. Amherst fought back, but net minder Josh Lecrenski made some great saves and was able to keep the crease clear. Ryan Major played a strong defensive game clearing the Westfield zone multiple times and kept the puck down ice, as did Gwenn Hosmer who skated hard (despite issues with her skates). Brody Fitzgerald added to the scoreboard with a tip in off a rebound and Hunter Stockseth was able to wrap up the game with the final two goals – he netted four. Although the Westfield team was playing short-handed, they played hard, picked up their highest number of passes this season and played an all-around great game of hockey. A big thank you to head coach Hosmer, and assistant coaches Major, Fitzgerald and Jarrell for all of their time this season. We can definitely see your efforts paying off on the ice.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 1, Springfield Capitols -1
February 10th, Cyr Ice Arena
Division: Squirt 3
Last time these two teams met, Westfield dominated both ends of the ice on the way to a huge victory. Today’s match up was a completely different game, with both teams evenly battling back and forth. Westfield’s defense was once again anchored by Jake Marcoulier, Nick Langlois, Casey Scanlon and Steven Shaw, who all shut down any offensive advances by the Capitols. The few shots that made it on net were turned away by the always solid goaltender, Sean Rowbotham. The first period continued with the Bombers displaying their improved passing skills and unselfish teamwork. Drew Eidinger and Harrison Klein showed big time hustle, flying around the ice, trying to get something going for the Bombers. But Springfield’s goalie kept Westfield off the board with key saves off quality shots. The second period picked up where the previous period left off, with fast paced end-to-end action. Corey Boulay, Haley Tullo and Jacob Jarrell continued to push the pace and Keely Conner had a few nice shots, but the period ended with the score still 0-0. The Bombers finally broke through in the third period with the first goal of the game. Ian Lemieux had some “directional issues” on his first shift, but bounced back on his next shift and slipped one past Springfield’s goalie. Clarissa “CJ” Jarrell was able to break free and put in Westfield’s second goal, but unfortunately the game officials did not count it. The Capitols made one last push and were able to tie the game on a breakaway shot past Rowbotham. Even though the game ended with the score tied at 1-all, the Bombers should definitely consider today’s effort a victory.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 5, Springfield Capitols 4
February 17th, Amelia Park Ice Arena
Division: Squirt 3
The game did not start very well for Westfield, but the Bombers were able to pull it together and come away with a nice win. The Capitols got on the board in the first period with two goals that got past goalie Sean Rowbotham. Westfield’s offense couldn’t get anything going, but the defense settled down and held strong. The defense was led by Casey Scanlon, Steven Shaw, Nick Langlois and Brad DiGiacomo, who all showed hustle and consistently cleared the puck from Westfield’s zone. The second period started with a third goal from Springfield, but that goal sparked Westfield and got them going. Keely Connor netted Westfield’s first goal, then followed up with a second one. Brad DiGiacomo put a shot past Springfield’s goalie to tie up the game. The period came to a close with a Westfield goal from Harrison Klein to give the Bombers their first lead of the game. The third period started like the previous two periods, with Springfield adding a goal to tie the game. But Westfield kept up the energy, never giving up on a loose puck and keeping the pressure on the Capitol’s defense. That hard work paid off with a go-ahead goal from Corey Boulay, whose all out effort every game inspires the Bombers. Down one goal and the game clock winding down, Springfield pulled their goalie for one last attack. But key goaltending by Rowbotham and a huge defensive play by Shaw denied Springfield any chance of tying the game.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 3, Nonotuck Knights 2
February 10th, Amelia Park Ice Arena
Division: Peewee 2
The game started off with a shocker when Nonotuck scored a goal less than a minute into the game. It was part of a clearly premeditated offensive attack that kept Westfield on the defensive for much of the period. Indeed, although Westfield started to develop some offense, Nonotuck managed a breakaway and made it 2-0. In the second period, Peter Chrisanthopoulos made a good shorthanded try, then things really cooked up when defenseman Charlie Bonatakis went coast-to-coast and scored to make it 2-1. In the third period, Johnny Pitoniak unloaded a ballistic missile of a slapshot but it hit the post with a mighty clang, so no goal. Tyler Bennett made a great rush attempt. Westfield tied the score when Branden Waitt knocked in a rebound off a shot by Austin Wolfe. On the next close Westfield try, the Nonotuck goal came dislodged at an inopportune time, one might say, but the referees did not see any nefarious behavior by Nonotuck. But meanwhile Westfield was undeterred and then – a rebound came out to Dan Buckelew and he pounded it home to give Westfield a 3-2 lead. A late penalty by Westfield and a furious attempt by Nonotuck to replicate their first-period success made it a nail-biter to the end, but good hustle from Colin Scanlon, Dan Antonellis, and Jack Labbe helped keep Westfield on top. Goalie Ryan Bacon continued to shine in what has become a remarkable season for the netminder.
Westfield Jr. Bombers 9, WTM 0
February 17th, Amelia Park Ice Arena
Division: Peewee 2
Quite simply this was an annihilation.
Ryan Bacon was rock solid in goal for the shutout. The barrage began early when Nate Gendron passed it to Colin Scanlon who passed it to Dan Antonellis in front, who put it in the net, but the goal was disallowed because of a crease infraction. That didn’t do much to dampen the Westfield appetite for destruction, as Johnny Pitoniak was zigging and zagging and circling and shooting in the Nonotuck end and then unloaded a long wrister that made its way in to make it 1-0. Then, the floodgates opened. Jack Labbe scored from the high slot to make it 2-0. In the second period, Dan Buckelew fed a pass to Nate Gendron out front to make it 3-0. Literally seconds later after the next face-off Dan Antonellis was the feeder and Gendron drove in a one-timer to make it 4-0. Pitoniak then fed Peter Chrisanthopoulos for a goal. On the next goal Pitoniak brought it in and was confronted, but the puck moved over to Colin Scanlon and he made it 6-0. Chrisanthopoulos scored again, as did Scanlon after some impressive stickhandling, and Gendron picked up a hat trick with the last goal of the game, making it 9-0. Devin Baker, Tyler Bennett, Jack Labbe, and Austin Wolfe all contributed great efforts to the cause of victory.
