This weekend the Wolfpack Mites participated in the NJ Reads Tournament hosted by Pro Skates of  Princeton.  Their first game of the tourney was 8:30 am Saturday morning against the Stars. Wolf Pack knew they had to secure the first goal to set the tone of the game being that the Stars had home ice advantage and a game under their belt. 

 

Wolfpack came ready to play and scored within seconds of the game whistle. Five unanswered goals in the first period, scored by Daniel Flood, John Fanizza/Thomas Perlitz, Michael Nisky, and two by Daniel Janson. 

 

The Mites defense worked together to prohibit any shots on first period goal tender, Liam Rebetje.

 

Five more goals in the second period! Scored by Michael Nisky, Daniel Janson, Micheal Nisky again and another with John Fanizza, and Thomas Bauer/Ty Schafer. The Stars snuck two goals past our third period goal tender Ethan Finver. Nick Kuchie made the last goal of the game. 11-2 Victory.

 

Game two, took place Saturday at 2:30pm against the Freeze.  They too, had played the night before, with a loss and now had to match the energy of a victorious Wolf Pack team. 

 

This game was owned by goalie, Ethan Finver! The Freeze had 19 shots on  goal and were robbed of  16 perfectly executed attempts to score.  The Wolf Pack offense worked a passing game to their full advantage. Billy Both, Thomas Perlitz and Ty Schafer contributed to the excitement of ten shots on goal during the first period. Scoring for the first period were Daniel Janson/Michael Nisky, and Daniel Janson/Thomas Bauer. 

 

The second period proved more competitive. Both teams had comparable shots on goal. Wolf Pack dumped three well played pucks into the net. Chance Fee, Chance Fee again, with Michael Nisky and Daniel Janson, Chance Fee again – can you say HAT TRICK? with a Danny Flood assist.

 

Going into the third period, its anyone’s game 5-2.  The Freeze came at goal tender Ethan Finver with vengeance. They fired ten, and got one deserved goal.  Wolf Pack matched all calls. Penalties were served up on both sides, roughing, hooking, checking and boarding.  Offense was in overdrive, ten more shots – three more goals!  Michael Nisky/Daniel Janson/John Fanizza, Chance Fee/Danny Flood and Chance Fee/Nicholas Kuchie.  Victory! 8-3

 

Game three came at an ungodly hour; Sunday morning 7:15am Daylight Savings Time.  The Mites, however, did spring into action against Cranford. Cranford also undefeated in its prior bouts played a strategic game of cat and mouse, holding back their best player.  Wolf Pack played with finesse; using players in every position to utilized the nine power plays.  Goal Tender, Liam Rebetje stopped a total of 8 shots in the first two periods.  Ethan Finver guarded the net with an additional 6 saves in the third.  Ty Shafer, Nicholas Kuchie, Thomas Bauer and James Urlich, provided excellent blue line defense.  Shift changes allowed for Nisky/Janson, Janson/Kuchie, and Nisky to score in the first period.

 

The Kuchie/Schafer combination scored the only Wolf Pack goal of the second period. 

 

Working hard, Woodbridge and Cranford had 12 and 8 shots  on goal the third period.  The Janson/Nisky goal was answered within minutes.  Nisky returned the puck to Cranford’s net within seconds!   Minutes later Nisky /Kuchie/Flood scored again.  Janson wanted in – He shoots he scores!  Caught up in the excitement…Cranford scores right back.  Game ending with a Wolf Pack victory 8-3.

 

Game Four.  The Championship…. This was Woodbridge’s game to win.  Victorious throughout the tournament, tired and running on adrenalin, the team had it sites on the trophy. 

 

Wolf Pack began playing the first period as if all thoughts of glory were shelved.  Cranford scored the first goal. Wolf Pack was scoreless thru the first period. Six shots on goal were flawlessly stopped by Cranford.  Nisky scored one goal in the second.  Woodbridge was down by two.  A tough reality at the end of the second. 

 

The third period started like the first, Cranford scored first.  That was the Wolf Pack wake-up call.  Kuchie scored, Nisky/Fanizza scored seconds later, Fee/Janson/Flood were on fire, to tie the score 4-4.  Wolf Pack was back and going for the win. Nisky scored 5-4!  Cranford was going for the win and shot back ending the third period 5-5.

 

As skates edged the ice for the sudden death overtime, fans moved to the edge of their seats.  Four on four, five minutes on the clock, one minute into overtime, Cranford is called on a penalty...Coach Bill (Rebetje) calls a time out and tells the chosen line to “get it done!”   So Nisky and Janson teamed up for the game winning goal.  6-5 Victory.