U15 SPLIT - TIER 1: News

Game 1 v. NorthStar Selects of MA - The Vipers opened the Can Am tournament in Lake Placid in thrilling fashion as they edged the Northstar Selects 2-1 on Rob Murphy's goal with just 1:07 left in the game. Dante Maribito tied the game in the second period with an assist going to Kyle Hentosh, and Murphy netted the winner after some nice forecheking and a nifty pass out front, Murphy would slide the game winner through a screen, Noah Maercklein and Brendan White picked up the assists. Aaron McDonnell played a solid game in net for the winners

Game 2 saw the Vipers come flying out of the gates and never stopped as they upended the New England Moose 6-1. Kyle Lynch (1-2-3) Dante Maribito (1-1-2) and Kyle Hentosh (1-1-2) would pace the offense. Chris Goggin, JT Chamberlain and Brendan White would also tally, while Noah Maercklein, Rob Murphy, Aaron Dollin and Ryan Connearney, after a fine play on the blueline to keep the puck in and get a shot off would all add assists. Andrew Krajeski came up just short of posting the shutout as the Moose would get their only goal with 1:36 left in the game.

Game 3 the Vipers ran into a solid Cumberland Jr. Grads team of Ontario Canada. The Grads would grab the 4-1 win (and win Gold by going 5-0) but not before a scrappy effort from the Vipers. Down 2-0 at the start of the third period an unassisted goal from Rob Murphy would cut the lead in half and give the Vipers some life. They could not sustain the pressure though as with 5 minutes left in the game the Grads would get 2 goals in 30 seconds to seal the win. Both Aaron McDonnell and Andrew Krajeski would see action in this one both playing very well

Game 4 v. St Clair Shores Saints of Michigan, the Vipers would be looking for the win to advance them to the Gold Medal game, showing some fatigue the Vipers did not play their best game but managed to come away with a heartbreaking tie as the Saints would grab a lucky bounce and get out of the game with a 2-2 tie with just 1:21 left in the game. Kyle Lynch from Kyle Hentosh would get the Vipers out in front in the first period,  the Saints would tie it at 1 in the second period, then about 1 minute into the third Kyle Hentosh would get the go ahead goal (una) and it seemed like it would be enough, until the Saints would throw one toward the net that would find the back of the net and tie the game at 2. The Vipers still looked in pretty good shape to advance to the Gold Medal game, but a 3 way tie for seocnd place had some unusual tie breaking scenarios which pushed the Northstar Selects into the Gold Medal game, even after losing to the Vipers in the first game.

Bronze Medal Game, Vipers v. Greater Red Bank Generals of New Jersey, The Vipers played a sound, disciplined game in all 3 zones to shutout the Generals 4-0 and win the Bronze Medal. The Vipers offense would take advantage of the few chances they had and they would play a great game in their own end with some strong D-Zone coverage. Brendan White would get the Vipers on the board with the goal of the tourney from an incredible individual rush beating 3 General defenders and finished with a nifty backhand deke wround the goalie, this would come with just 2 minutes left int he first period. The Vipers would continue the momentum scoring 2 goals in the first four minutes of the second period, as Noah Maercklein would bang in the rebound of an Aaron Dollin shot that rang of the iron, Kyle Hentosh would then tally the Viper third goal with a tear dropper that would fall in behind the General goalie, Kyle Lynch and Dante Maribito would add assists, and then with a minute left in the game game Heath King would be rewarded for his tireless efforts all night as he deposited a wrist shot over the blocker to round out the scoring, Chris Goggin and JT Chamberlain would add assists. Aaron McDonnell would shine between the pipes picking up the shutout. McDonnell and the Viper defense would take care of their net all night by only allowing one shot and clearing or covering up any other loose pucks.

Vipers next 3 games will all be of the non-league variety as they will take on the St Moritz Devils, Assabet Valley Patriots and New England Bulldogs next week