January 5 Game Report

Mini-Mahoney made his mascotorial debut and Katie Edinger nailed the anthem like a split hog as the Greece Thunder Hockey Team opened a can of whoop axe, sending the Hilton Cadets marching home, straight to the 14468, tuesday nite late, with a 6-2 decision. First up to bat was Andrew Sherry, converting on a solid forecheck assisted by Matt Keough and Brandon Cheeseman, four and a half minutes in. Mills got the crowd going with a hard hit along the boards below the Thunder goal line. Then along came the Country Sweet Pass of the Game as Justin Simonelli threaded the needle with a long-lead pass to AC at the far blue line and AC wasted no time winding up a slapper from just inside the blueline that salied past Hurlimann for his first varsity goal. Phil Amo picked up the secondhand assist for his first varsity point. Half a minute later Sherry was back for more, deflecting a blast from the point by Mike Miller into the back of the net for his second goal on the night. Cheese picked up his second helper to boot. Mike Briganti added another notch to his shot blocking belt that would clear the zone and set him off on a tear, but the play eventually came back Thunder's way and Hilton managed to get on the board with a shot that was deflected by Cumming with 52 seconds to go. Goal was credited to Joe Palumbo, assisted by Cory Gurski and Joe DiSano. Shots were 11-6 in Thunders favor as they enjoyed a 3-1 lead going into the second.

Two minutes into the second Cheese got his as he tipped a turnaround Keough shot from the high slot in for Thunder's fourth marker. With snake on the DL nursing a broken digit after blocking an AC blast in practice, Phil Amo stepped in and executed well putting some rubber on net. Alone stands the Cheese with yet another TBGC as he effortlessly launched a cadet into the boards on the half wall. Said John O'Brien, "that guy didn't know what hit him". Curran O'Brien posted up at neutral tapping his stick and calling for the puck and Hilton fell for it as they put the puck right on his tape with their breakout, so Curran took it in and put it on net. As the period waned, Thunder found themselves stuck in their own end with back to back penalties. Vypes and Ganti logged a few harry's on the first kill, but Hilton would capitalize on the second one as Joe DiSano scored assisted by Corey Sherman with a buck thirty til the break. Shots were 15-9 in Thunders favor as they enjoyed a 4-2 lead going into the third.

This side of intermission Thunder had a minute fourteen advantage that carried over from a late Hilton penalty before the break, but Thunder could not capitalize. No worries, as Sherry would get the hat at even strength just under 3 minutes in, assisted by his linemates, Cheese and Keough, to make it 5-2 Thunder. AC book ended the period with four eleven to go for his second goal of the evening by finishing off a Tyler Mattle rebound that kicked out after a sick move by J-Sim driving down the left side, letting the puck slide, ducking around the D to regain the handle and finally putting it on net. Fourth line finished the game and shut it down.

Wish I had stars to give out across the board because everyone played great. Charlie Webb said it was their best game of the season. I would agree. Defensively Thunder played well from the net out, with Ian Cumming making 20 saves for his third win on the season. But the marquee message is that the offensive floodgates were finally open with 33 shots, 6 goals, 11 assists, and 8 different point getters. First star goes to Andrew Sherry with his first ever hat-trick and the game winner. Second star goes out to Brandon Cheeseman with a goal and 3 assists for 4-points. Third star goes to Matt Keough with 3 assists for the playmaker. Honorable mention to both Anthony Crawford (2G) and Justin Simonelli (2A) who hooked up nice twice. Thunder rolls to 3-3-1-1 with a convincing 6-2 win over the Cadets.

Next on tap is a roadie to Scottsville for Thunder's first meeting with the Saints set for 3pm on Saturday, January 9th. Be there or beware the ides of January.