Huskies Get Back On Winning Track With Win Against Vermont Academy

The New Hampton Huskies traveled to Saxtons River, VT this afternoon to take on Lakes Region opponent, Vermont Academy. The Huskies need a win today, to secure their place in the Lakes Region Playoffs. As the game started, New Hampton looked as if they were still on the bus, giving up a goal ten seconds in to the game. After giving up an early goal, the Huskies play did not improve much over the next seven minutes. New Hampton continued to play sloppy hockey and lucky Matt Sayles came to play, otherwise they could have been down by a couple more. At the seven and a half minute mark, New Hampton gave up another goal to Vermont Academy, to go down by two. This time, Vermont Academy’s goal seemed to wake up the Huskies. Three and a half minutes after Vermont Academy’s second goal, Jack Ring scored for New Hampton, to bring the Huskies within one. Ring was able to find a rebound at the side of the net, off of Marcus Joughin’s shot. Ring then made a nice shot to beat the sprawling Vermont Academy goaltender, from a near impossible angle. In the final seven minutes of the period, New Hampton had multiple chances to tie the game, but the score remained 2-1 in Vermont Academy’s favor after the first period. The second period was all New Hampton, scoring three times, to take a 4-2 lead, after two periods of play. Cory Morris opened the second period scoring for the Huskies. Six minutes into the period and on the power play, Marcus Joughin got the puck to Jake Dunlap at the point. Dunlap walked to the middle of the ice, before shooting a nice hard wrist shot on the ice. Morris who was screening the Vermont Academy goaltender, got a stick on Dunlap’s shot, deflecting it past the Vermont Academy goaltender. Five minutes later, it was Isaac MacLeod scoring another power play goal, to give New Hampton the lead. The puck got worked down low to Cory Morris, who made a nice backdoor pass to James Hatzepetros. Hatzepetros was unable to beat the Vermont Academy goaltender, but the rebound bounced out to Isaac MacLeod for an open net tap-in. With just over a minute remaining in the second period, Marcus Joughin put the Huskies up by two. Off the forecheck the puck was worked up to Adam Shuchart at the point. Shuchart walked in and tried to hit Isaac MacLeod with a backdoor pass. MacLeod was unable to deflect the puck past the Vermont Academy goaltender, but Marcus Joughin came out of the corner to find the rebound and beat the down and out Vermont Academy goaltender. New Hampton continued their momentum into the start of the third period, as Greg Peterson, gave the Huskies a three goal lead, three and a half minutes into the final period. Jack Ring took a shot on the rush that was turned away by the Vermont Academy goaltender. The rebound was left lying right by the Vermont Academy goaltender’s pad and Greg Peterson grabbed the rebound with his stick, pulled it back just enough to flip the puck over the pad of the Vermont Academy goaltender and into the back of the net. After going up by three, New Hampton fell asleep during the next seven minutes, allowing Vermont Academy to score twice and get back in the game. The Huskies were not fazed though, and just over a minute after Vermont Academy came within one, James Hatzepetros scored to put the Huskies up; 6-4. Marcus Joughin won and offensive zone faceoff back to Hatzeptetros. Hatzepetros dragged the puck across the blueline before ripping a wrist shot back the other way, beat the Vermont Academy goaltender, top shelf on the blocker side. New Hampton played good defense the rest of the way and Matt Sayles shut the door to earn the win in net for the Huskies. New Hampton will have a couple days to get ready for their next opponent, Proctor Academy, on Saturday. The Huskies will be looking to seek revenge for the loss they suffered earlier in the season against Proctor Academy.