PA Center-Pedes started out the scoring in period one. Dan McDevitt got the first tally, assisted by Bobby Keys. Mike Hallman made it 2-0, assisted by Athan Blaine.

Period two started out with the bugs Mike McDevitt redirecting a Hallman pass he had received from the other McDevitt ,making it 3-0. NY netminder Andrew Schwartz stopped every other PA offering. PA keeper Glen Schwarz was kept busy later in period two. Chris Meigel and Nick Teodoro each scored once unassisted and once with help from Fitzgerald and Meigel. Veteran oldie Doyle couldn't muster enough energy or speed to thwart the two NY offensive weapons from the defensive position.

PA outshot NY 20-10 and controlled a lot of the play in their losing effort. NY has seemed to recover from the attendance issues that plagued them during the Vermont tournament. NY was able to take all the wind out of PA's sails; killing the possibility of a repeat performance of the 2005/2006 season. No telling how NY would have finished if they didn't forfeit those season beginning games.

Story by Mike Doyle

Photo by Carter Farmer

In the third and final meeting between these two teams this season, the Wolf Pack prevailed yet again. The two previous games were decided by five or more goals in favor of CT but the overall game-play was not a direct reflection of the score. The Wolf Pack, however, would not show any compassion (at least on the ice) on Valentine’s Day as the scoring started off immediately with CT’s Ryan Pelletier burying a goal less than 20 seconds after the opening faceoff. Connecticut’s lead extended to 3-0 going into the first intermission after Vermont’s John McArdle sailed a blistering wrister over the net in the closing seconds. Still, the SledCats kept fighting back, making crisper passes and finishing checks, an aspect that had plagued the team during the opening period. The in-game improvement shown as Vermont surrendered just one 2nd period goal, this one yet again at the quick hands and accurate shooting of Ryan Pelletier.

Hungry to score, the Vermont offense showed some life in the 3rd period as the SledCats registered four shots on net. Those opportunities, however, were squandered thanks to the goaltending of Karen Smith and the defense by Tiger Jenner, Tyler Konvent, and Colleen Rock. Smith picked up the shutout with six saves while Vermont’s Patrick Standen turned away 17 of 22 shots. Ryan Pelletier finished the game with four goals, Josh Buglione contributed one, and Anthony Kuntz earned three assists.

Story by Eric Gissendanner

Saturday January 30, 2010 Northeast Passage teamed up with the Boston Bruins to put on a 2 hour Sled Hockey Clinic at the North End Rink in Boston Mass as part of the NHL’s “Hockey is for Everyone” program.  Tom Carr, Assistant Director of Northeast Passage and Coach of the NEP Wildcats, who play in the Northeast Sled Hockey League, brought 28 sleds to be used in the clinic.  Rick Middleton, former Bruins Defenseman and now President of the Bruin’s Alumni Association, was on hand to help with the clinic as well as NEP Wildcat players Mike Ciavarro, Josh Moran & Bryan Genovese.

Rick became involved with Sled Hockey in 2001, when he was appointed coach of the US Paralympic Sled Hockey Team.  Rick coached the US Team, who was rated 5th or 6th in the world, to a Gold Medal in the 2002 Paralympics in Salt Lake CityUtah.  The team went undefeated, winning every game in their quest for the Gold, and they were the only US Hockey Team to win Gold that year in the Olympics & the Paralympics.  Rick went on to coach the New England Bruins Sled Hockey Team for several years and continues to be an advocate & strong supporter of Sled Hockey.

There were over 25 kids who came to participate in the clinic.  The kids were divided into 3 groups, Mike, Josh and Bryan each took a group and showed them how to maneuver their sled, how to pass and shoot the puck and other aspects of Sled Hockey.  Tom and Rick, along with other volunteers from the Bruins and Mass Hockey, went from group to group helping out and offering suggestions.  The 2 hours went too quickly.  Everyone had a Great Time and some of the kids didn’t want to get off the ice.  Check out the NESN video of the event.

If you would like to play Sled Hockey, or volunteer to help, contact one of the team representatives click on “About the NESHL” & then “League Contacts” or “NESHL Teams” on our web site.

Story by Dale Wise---NESHL Commissioner

Click here to see an article written about Jimmy Connelly by The Shore News Today. Good luck in Vancouver Jim, and Team USA!