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.

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.