Moose Are Going Back To Nationals

After sweeping the Mass Maple Leafs the Metro Moose Junior B team prepared for a tough challenge against the Philadelphia Junior Blazers. The Moose knew they were two wins away for clinching the regular season championship and more importantly the automatic bid to USA Hockey Junior B Nationals.

On Saturday the Moose headed down to Philly for the first of a home and home series with the Blazers. Both teams were battling for playoff positioning and this would be a good test for both clubs heading into the playoffs. The Moose didn't play well for a large part of the game and found themselves trailing one. They were lucky to be in the game thanks to great goaltending from Sam Mignoli who made many spectacular saves throughout the first two periods. In the second period the Moose would even the score at one off a shot from Billy Faulkner in the slot. KC Krober and Steve Kelly picked up assists on the play after a sustained fore-checks deep in the Blazers zone. Willy Manchester would tack on the next Moose goal off a pass from Greg Kubrak. Krober would add the third Moose tally off passes from Faulkner and defenseman Dan Honovic. Mignoli continued his brilliant play in the third to pick up the win.

Sunday afternoon was electric in Coney Island. The Moose fans came out in force to cheer the team on at their final home game of the season. The team knew what was at stake and knew they had to be better than the previous night if they were going to achieve their goal. Defenseman Patty Mead would get the Moose on the board just over a minute into the game off a feed from Willy Manchester. The Blazers would even the game late in the first. After talking things over in between periods the Moose came out and finally started to play a complete game in the second. Mikey Biagioni would put the Moose up just over a minute into the second off a sweet pass from Gavin Grogan. That line would light the lamp again when AJ Carazo scored off another pass from Grogan. KC Krober added a shorthanded tally late in the period off a great pass from Manchester. Knowing they were one period away the Moose came out and played their best period off the weekend in the third. Manchester would add the fifth Moose goal off a pass from Kevin Barry. Keegan Travers would close out the scoring with a power play goal off a pass from Manchester and Greg Kubrak. Steve Laris picked up the win making 22 saves. As the final seconds ticked off the Moose emptied the bench and celebrated a well deserved bid to Nationals. The team would salute their fans as a tribute to their tremendous support through the season.

The Moose finished the regular season with an impressive 31-4 record. They finished first in the league in points, goals for and goals against. Despite losing many veterans from the previous year, the team worked hard to get back to where they belong and now hope to continue their success in this year’s CHA playoffs. The team enters the playoffs as the #1 seed and will play their first game against the always tough New Jersey Wildcats.

Stay tuned to MetroMoose.com to follow the team through the CHA playoffs as well as USA Hockey Junior B Nationals.