Utica Jr. Comets 3, Thunder Hockey Club 1
The Jr. Comets are unbeaten in regulation in their last seven games, going 6-0-0-1 in that stretch. Their latest win was a 3-1 victory against the host Thunder in Middleton, Mass. Ty Broten (’04/Chaska, Minn.) sent home the GWG, while defenseman Ricky Volpe (’04/Commack, N.Y.) put up three assists. In net, Michael Valenta (’05/Sumperk, Czechia) stopped 36 of 37 shots for his fifth straight win.
Jersey HItmen 7, West Chester Wolves 2
Filip Tomiczek (’04/Tvinec, Czechia) scored his first NCDC hat trick to send the Hitmen to their fourth win in a row on a 7-2 defeat of the visiting West Chester Wolves. Tomiczek, a former Elmira Impact player and USPHL Premier All-Star, is a great example of USPHL Advancement In Action as he’s improved to 17 points in 25 games of his first NCDC campaign. Additionally, Captain Tyler Fogu (’04/Bayonne, N.J.) put up a 2-1-3 line; Sammy Mielock (’04/Grand Rapids, Mich.) made three assists, and Ryan Shea (’06/Norwell, Mass.) earned two helpers. Nick Bunch (’05/Canton, Mich., stopped 38 of 40 shots in his fourth straight victory.
P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 4, Connecticut Jr. Rangers 2
The Jr. Islanders got two-point efforts from three different players, including Ryan Franks (’05/Roslyn, N.Y.), Aiden Holland (’05/Topsfield, Mass.) and Trey Wandall (’05/Lithia, Fla.) , with a goal and an assist apiece. Hayden Vonk (’05/Grand Rapids, Mich.) scored his first goal in his first NCDC game to open the scoring. Lukas Vejmelka (’04/Trebic, Czechia) stopped 36 of 38 shots for his fifth straight win.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 3, Mercer Chiefs 2 (OT)
The Knights won their second game in a row by sending home an OT winner off the stick of Timur Naletov (’06/St. Petersburg, Russia), who scored two goals in the game. Eric McHale (’05/Maple Shade, N.J.) registered two assists, and in net, Max Varner (’05/Buffalo, Minn.) made 37 saves on 39 shots.
Idaho Falls Spud Kings 4, Rock Springs Grizzlies 3
The Spud Kings improved to a 13-game point streak (10-0-2-1), going back to Nov. 8, with veterans Andrew Schmidt (’05/Chicago, Ill.) and Easton Edwards (’05/Anchorage, Alaska) each putting up a goal and an assist. Charlie Durkin (’06/Glencoe, Ill.) put up 27 saves on 30 shots to defeat the Grizzlies.
Utah Outliers 4, Casper Warbirds 3
The Outliers just barely held on to a win after starting out 4-0, ahead of a Warbirds comeback attempt. C.J. Theberge (’05/Valencia, Calif.) put up the game-winning goal with his first NCDC tally. Thomas Duhamel (’07/Drummondville, Que.), and in net, Kyle Pisarcik (’06/Oak Park, Calif.) stopped 26th of 29 shots.
Ogden Mustangs 5, Pueblo Bulls 2
In his first NCDC game, Liam Van Valkenburgh (’06/Park City, UT) scored the GWG after joining from the Cleveland Barons 18U AAA team. Three Mustangs captured two assists from each of Cam Kean (’06/Northville, Mich.), Tommy Fetterman (’05/Downington, Pa.) and Denis Kuzmenkov (’06/Moscow, Russia). Hunter Bauer (’06/Bristow, Va.) stopped 24 of 26 shots for his seventh win.
Summaries by Joshua Boyd
