Huskies Defeat Hebron, Head to Finals

The New Hampton Huskies took on Hebron Academy in their second game of the day and last game of the round robin part of the tournament. A win and New Hampton guaranteed themselves a spot in the finals tomorrow. The Huskies looked tired when the puck dropped and did not look like the same team that was flying against Brooks this morning. Hebron took advantage of New Hampton’s slow start, scoring just under six minutes into the period, to take the early lead. Hebron’s goal seemed to wake the Huskies up a bit and they gradually started to create some offensive chances and tilting the game in their favor. As time started running down in the period, it looked as if New Hampton would head into the first intermission down a goal. However, in the final seconds of the period, Will Hilfiker rushed the puck into the Brooks zone, hit the trailer, Greg Peterson, with a pass that Peterson handle for a split second before ripping a low hard shot over the Hebron goaltender’s pad and under his blocker. The goal tied the game at one and was Peterson’s first goal as a Husky. New Hampton got off to a much better start during the beginning of the second period, drawing a penalty in the opening minute. On the power play, James Hatzepetros, fired a shot on net that the Hebron goaltender could not control, Davis Bone found the rebound and slide it under the Hebron goaltender to give the Huskies their first lead of the game. New Hampton’s lead only lasted a couple minutes before Hebron scored a power play goal of their own to tie the game at two. Less than three minutes after tying the game, Hebron scored again to take the lead, midway through the second period. After going down a goal, the Huskies battled hard to tie the game. With just under two minutes remaining in the period, the hard forecheck of Isaac MacLeod and Marcus Joughin caused the Hebron defenseman to turn the puck over to Cory Morris, who was all alone in front of the net. Morris made no mistake burying the puck in the back of the next, tying the game at three. Tied at three, the Huskies needed a big third period if they wanted to play in the finals tomorrow. That being said, the third period did not start the way New Hampton hoped. The Huskies took an early penalty, putting Hebron on the power play. It would be Hebron, but New Hampton that would take advantage on Hebron’s power play. Isaac MacLeod caused a turnover in the neutral zone, passed the puck to Marcus Joughin who was streaking down the left wing. Joughin got a step on the Hebron defenseman and then ripped a shot short side to beat the Hebron goaltender and give the Huskies back the lead. The goal by Joughin gave New Hampton all the momentum, and for the next eight minutes they dominated the play, looking to add to their lead. Adam Shuchart did just that with three minutes left in the game. Shuchart picked up the puck at the offensive zone blueline and ripped a shot through a great screen by Cory Morris to beat the Hebron goaltender. Up 5-3 with three minutes remaining, New Hampton clamped down defensively, not allowing Hebron to create anything offensively and secure the victory. Lucas Brine stopped 21 of the 24 shots he faced to earn his third win of the season. The Huskies will take on the top team from the other division, Millbrook School, in the finals of the Brooks/Pingree Tournament at 11:30am tomorrow morning.