The Vipers lacked urgency and intensity in this one as the Braves would score both goals within a minute after the Vipers would get their goals to earn the tie. The Vipers did enough to control long stretches of the game and hold an edge in the shot total but were not willing to get dirty and finish against the very talented Braves. Evan Daddario would finish off a nice play with JT Chamberlain and bury a wrister 5 hole for the first period lead, the Braves would answer less than a minute later to end the first tied at 1. Brendan White with assists from Alex Delvento and Noah Maercklein would give the Vipers the lead again in the second, only for them to cough it back up for the 2-2 tie

The 98s used 5 goals in the first 4 minutes of the second period to run away with this one as they swept the season series with the Cyclones with a 9-1 win. Brendan White had a big day chipping in with 2 goals and 2 assists, Noah Maercklein (0-3-3), Kyle Lynch (1-2-3) and Dante Maribito (2-1-3) would also have big days. The Vipers would also get 2 goals each from Evan Daddario and Braden Haley as the Vipers used their most balanced scoring attack of the season.Kyle Hentosh (0-2-2) was the other multiple scorer and Steven Tettoni, Patrick McCarthy, JT Chamberlain and Ross Wahl all added single helpers. Aaron McDonnell and Nick Fiorentino split the duties in the cage

The 98s would look for the sweep of the physical Glades on Sunday morning and did just that with a solid 3-0 win for the season sweep of the Glades. Aaron McDonnell would get the call between the pipes for this one and would turn in a solid effort for the home team, as both Viper goalies would turn in gems this weekend. Kyle Lynch would get the Vipers on the board in the first on the PP as the Vipers would execute a perfect face off play. Kyle Hentosh would slide a pass to Christian Kukas who would bang a one timer to the net that was saved but Lynchy was there to bang in the rebound, although not credited with an assist the play could not have been executed with out Dante Maribito winning the draw. Kyle Lynch would score his 2^nd of the game in the second as he would score an incredible shorty splitting the D and toe dragging the goalie and finishing upstairs for the 2-0 lead. Ross Wahl would score on a nice rebound goal in front as he was falling down, a very pretty goal that rewarded his line for a nice shift. Evan Daddario and JT Chamberlain picked up the helpers on that one. This one would get a bit chippy in the third but the Vipers would remain disciplined and stretch their record to 7-0-3 in their last 10 NEHL games. Christian Kukas would turn in maybe his finest effort all year from the blueline playing a very solid physical game. Steven Tettoni and Ryan Connearney also chipped in with solid efforts from the point

The 98s went on the road to face the once beaten and very strong Falcons, and despite winning the 5 on 5 battle 3-1 they tied the war 3-3 as the Falcons would score 2 PP goals in the second to earn the tie. The Falcons would jump out front quickly just over a minute into the game, but Dante Maribito (2-0-2) would tie the score as both his goals would be set up by Kyle Lynch (0-2-2) and Kyle Hentosh(0-2-2). The Falcons would go ahead with their first PP goal with 4 minutes left in the first, but with just 1 minute left tin the first the Vipers again tied the score on Maribitos second goal. The Falcons would go up 3-2 early in the second but just 16 seconds later the resilient Vipers would answer again as Noah Maercklein would take a feed from Brendan White and snap a wrister to the top corner as he was getting drilled to tie things up at 3. The third would belong to the keepers as both goalies would come up big, and Nick Fiorentino would continue his torrid pace and play lights out in the third period. The Vipers had the edge in the third period and were swarming the Falcons cage for the last 2:35 of the game but could not pop the game winner in. After a shaky first period the Viper D of Christian Kukas, Steven Tettoni, Aaron Dollin Ryan Connearney, Alex Delvento and Patrick McCarthy did a great job of stepping up and taking away time and space from the talented Falcon forwards.

In an excellent hockey game in Exeter the Spartans were able to tie the 98 Vipers 5-5 with a late goal in the third in a game that contained plenty of high intensity and end to end action. The Vipers used 5 different goal scorers in this one and scored the tying and go ahead goal just 9 seconds apart in the third after trailing 4-3 to begin the third. Aaron Dollin and Christian Kukas both scored from the point as well in this one, as Kyle Lynch (1-1-2) fed a nice pass out to Kukas for his goal. Braden Haley tied the game at 4 as he benefited from a sweet give by Brendan White from behind the net and Haley deposited it high into the net as the Rinks erupted with the tying goal, and just 9 seconds later after taking a feed from Dante Maribito on the half wall Lynchie walked in and roofed one under the bar to take the lead. Evan Daddario finished off a nice rebound to put the visitors up 2-1 going into the second period with JT Chamberlain picking up an assist. Alex Dlevento also picked up an assist giving him 4 points for the weekend. The story of the game had to be the excellent goaltending effort turned in by Nick Fiorentino all morning as he made many fine stops, his biggest on a breakaway with the score tied at 5 and just 45 seconds left in the game. Ryan Connearney, Steven Tettoni and Patrick McCarthy played solid on the blue line.

The Vipers used 3 goals in 2 minutes to open the third period to cruise past the Assabet Valley Patriots Saturday to a big win. The Green line of Dante Maribito (4-1-5), Kyle Hentosh (0-4-4) and Kyle Lynch (1-3-4) paced the attack as the Vipers are starting to regain a balanced scoring attack. Alex Delvento also chipped in with 2 goals (2-1-3) as he moved up to forward in this one. Brendan White also chipped in with 3 helpers. Evan Daddario and Ross Wahl (1-1-2) were the other goal scorers and Noah Maercklein (0-2-2), Steven Tettoni and JT Chamberlain all added assists. The Vipers got 2 goals on the power play and Maribito scored on a shorty breakaway. Nick Fiorentino and Aaron McDonnell split the time between the pipes and combined for the shutout win. Patrcik McCarthy, Steven Tettoni and Ryan Connearney chipped in with solid efforts on the blueline

The Vipers used scoring from all 3 lines for the second day in a row to skate past the Wizards at home on Sunday. Kyle Hentosh (2-3-5) and Dante Maribito (2-2-4) would pace the winners in this one and Noah Maercklein would chip in with 3 assists. Braden Haley (1-1-2), Brendan White (1-1-2), Evan Daddario and Kyle Lynch (1-1-2) would all add goals and JT Chamberlain would add a helper. Aaron McDonnell would chip in with a fine breakaway save to start the second period and the Vipers up only 3-1. Christian Kukas, Ryan Connearney and Steven Tettoni would add solid outings from the back end and Nick Fiorientino would finish up between the pipes.

 

The 98 Vipers laced them up for the first time since returning from Ottawa and after shaking off a slow start went on to beat the scrappy Red Rangers 5-0. Nick Friorentino and Aaron McDonnell combined for the shutout and the Vipers used 5 different goal scorers and showed a balanced scoring attack for the first time in weeks. Kyle Lynch (1-2-3) scored the only goal of the first period, but then would score 3 in a 2:30 minute span of the second to put this one out of reach. Ross Wahl (1-1-2) would score on the Power Play after some nice forechecking and puck possession by his line, Evan Daddario would pick up the assist. Exactly one minute later Kyle Hentosh would find Steven Tettoni at the point who fired a laser through traffic, and then 30 seconds after that Brendan White (1-1-2) would finish off a fine play from Lynchy and Braden Haley to put the home team up 4-0 after 2. Noah Maercklein from a nifty pass from behind the net from Whitey would round out the scoring in this one. Ryan Connearney continues to play well from the blueline for the 98s.

 

The 98s spent part of their vacation up north participating in the Bell Capital Cup in Ottawa, although plagued by inconsistent play the Vipers finished the tourney with a 1-2-1 record but returned with plenty of good memories and a very good time had by all the players and families.

 

Vipers 3 Upper Ottawa Valley Aces 3

 

In a game the Vipers should have won they had to battle from behind to earn the tie n this one after giving up 3 first period goals. The Vipers 3 goals came from Kyle Lynch who was clearly the best player on the ice for both teams. His second coming with just 3 seconds left in the second period to pull the Vipers within one. His third was the best goal that was scored all year by a Viper, as he split two defenders was slashed down to his knees and while sliding on his knees managed to  shoot to the far side up under the bar for the tie. The Vipers controlled the final period but could not take the lead. Kyle Hentosh, Dante Maribito and Brendan White picked up lone assists. Kyle Lynch was named the game MVP and Brendan White received the Hardest Worker Award.

 

Vipers 6 Bedford Blues 0

 

The Vipers got exceptional goaltending from Nick Fiorientino early on which helped the Vipers to the 6-0 shutout win over the Blues from Nova Scotia. Among other many fine saves Nick would come up huge on a penalty shot save when the score was 0-0. Kyle Hentosh (1-4-5) and Dante Maribito (2-3-5) would score 8 seconds apart in the first period to give them a 2-0 lead after 1. Kyle Lynch (2-1-3) was the other multi-point scorer in this one and Evan Daddario would round out the scoring. Taking nothing away from Kyle Lynch who was named the MVP for thsi game the award could have easily gone to Nick Fiorientino. Dante Maribito picked up the Hardest Worker Award in this one

 

Vipers 2 Quiente Red Devils 7

 

The Vipers did not show up ready to play in this one giving up a goal just 17 seconds into the game and 2 more in the first before Maribito from Hentosh would cut it to 3-1. Winning the last 4 shifts of the second period gave the Vipers some life heading into the second period but again the eventual semi-finalist Devils would score just 12 seconds into the second and the Vipers could never recover after that. Dante Maribito would score his second of the game off a nice re-direct from a shot by Ryan Connearney, who would have himself a fine weekend, Kyle Hentosh would pick up the other assist. Ryan Connearney would go on to earn Game MVP honors while Ross Wahl would pick up the Hardest Worker Award.

 

Vipers 2 Ottawa Valley Silver Seven 3

 

Playing their best game of the weekend and outshooting the Silver Seven 31-11 the Vipers could not find the back of the net against the very strong 7 goaler. The Silver Seven would score with just under 6 minutes left to win this one 3-2. Evan Daddario would get the Vipers on the board with assists from Steven Tettoni and Ross Wahl. The line of Daddario, Wahl and Braden Haley would put up a pretty good effort in this one. Dante Maribito would score the lone goal in the second period to tie the game at 2 with assists from Kyle Hentosh and JT Chamberlain. Kyle Hentosh was named the Game MVP in this one while Evan Daddario picked up the Hardest Worker Award

 

Kyle Lynch, Steven Tettoni and Aaron McDonnell all represented the Vipers in the All-Star Game while the entire team also competed in the skills challenge, with Evan Daddario coming in second place in the Accuracy Shooting Contest and Aaron McDonnell coming in second place for the goaltender shootout competition. Also Kyle Hentosh and Dante Maribito were tied with 2 other players for the overall point scoring lead for the entire tournament each having 9 points, while Hentosh was the tournament leader with 8 assists.

After their win over the Red Rangers on Saturday afternoon the 98 Vipers set out to spread some Christmas Cheer on a less fortunate family in Lynn MA as the Vipers collected presents, clothes and appliances and delivered them to a family who recently lost everything in a tragic house fire. The joy on the faces of the 3 and 6 year old family members as one Viper after another was lead up the stairs with bags of goodies was so much more gratifying than any win they will get this winter and certainly put into perspective of just how fortunate our hockey players are to be doing the things that they love to do and to not take them for granted. Kudos to the parents, players and coaches of the 98 Vipers as they continue to do good things within their community.