skip navigation

EXCITING FINALS EARN SPLIT SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR 16 U SO. CONN STARS AND 18 U GREATER NY STARS

By EJEPL Reporter, 10/29/17, 12:00PM EDT

Share

CONN COLLEGE, CT...  It was a day for the Stars of So Conn and Greater NY as both the 16 and 18 U Championship games featured the same organizations. The teams, part of the EJEPL's Split Season conference all defeated their semi-final opponents to get to the Championship games. In the 16 U, So. Conn defeated Hunterdon 13-1 and Greater NY defeated the West Mass Vipers 5-3. In the 18 U division, the Greater NY Stars defeated the RI JR. Blues 7-5 & the So Conn Stars beat the LI Arrows 4-2. All the 18 U games were close and hard fought. "The beautiful Connecticut College setting was a perfect atmosphere for the games" stated Admin. Assistant and Dean of Discipline Steve Kauffman who supervised the event for the EJEPL. The teams were happy with the weekend chosen way back at the annual meeting in April as local Leagues start their playoffs in November.
In the 16 U Championship game, GNY took a 1-0 lead on a goal by John Lamantia on an assist by Thomas Smith.
So Conn tied the score at 1-1 as Trevor Earley scored a PP goal late in the period. Travis Nussbaum assisted on the goal. The 1st half ended 1-1 as the teams went to their locker rooms. "The locker room was tense" stated assistant coach Mike Davie, who played at SUNY Cortland and was a 2010 Junior B National Champion with the old Apple Core Junior team in the Empire League. So Conn quickly opened the 2nd half scoring as Travis Nussbaum scored on an assist from Troy Harwell.  So. Conn made it 3-1 with 9:24 left in the game --unassisted. Greater NY did not quit and made the score 3-2 on a goal by Anthony LaTona. So Conn held on for the victory and their Championship banner.
 
In the 18 U game between the same two organizations, Greater NY who came in first in the regular season KRACH ratings, dominated the first half taking a 4-1 lead to the ice cut. Goals by Joe Fama, (2) by Ian Lavitman & another by Noah Gold over came the lone So Conn goal by Ty Fujitani. Andrew Cardi had (2) assists for Greater NY in the 1st half. So Conn scored early in the 2nd half on a goal by Samuel New. Greater NY kept their cool and lead and with 3:56 left in the game, Andrew Cardi sealed the deal for Head Coach Pete Lompado and the GNY Stars 18 U team.
 
MVP'S:
 
16 U Level----- So Conn-----Will Forrest
 
18 U Level----- GNY----------Ian Lavitman
 
Congratulations to all 4 Championship game teams and a great day of hockey.

16U Split Season Championship MVP Will Forrest - Southern CT Stars National


18U Split Season Championship MVP Ian Lavitman - Greater New York Stars