The Connecticut Jr. Rangers added the 2023-24 National Championship to their Regular Season Championship clinched in late February, after they defeated the Islanders Hockey Club by a 5-4 score in overtime on March 26 at the Utica University Nexus Center in Utica, N.Y.
The first goal of the game followed a trend of early goals scored – it was the sixth first minute goal in four days at the Premier level. Jesper Seeberg scored just 27 seconds into the action for a 1-0 Islanders Hockey Club lead.
It was almost exactly eight minutes before Nicholas Rooney made it 2-0 Islanders at 8:17.
The Connecticut Jr. Rangers answered back almost immediately with a goal at 8:29 of the first period to set what turned out to be the score after 20 minutes of hockey.
The second period was not unlike the first, as teams traded early goals quickly, with Cole Laden scoring for the Connecticut Jr. Rangers one minute in.
Right away, 29 seconds after Laden’s goal, Nicholas Rooney scored to put the Rangers right back on top, 3-2, at 1:29 of the second.
Caden Mech put the Islanders Hockey Club up by two for a 4-2 lead that stood going into the third period, scoring on this long shot from the circle.
The third period saw the Rangers pull even and force the game into overtime off TWO Blake Kashark goals.
Then Blake Kashark also scored shorthanded, with the goal that would ultimately tie it at 4-4 at the end of regulation.
And here it is, the OT game-winner, scored shorthanded by Alexander Bexelius to give the Connecticut Jr. Rangers their first USPHL Premier Championship.
The USPHL Congratulates the Connecticut Jr. Rangers on winning the championship and also congratulates the Islanders Hockey Club on a fantastic season and phenomenal Nationals performance.
