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.

The 98s would travel to historic Concord Mass to take on the scrappy well coached Patriots, and as they did on Saturday used a 5 goal second period to win this one 9-1. Dante Maribito (3-2-5) would have a big day as well as Steven Tettoni who chipped in with 3 assists. Braden Haley (2-1-3) would also chip in with his 3^rd goal in 2 games. Kyle Lynch 2-2-4 and Kyle Hentosh 0-3-3 would also have big days. Ross Wahl (1-1-2) who would play well all weekend and Brendan White (0-2-2) were the other multiple point scorers. Ryan Connearney, Christian Kukas and Aaron Dollin would all add assists from the point. Nick Fiorentino played well and would loose the shutout bid with just 2 minutes to play.

The 98s hosted the improving and surging Red Rangers in Malden on Saturday and exploded for 6 goals in the second period to cruise to an 8-4 win.This one was highlighted by a 5 goal day from the green line as Kyle Lynch (2-1-3), Dante Maribito (2-2-4) and Kyle Hentosh (1-2-3) combined for 10 points. Braden Haley would also add one off a nice 2v1 finish from Brendan White (0-2-2) and JT Chamberlain as he stepped into a one timer and put a slapshot up under the bar. Noah Maercklein and Ross Wahl who played a solid game also lit the lamp. Evan Daddario would chip in with 2 assists and Ridge Driscoll would tally his first Viper point. Steven Tettoni would chip in with a fine effort on the blue line as well

Playing in the character filled Getterson Fieldhouse where some NHL greats like John LeClaire, Martin St. Louis and Tim Thomas called home, as well as Viper Great and local product and former UVM Captain and Rookie of The Year Matt Sanders the 98s began their sweep with a solid 3-1 win on Sunday morning. The Vipers would take advantage of their speed and their excellent conditioning as they wore the hosts down late into the game on the huge surface at the Gut. Kyle Hentosh who figured in all 3 Viper goals would get the visitors on the board early in the second with helpers from Evan Daddario and Noah Maercklein, and then just 2 minutes later Hentosh would set up Kyle Lynch to push the lead to 2-0 after 2 periods of play. Looking to stretch the lead and continue to wear down the visibly tired Glades Lynchy grabbed his second on a pretty feed from Henny to push the lead to 3-0. The third period also started out with the Vipers having to kill 4 straight penalties in the third. The Glades would finally answer with a power play goal but not before Aaron McDonnell would make a couple of great saves late in the game, one a nice glove save which was headed to the far side and the next after a turnover in deep found the Glades best player all alone on the doorstep as he tried to deke but Aaron stood his ground and calmly made the save.

 

In the second game it was anybody's guess how this one would go but the Vipers left no doubt early as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a stifling forecheck and air tight team defense, and again some strong goaltending from Nick Fiorentino. Kyle Lynch (2-1-3), a shorty,  and JT Chamberlain, on the PP,  each with unassisted goals would get the 98s out front 2-0. Dante Maribito withe help from Hentosh and Lynch would push the lead to 3-0. The Glades would cut it to 3-1 on yet another power play goal as it seemed like the visitors were killing penalties all day, and would actually cut this one to 3-2 on their only even strength goal of the weekend in the third but the Vipers would finish this one on an empty netter with just over a minute left in the game for the well earned sweep and a big 5 out of 6 points in the NEHL American Division

In a game that resembled a tractor pull with neither team really showing their best effort this one ended just the way it should of in a 2-2 tie. Ross Wahl got the visiting Vipers out to a 1-0 lead with just one second left int the first as he took a pass from JT Chamberlain (1-1-2) and bounced one in off the goalies shoulder with a nice shot high to the net. Chamberlain would give the Vipers the lead on a beautiful play and set up by Brendan White as he swung the cage and found Chamberlain alone in front for the 2-1 lead. If not for the strong goaltending of Nick Fiorentino this may not have ended the way it did as he came up with a few very nice saves to hold the lead. The Panthers would score to tie the game in the third period and that is how this one would end.

 

The 98s hosted the Philadelphia Little Flyers this weekend and came away with 2 hard fought physical wins over a very good and physical Flyers club. In a rare Friday night tilt the visitors resembling the old school Broadway Bullies came out with a in your face physical style of play that had them ahead 1-0 after 2 periods of play. Just 2 minutes into the third period Brendan White would clean up a goal mouth scrum and tie things at 1, Evan Daddario and Noah Maercklein would add the assists, that line was rewarded for their solid effort all night long. This was a very exciting up and down physical affair all night that certainly gave the fans their money's worth, and with just under 5 minutes remaining in the game, Patrick McCarthy hit Noah Maercklein in the neutral zone with a sharp breakout pass, Maercklein who was heading to the bench then hit a streaking Kyle Lynch down the right wing wall who then fired a laser up under the bar for the eventual game winner. It proved for some very exciting hockey down the stretch as the Flyers through everything they could at the Vipers and goalie Aaron McDonnell. The Vipers and their defense held ground as Ryan Connearney would come up with a nice blocked shot and all did the little things to secure the hard fought win The second game on Sunday was a completely different game as offense would be the story in this one. The Flyers would storm out of the gate and score just 30 seconds into the game, but the Vipers Kyle Lynch (1-1-2) would come back just 15 seconds later and tie it at 1, Kyle Hentosh (1-1-2) and Dante Maribito (1-2-3) picking up the assists. Noah Maercklein and Ross Wahl would tack on first period goals to put the 98s up 3-1 after 1. The second period would see a total of 5 goals in it as the Vipers finished it up 6-3, Brendan White (1-1-2) Maribito and Hentosh would all tally in the second. The Vipers decided to not show up for long stretches of the third period and it came back to haunt them as they just made to many crucial turnovers and their decision making was far from adequate, they still managed to hold on to a 6-6 tie after regulation. After a 5 minute overtime period where the Vipers would carry the play at the start the score remained 6-6 into the shootout portion. After 5 shooters had come up empty Brendan White made a beautiful deke and slid the game winner 5 hole for the victory and the sweep.

Trying to recover from a physical affair and a late night prior, the Vipers did just enough of what they needed to in a 3-1 win over the vastly improved Wizards. Aaron McDonnell would go the distance in this one and play well between the pipes. The Vipers would not score any 5v5 goals as they netted 2 shorties and one 4v4 goal. The green line of Dante Maribito, Kyle Lynch and Kyle Hentosh all chipped in with a goal and an assist each.

The Vipers jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one and would get 2 goals in each of the final 2 periods to win this one 8-1 over a well coached scrappy bunch in Concord. The Green line again would continue their torrid pace as they would score 5 of the 8 goals led by Kyle Lynch (3-1-4), Kyle Hentosh(1-3-4) and Dante Maribito(1-1-2).. Brendan White would chip in with 1-1-2 and Christian Kukas would add 2 helpers and play a solid game from the blue line. Braden Haley from JT Chamberlain and Ross Wahl was the other goal scorer. Aaron Dollin, Noah Maercklein and Patrick McCarthy would all add single helpers. Nick Fiorentino would come up with some timely saves between the pipes. Ridge Driscoll and Ryan Connearney would chip in with solid efforts from the blueline. The Vipers get ready to host the Philadelphia Little Flyers for 2 games coming up on Thanksgiving weekend.

The Vipers jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one and would get 2 goals in each of the final 2 periods to win this one 8-1 over a well coached scrappy bunch in Concord. The Green line again would continue their torrid pace as they would score 5 of the 8 goals led by Kyle Lynch (3-1-4), Kyle Hentosh(1-3-4) and Dante Maribito(1-1-2).. Brendan White would chip in with 1-1-2 and Christian Kukas would add 2 helpers and play a solid game from the blue line. Braden Haley from JT Chamberlain and Ross Wahl was the other goal scorer. Aaron Dollin, Noah Maercklein and Patrick McCarthy would all add single helpers. Nick Fiorentino would come up with some timely saves between the pipes. Ridge Driscoll and Ryan Connearney would chip in with solid efforts from the blueline. The Vipers get ready to host the Philadelphia Little Flyers for 2 games coming up on Thanksgiving weekend.

The 98s hosted the 18^th ranked Westchester Express and phenom Chad Krys, and Chad Krys would show why he is one of the top 98s in the country as he went on to score 4 goals as the Express slipped by the Vipers 7-4. The Vipers would keep it close the entire game as all of their scoring would come from the green line. The Express would jump out to a 2-0 lead but then Kyle Lynch (2-0-2) would cut it to one as Aaron Dollin made a nice play in the neutral zone breaking up the rush to Kyle Hentosh (1-2-3) who would feed Lynchy for the tally. Each team would score 2 goals in the second as the Vipers would hang in there, as Dante Maribito(1-1-2) would score with help from Hentosh and Patrick McCarthy, and then Hentosh would add his on a nice 2 on 1 with Maribito as he faked the shot and walked in alone and finished with a nice deke. The Vipers would be down 4-3 going into the final 15 but playing with some confidence. Krys would score a back breaker just 2 minutes into the third with the Vipers on the PP. Kyle Lynch would come back and again cut the lead to 1 with help from Maribito and Steven Tettoni as Tettoni would let a bomb go from the point on the PP and Lynchy would collect the rebound step around traffic and knock one in off the post. Halfway through the third the Express would put it away with 2 goals 20 seconds apart that would take the wind out of the sails as this one ended 7-4. Aaron McDonnell turned in a fine game between the pipes and Christian Kukas and Aaron Dollin played well on the blueline.

 

The Vipers jumped out to a 5-0 lead after 2 periods and would go on to their 3^rd straight NEHL win 7-2 over the Worcester Crusaders at Holy Cross College. The Green line of Kyle Lynch (1-4-5), Kyle Hentosh (2-1-3) and Dante Maribito (2-2-4) exploded for 5 goals on the day. Brendan White (1-1-2) would find the back of the net hoping to end his drought and Noah Maercklein would add a pretty goal on a terrific feed from Whitey to round out the scoring. Patrick McCarthy and Ryan Connearney would add solid games from the blue, and during their modest 3 game winning streak all six defenseman along with Alex Delvento, Steven Tettoni, Christian Kukas, and Aaron Dollin have played very well both in the D-zone and have also chipped in with excellent offensive play as well. Aaron McDonnell and Nick Fiorentino would see action in this one and both continue to be in a bit of a groove.