P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 3, Jersey Hitmen 1
Three players set for Monday’s NCDC All-Star Event scored goals for P.A.L.: Ty Broad and Jack Hewitt will play in the main NCDC All-Star Game and ’06 Premier call-up Tomas Smetanka, with his first NCDC goal, will play in the Young Guns game. Hewitt added an assist for a two-point game. All-Star Nicholas Bevilacqua stopped 28 of 29 and is three wins away from tying for the all-time lead in that category. The win gave the Jr. Islanders a 23-point lead.
Boston Junior Bruins 4, Twin City Thunder 2
The Junior Bruins defeated the visiting Twin City Thunder, and NCDC Young Guns selection Jackson Delleo scored the game-winning goal in the second period. Jeremy LaCroix and Liam Bard each registered two assists, and Jonathan Olson stopped 34 of 36 in the win. The Junior Bruins are 10 points out of third place and seven points above fifth in the New England Division.
Connecticut Jr. Rangers 6, Rockets Hockey Club 1
Jextinian Sheffield and Seth Rakosky each had a goal and an assist in a big win against the host Rockets on Friday. Joseph Dable, Alexander Ondos and Antoine Tourigny each posted two assists. Primo Baldassarre stopped 25 of 26 shots for his eighth win since registering his first in December. Connecticut is five points ahead of Mercer to hold onto second place, albeit far behind the division-and league-leading P.A.L. Jr. Islanders.
Provo Predators 5, Pueblo Bulls 3
Ryan Roethke scored twice and added one assist for a big Provo road victory. Jackson Lucia had two assists as well. Three defensemen – Luke Faas, Gavin O’Hara and Tyler Johnson – also scored goals for the victors, and goaltender Michael Polston won with 31 saves on 34 shots. In third place in the Mountain Division, Provo is seven points behind second and seven ahead of fourth.
Ogden Mustangs 1, Idaho Falls Spud Kings 0
Nikita Volski stopped all 37 shots he faced and USPHL Premier call-up William Cherniak (Las Vegas Thunderbirds) scored the only goal of the game to help the Mustangs. Idaho Falls’ Tucker Inabinet also had a great performance with 58 saves on 59 shots in a true goaltender duel. Ogden leap-frogged Utah into first place with the win.
