Big Senior Day Win Against KUA

This afternoon is Senior Day for the New Hampton Huskies, they will recognize the following players; Captain, Lukas Uhler (3-year Varsity Player), Thomas Albert (1-year Varsity Player), Michael Kane (2-year Varsity Player), Assistant Captain Bradley Shaw (2-year Varsity Player), Assistant Captain, Zak Lanoue (2-year Varsity Player), Pat Roth (1-year Varsity Player), Jake Gallitto (1-year Varsity Player), Patrick Kramer (2-year Varsity Player), Cory Lyons (1-year Varsity Player), Jackson Kyser (1-year Varsity Player), Michael Ardagna (1-year Varsity Player) and Assistant Captain, Michael Kesselring (4-year Varsity Player), who have all have had a significant impact on the Hockey Program. Looking to get a win for the Seniors, the Huskies came out flying to start the game. Just over three minutes into the game, Bradley Shaw made a great head-man pass to send Joe Dunlap in all alone on a breakaway. Dunlap pump faked, looked as if he was going to cut across the net, causing the KUA goaltender to lean, leaving short-side top corner open, exactly where Dunlap put the puck. Three minutes after Dunlap’s goal gave New Hampton the early lead, James Hatzepetros chipped the puck out of New Hampton’s zone, causing a foot race between Joe Dunlap and a KUA defensemen. Dunlap beat the KUA defensemen to the puck and then made a nice pass to Bradley Shaw. Shaw took the pass, cut back across the net, around a sliding KUA goaltender and laid the puck into the open net. The rest of the period saw good, hard hockey by both teams, but no more goals were scored, leaving the Huskies up two after the first period of play. The second period was played a feverish pace by both teams, New Hampton looking to extend their lead, while KUA tried to claw back into the game. Midway through the period, KUA was able to cut the Huskies lead in half, scoring on the power play. After the KUA goal, both teams buckled down defensively and the score remained 2-1 after two periods of play. In the third period, KUA came out hard trying to tie the game, while New Hampton continued to play solid defense, to preserve their lead. However, with less than six minutes remaining in the game, a Husky turnover in their defensive zone, lead to KUA tying the game at two. The KUA goal seemed to put New Hampton back on their heels a bit, but the Huskies battled hard for the next couple minutes, holding off KUA’s momentum. With less than two minutes left in the game, a shot sent wide of the net came around the boards to Michael Kesselring at the offensive zone blue line. Kesselring picked up the puck skated down the boards to the left of the KUA goaltender and ripped a shot from almost the goal line, that found a way to sneak between the KUA goaltender and the goalpost, putting New Hampton back in the lead. With thirty seconds left in the game, Lukas Uhler cause a turnover in the neutral zone that Michael Kane picked up and shot into the empty net, icing the game. It was well earned, solid team victory for the Huskies over a very strong opponent in KUA. Matt Sayles was strong in next, especially down the stretch, stopping 23 of the 25 shots he faced in the victory. Overall, it was a great win for New Hampton and special night for the Seniors, being their first victory against KUA. New Hampton will enjoy the win tonight, but will need to stay focused as they travel to Brookline, MA on Wednesday, February 7^th to take on another top ten team in Prep School, Dexter School.