Big Comeback Win On Senior Night!

The New Hampton Huskies host Proctor Academy this afternoon in their last regular season Lakes Region game. New Hampton will be looking to get a win today for a couple of reasons. First, today’s game is the Senior game; a celebration of all that the Seniors and their families have given to the New Hampton Hockey program. Second, New Hampton and Proctor are currently tied for the #3 spot in Lakes Region, but Proctor has one game in hand. The Huskies need to a win today and hope they get some help from Holderness on Monday to earn the #3 seed for Lakes Region Playoffs. New Hampton was fired up to start the game and Senior Captain, Alec Grace, scored just over two minutes in, to give the Huskies an early lead. Adam Shuchart chipped the puck out of New Hampton’s zone and past all the Proctor defenders, sending Jack Ring and Alec Grace on a 2-0. Ring and Grace made a couple passes back and forth before Ring drew the Proctor goaltender to the left side of the net and slid the puck to Grace on the right side, for an open net goal. The Huskies lead did not last long however, Proctor responded two minutes later with a goal of their own, to tie the game at one. Three minutes later Jake Dunlap scored to put New Hampton back in the lead. Greg Peterson chipped the puck up the wall in the defensive zone to Isaac MacLeod. MacLeod then chipped the puck past a pinching Proctor defenseman. MacLeod avoided a hit and then picked up his own chip in the neutral zone, before cutting across the blueline and firing a backhand shot on net. Jake Dunlap was following up MacLeod’s shot and batted the rebound out of midair passed the Proctor goaltender. After going up a by a goal, the Huskies looked to add to their lead, controlling the play and playing mostly in the Proctor zone. With five minutes remaining in the period, it was Proctor that was able to even the score, on their only real scoring chance in the last six minutes. The rest of the period went scoreless and both teams went into the first intermission tied at two. The second period did not start out well for New Hampton, giving up a power play goal to Proctor, a minute into the period. Four minutes later, Proctor took a two goal lead. Things did not look good for the Huskies and over the next five minutes they were the team back on their heels. However, Matt Sayles was solid in next, keeping New Hampton in the game and Proctor from scoring anymore goals. Midway through the second period, the Huskies started to play better hockey and create some offensive of their own. However, the second period saw no more scoring and New Hampton trailed 4-2, heading into the third period. The Huskies were not going to let down their fellow teammates and seniors, on Senior night, and came out flying to start the third period. A couple minutes in, New Hampton’s quick start led to a power play goal. Marcus Joughin lead the rush, passing to Cory Morris at the offensive zone blue. Morris beat his defender, walked in on net and fired a shot between the Proctor goaltenders legs to bring the Huskies within one. Five minutes later, Senior Captain Alec Grace, brought New Hampton even with Proctor on his second goal of the game. Greg Peterson picked off a clearing attempt at the top of the offensive zone circle. Peterson passed to Jack Ring at the side of the net and then Ring made a nice between the legs pass to Grace, who was cutting to the net. Grace one-time Ring’s pass top corner. Five minutes later, Isaac MacLeod gave New Hampton a 5-4 lead. The play started with MacLeod leading the rush into the Proctor zone. Just after crossing the offensive blueline, Macleod fired a shot low far side that rebounded right to Cory Morris, who was driving the net. Morris tried to put home the rebound but missed and the puck went behind the net. Morris followed the play, picking up the puck behind the net and then passed to MacLeod who was at the bottom of the circle to the right of the net. MacLeod surprised the Proctor goaltender with his quick release, beating the Proctor goaltender short side. Three minutes later, Greg Peterson iced the game with an open net goal. The Huskies showed a lot of character coming back in the third period, scoring four times to defeat Proctor 6-4. It was a great way to honor Seniors; Alec Grace, James Hatzepetros, Cale DuBrul, Matt Sayles, Jalen Wand and Duke Litwin, in one of their final home games for New Hampton. The Huskies moved into third place in the Lakes Region with the win and now will be looking for Holderness to provide a little help on Monday to secure the #3 seed for the Lakes Region Playoffs. Before looking forward to playoffs, the Huskies still have one more regular season game left, as they host a very strong Cushing Academy team on Wednesday, February 20th.