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Alumni Hockey News
The fourth annual Westminster Alumni vs. Varsity hockey game took place this past Thursday, January 3rd, and though there were some fresh faces on both benches, the result was nothing new. As the puck dropped, the alumni came out firing. Hoping for an early lead, they laced shot after shot toward varsity goaltender Taylor Smallwood, but couldn't seem to find the back of the net. Around midway through the first, the varsity made the mistake of putting seven men on the ice, which resulted in an alumni penalty shot. Smallwood came up huge for the varsity and kept the game in a scoreless tie. Finally with 3:40 left in the first, Joe Nelson notched the first and only alumni goal on assist by Zac Underwood and Andrew Bateman. Down but not out, the varsity were handed their first penalty shot of the game, which resulted in Jimmy Munson getting jiggy with a slick little move to somehow sneak the puck around the pad of alumni goaltender Nate (nice 'stache) Brown with just 29 seconds left in the period. From the moment the puck slid over the goal line, the varsity refused to look back.
As the second period began, the alumni found themselves in the same position as before. Smallwood continued to play brilliantly in net for the varsity, shutting down the alumni and keeping his team in the game. With 7:21 left in the second, much to the dismay of the alumni faithful in the stands, the varsity were awarded their second penalty shot. Daniel Kim took advantage of the freebie, putting the varsity up 2-1, and breaking the spirits of the hard-working alumni. With the scoreboard in their favor, the varsity picked up the pace. Sprawling and diving, Brown and his alumni defensemen held their team in the game until the buzzer sounded to end the second. Unfortunately, a lapse in judgement and a crushing hit along the boards after the whistle, forced Brown to face yet another varsity penalty shot and yet another varsity goal, this one scored by Jon Burgress, the victim of the hard-but-late hit.
With their elderly legs beginning to tire, the alumni tried everything to stay in the game, but Smallwood would have none. He sprawled and rolled as the alumni rattled off shots, stopping everything thrown at him in the third. With just four minutes left to play, Matt Longworth put the varsity up 4-1 with assists by Steven Lillenberg and Daniel Kim, closing the door on an alumni comeback. Soon thereafter, Munson notched his second of the game, sliding the puck past a sprawling Nate Brown. With the score at 5-1 and a comeback out of the picture, Brown decided it was time for some magic. Facing a two-on-one, Brown was able to flash the glove and knock down a high shot, then slide to the other side of the net, stacking his pads and kicking out a rebound attempt in what one fan said was "the most amazing save (ever)." With only a minute left, Brown headed to the bench to give the alumni the added attacker, but it was too little too late. Smallwood once again denied the alumni of any chances, capping off a 41 save night for himself and a 5-1 victory for his varsity squad.
Though the competition was ferocious and the hits were hard, good times were had by all and the alumni once again came out in force this year.
Alumni players:
1997 - Gabe Kea 2000 - Josh Malawy, Josh York 2001 - Matt Brown, Darren Keeton 2002 - Jordan Egertson, Eric Malawy, Zach Underwood, Andrew Belmont 2003 - Nate Brown, Danny Lahr 2004 - Andrew Bateman, Nick Cascella, Ryan Ganz 2005 - David Cascella, Joe Nelson 2006 - Nick Pieber, DJ Jones 2007 - Hank Hicks, Matt Leeker, Shawn Oberle
The following alumni players turned out for the second annual Alumni vs. Alumni game, held Jan. 1st, but were unable to make the varsity game on Jan. 3rd: Jonny Moroni - 2000, Pat Forkin - 2003, Joe Schnitzler - 2003.
Game results of Alumni/Varsity games:
2005 - alumni 7 - 6 2006 - alumni 6 - 5 2007 - varsity 8 - 4 2008 - varsity 5 - 1
Tune in next year for another episode of "Old Men with Skates and Sticks."