Haze Win 3rd Straight D1 Title
The D1 playoffs started out with the highlighted match of the day between the Haze and Hitmen. The Haze had a 1-0 lead going to the 3rd on a goal by Shea but the Hitmen tied in up on a goal by Malley. About halfway through the 3rd of this tight battle Wilt scored the game winning goal in front of the net and O'Keefe added an empty netter for 3-1 final. In the 2nd game, the Phantoms had little trouble disposing of the Gladiators 4-0 with solid goaltending from Margolies and goals by Broger (2), Greenwell and Sidhu. The 3rd game between the 2nd seeded Pounders and 7th seeded Sin City proved to be a dog fight with the Pounders scoring early in the first on a goal by Lewis. SC played solid all around hockey and gave the Pounders all they could handle but couldn't get anything past netminder Thiemann in a 1-0 final. The final D1 game of the night ended up being a high scoring close game between the top seeded Flights and 8th seeded Plague. The Flights had a pretty big lead early and had a hat trick from Danny Mach, 2 goals from Gedrich (K2) and another from Hanson. The Plague's goals were scored by Skiavo (2), G. Florkowski and B. Florkowski. The Flights also had a career high 4 assists from Roby, yes Kevin Roby. :)
The semis had 2 more close games and the first was between the Flights and Haze. O'Keefe got the Haze on the board first followed by a Flights goal by Genest. The teams traded goals again by Hanson (Flights) and Wilt (Haze) before Mach scored with 3 and 1/2 minutes left to give the Flights a 3-2 lead. The Haze called timeout and regrouped with another goal by Wilt with a ton of bodies around the crease to send this game to OT. Both teams had numerous chances before Mahtesian scored from the high slot to end this instant classic and give the Haze their 3rd straight trip to the finals. In the 2nd game, the Pounders jumped on the Phantoms first with a goal by Young. The Phantoms bounced back with a goal by Roginski and it was 1-1 after the 1st. The Phantoms Broger was led on a breakaway pass by Sidhu that caused a penalty shot which Broger squeezed through for a 2-1 lead. Another Phantom's goal by Freimann in the 3rd sealed the game and 3-1 final to set up a rematch of last season's finals between the Phantoms and Haze.
The finals between the Haze and Phantoms was a rematch of last season's finals and also the 3rd time the teams have met for the D1 Cup and this has turned into the top rivalry at Seminary. The Haze wasted no time putting the Phantoms in a hole with a goal from the point by Adukaitis on the 2nd shift of the game. The Phantoms responded with a blast from Trzeciak late in the first period. The Haze once again took the lead in the 2nd on a goal by Douglass from the high slot. Once again the Phantoms responded with a goal from the Dunner to send this game into the 3rd tied at 2. A hooking penalty on the Phantoms halfway through the 3rd period gave the Haze the power play they needed to take the lead 3-2 on another goal from Douglass. The Phantoms from there threw everything they could at the Haze but it wasn't enough as the Haze escaped with a 3-2 victory and a 3rd straight D1 championship. Congrats to playoff MVP Paul Wilt of the Haze, Billy Broger from the Phantoms and Peter O'Keefe for winning the top 3 stars of the playoffs. Congrats also the the regular season leaders which were Curt Evans of the Phantoms with 15 points, Jeff Dunn of the Phantoms with 11 goals, Lee Margolies of the Phantoms with a 1.65 GAA and Mike Makowsky of the Flights with 7 wins. We'd like to say goodbye to the Pounders who have been in the league for about 8 years or so even tho majority of the players have joined onto new teams. D1 has had many repeat champions over the last 6 years which is the direct opposite of D2. Good luck to everyone in the summer/fall season as 7 teams will be trying to end the Haze dynasty and keep them from winning 4 in a row to match the league record.
The semis had 2 more close games and the first was between the Flights and Haze. O'Keefe got the Haze on the board first followed by a Flights goal by Genest. The teams traded goals again by Hanson (Flights) and Wilt (Haze) before Mach scored with 3 and 1/2 minutes left to give the Flights a 3-2 lead. The Haze called timeout and regrouped with another goal by Wilt with a ton of bodies around the crease to send this game to OT. Both teams had numerous chances before Mahtesian scored from the high slot to end this instant classic and give the Haze their 3rd straight trip to the finals. In the 2nd game, the Pounders jumped on the Phantoms first with a goal by Young. The Phantoms bounced back with a goal by Roginski and it was 1-1 after the 1st. The Phantoms Broger was led on a breakaway pass by Sidhu that caused a penalty shot which Broger squeezed through for a 2-1 lead. Another Phantom's goal by Freimann in the 3rd sealed the game and 3-1 final to set up a rematch of last season's finals between the Phantoms and Haze.
The finals between the Haze and Phantoms was a rematch of last season's finals and also the 3rd time the teams have met for the D1 Cup and this has turned into the top rivalry at Seminary. The Haze wasted no time putting the Phantoms in a hole with a goal from the point by Adukaitis on the 2nd shift of the game. The Phantoms responded with a blast from Trzeciak late in the first period. The Haze once again took the lead in the 2nd on a goal by Douglass from the high slot. Once again the Phantoms responded with a goal from the Dunner to send this game into the 3rd tied at 2. A hooking penalty on the Phantoms halfway through the 3rd period gave the Haze the power play they needed to take the lead 3-2 on another goal from Douglass. The Phantoms from there threw everything they could at the Haze but it wasn't enough as the Haze escaped with a 3-2 victory and a 3rd straight D1 championship. Congrats to playoff MVP Paul Wilt of the Haze, Billy Broger from the Phantoms and Peter O'Keefe for winning the top 3 stars of the playoffs. Congrats also the the regular season leaders which were Curt Evans of the Phantoms with 15 points, Jeff Dunn of the Phantoms with 11 goals, Lee Margolies of the Phantoms with a 1.65 GAA and Mike Makowsky of the Flights with 7 wins. We'd like to say goodbye to the Pounders who have been in the league for about 8 years or so even tho majority of the players have joined onto new teams. D1 has had many repeat champions over the last 6 years which is the direct opposite of D2. Good luck to everyone in the summer/fall season as 7 teams will be trying to end the Haze dynasty and keep them from winning 4 in a row to match the league record.
