By Joshua Boyd / NCDCHockey.com
The annual NCDC Young Guns game, part of the NCDC All-Star Event held at Boston University’s Agganis Arena on Jan. 15, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, ended up being a fantastic thriller after a bit of a quiet start.
The Potomac Patriots’ USPHL Elite defenseman ’07 Kirill Golubev scored the opening goal of the game, assisted by the Rockets Hockey Club 16U’s ’07 Danny Hussa and the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders NCDC’s ’06 Ryu Shirozu at 8:14 of the first period. The 1-0 score would remain at the intermission.
Rockets Hockey Club 16U teammates Matthew Dabrowski (goal) and St. Lawrence University commit Kristopher Richards (assist) connected at just 29 seconds into the second period for a 2-0 Atlantic lead.
The third Atlantic goal was another all-Rockets Hockey Club connection, with 16U ’07 Frantisek Netusil chipping home a goal with assists from 18U Rockets teammates – both ’06’s – Landon Watson and Elijah Lilja at 4:49 of the second.
Just when you thought Team Atlantic might be carrying the day, a sleeping giant awoke in the form of Islanders Hockey Club 18U ’06 forward Nicholas Argento. His first goal to put New England on the board was at 6:27 of the third, and was assisted by 16U Islanders Hockey Club players – both ’07’s – Cooper Ludwar and Karlis Janulis.
Even with the score at 3-1 in the second intermission, Argento’s day was far from over. First, however, Team Atlantic extended its lead back to three when the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders ’06 forward Devin Niles sent one home 2:40 into the third period, shorthanded and assisted by P.A.L. Premier player Tomas Smetanka, also an ’06. Smetanka has played in four NCDC games this year, with two points.
With the next goal, however, Team New England not only proved they weren’t taking this deficit lightly – nor would they be willing to take a loss. Cue up Argento for his second of the game, assisted by ’06’s Ethan Tatomir (Jersey Hitmen Premier) and Jackson Delleo (Junior Bruins NCDC) at 3:33
Delleo was with Argento again when they connected at 5:47 for Argento’s hat trick goal, which also saw Northern Cyclones Academy 18U player Jordan Bowman register his first assist. Suddenly, the wolves were at Atlantic’s door in a 4-3 game.
Due to early roster changes due to injuries and prior engagements well before game day, Jersey Hitmen players were assigned to Team New England, and thus the next two goals came from Hitmen to help cross New England over the rubicon and into the lead.
Camden Prier (’06) was able to sneak in and send the tying goal home at 13:09, assisted by Hitmen NCDC teammate Justin Ouellette (’06) and Argento, registering an assist in his four-point effort that eventually earned him The Dan K Show Star Of The Game honors.
Just seconds later, it was Hitmen NCDC player ’06 Tommy Holtby again jumping on a turned over puck in front of the New England net and sending it home for New England’s first lead of the game. Prier had his first assist and Ouellette had his second helper in the all-Hitmen goal.
An all-Northern Cyclones goal finished it, with the NCDC’s Olivier Touchette (’06) sending it about 160 feet down the ice into an empty net, assisted by NCDC teammate ’06 Charlie Zetterqvist and Team New England’s youngest player, ’08 Cohlton Carmody of the Northern Cyclones Academy 15U team.
Team Atlantic goaltender Jakob Hanlan was the top performer at his position in terms of being the only player in that game to have a shutout period.
Congratulations to all of the Team Atlantic and Team New England Young Guns players for being selected by NCDC coaches for what turned out to be a fantastic game!
