Moose Trip to the Beach

On Thursday evening the Metro Moose Junior B team traveled to Long Beach Ice Arena to take on New York Apple Core. This game pitted the top two teams from the Eastern Conference battling for playoff positioning. As is always the case when these two clubs get together, the build up to the game was intense and the atmosphere for the drop of the puck was great.

Apple Core proved up to the challenge by withstanding a barrage of shots from the Moose throughout the first period. Apple Core would get on the board first with a power play goal just over three minutes in. Apple Core would stretch their lead to 2-0 with under a minute to play in the first. The Moose went into the intermission and regrouped. Assistant Coach Bobby DiRico said “It wasn’t like we were playing terrible hockey, we made a few mistakes and Apple Core took advantage of our mishaps. We were good in the offensive zone and their goaltender was playing well”.

The Moose came out in the second with a renewed confidence and got on the board just forty six seconds into the period with forward Gavin Grogan scoring off a pass from defenseman Kevin Barry. The Moose would even the game at 2 with Brian Schehr getting a huge goal. Line mate Bryan Long would pick up the assist. Just over a minute later the Moose would take the lead when AJ Carazo scoring off two great plays from defenseman Will Norris and forward Joe Gilhooly. The Moose would keep the 3-2 lead heading into the third period.

Apple Core would even the game at 3 with twelve minutes to play in the third period. The Moose again showing signs of resilience would bounce back and again take the lead just a minute later with newcomer Patrick Schule netting his first goal as a member of the Moose off passes from Sam Manzi and Ryan Cheng. Cheng would add his own tally with 4 minutes to go in the game off a great pass from Grogan. Under a minute later Schule would add his second of the game off some brilliant passing from line mates Sam Manzi and John Schiavo. Apple Core would add another with just under a minute to go in the game to pull within two. The Moose responded yet again with Grogan adding another goal off a free from Cheng. The Moose would prevail by the final score of 7-4. Goaltender Tommy Dorsey was solid in net making 28 saves.

Moose News: Defenseman Anthony Galeano has resumed skating and hopes to return to the line up shortly. Forward Evan Kundrat also skated this past week as he returns from an upper body injury. He will continue to skate while going through intense rehab and the team greatly looks forward to having him back in the lineup.