After a very frustrating loss to the PA Center-Pedes in the first game of the day the very rested Wildcats were anxious for the last game of the day versus the CT Wolf Pack. The high-powered Wildcat attack lit the lamp for three goals in the first frame. Josh Moran, Bryan Genovese, and Kip St.Germaine all scored for the Cats. Moran and Genovese added goals in the second period and the Cats were up 5-0 after two periods. ³We were well rested and a bit angry when we took the ice,² said Tom Carr coach of the NEP Wildcats ³with that mindset we were going to be tough to beat.²  Ryan Pelletier scored for CT in the final frame to round out the scoring as the Cats beat the Wolf Pack 5-1.

Story by Tom Carr

The Rangers were spread thin for their first game of the day with only three forwards, two defensemen and a forward turned goalie, Mike Szymczak. For the Rangers there was no rest for the weary. The Bugs were missing some top players but still had key players Tim Jones and Mike Doyle not to mention a full bench.  The Rangers bit first scoring 3 goals in the first period.  In the second period the Bugs bit back coming within one goal.  The Rangers pressed hard and fought off the offensive power of Jones and beat the Bugs 7-3.

Story by Vic Calise

In a widely anticipated game that had numerous subplots the Rangers took the ice in the 2^nd game of their double header vs. the Wildcats. Fans from all over Long Island came to see the game. Former teammate and friend of the Rangers Bryan Genovese had explored the free agent waters in the off season and wound up signing with the Wildcats for an undisclosed Sum.  His agent Dylan Hronec of Ficarrotta Associates stated GM Carr was a tough negotiator but eventually the deal got done.  It didn’t take long for Genovese sporting a #8 jersey to factor into the game as he opened the scoring 10 minutes into the 1rst period.

With the Ranger defense caught flatfooted on the blue line Genovese got behind them and fired a deadly shot into the top left corner beating his former goalie & putting the Cats up 1-0. Two minutes later Mike “the polish prince” Symczak of the Rangers  forechecked Josh Moran as he was emerging from behind his own net forcing him to make an errant pass that was picked off by a streaking (streaking  is a relative term!) Tony “Tubby” Fitzgerald . As Fitzy headed to the net from the right his D partner Meigel crashed from the left drawing the attention of the defenders and netminder… Fitzy wristed it under Louies arm to tie the game 1-1.

In the second period Josh “Bugsy”Moran took back the Cats lead with a shot from the corner that goalie Schwarz wanted back. “ I tried to bat the puck away instead of catching it…. and it went in off my glove.”  Late in the 2^nd period Symczak  made a strong breakout pass to Igor “Special Forces” Hursky who head manned it to  sprinting  Ranger D-man  Chris Meigel who tied the game at 2 . The game seesawed back and forth in the early part of the 3^rd period with NH hitting the post twice in the final frame.  They had hit the post 2 other times earlier in the game!  Moran and Genovese are quickly developing a passing chemistry that will keep opponents back on their heels( wheels?) all season.  Eventually the hockey gods smiled on the dynamic duo as Genovese closed in 1 on 1 against fitzy and fired a shot that Schwarz stopped but couldn’t control the rebound…Moran came swooping in uncovered to “pick up the garbage” and bury the puck into the empty net to give the Cats a 3-2  lead. Moments later NY Goalkeeper Schwarz made a mask save on a breakaway that kept the blueshirts in the game and lifted Ranger morale.  Vic”long live the Federation” Calise took the puck from his own end and fed Conner “the commander” Fee  in the neutral zone who got the puck To Teodoro who’s quick release beat the NH goaltender and tied the game at 3. The Ranger guns were not done… with 4 minutes left Teodoro carried the puck down the right side into the Cat zone and flipped a pass across to Meigel who knocked the puck out of mid air into the net to give NY the lead and game. Final score  Rangers 4 , UNH 3

Notes &Quotes: Bryan Genovese when asked what it was like to play his former team?

“It was weird lining up opposite all my friends & teammates for the opening faceoff, I have strong ties to the Ranger organization… but when the puck dropped it was just like any other game …my focus was to help our team win, we’ll get them next time..”

A big question on players minds is what kind of participation can we expect from the US nat’l team players? If they are out, what place a team comes in will likely be determined by their 2^nd lines and overall depth…and don’t forget goaltending!!!

Re: Dales Nagano ‘98 pic & story…Ahh the glory days!! Though we finished 4^th or 5^th out of 6 teams it doesn’t tell the whole story… we played the top 2 teams, Canada & Norway  (Gold and silver medal winners) extremely well. During the Paralympics we tied Canada 2-2 and lost to Norway 2-1 !! Not bad for a couple of amps and a lot of Para’s!!

Also in Nagano,  Kip St Germaine scored the first goal in US Paralympic  history and Joe Howard set a record for most goals by an individual in a single game w/8 vs Great Britain

Happy Thanksgiving!

Story by Anthony “Fitzy” Fitzgerald

In a low scoring contest the NY Rangers sled hockey team defeated the Conn. Wolfpack in a tight and stingy defensive battle at the Danbury arena on Sunday. In a game that was really the start of the Ranger season (a rash of injuries and prior obligations saw NY send only 3 players to the league kickoff in late Oct.) both teams employed a sound positional strategy to reduce each others offensive chances. Though eventually the pack patience ran thin as late in the second period they were caught deep in the Ranger end resulting in a breakaway for Nick “the Titan” Teodoro. Nitro flew down the left side of the ice and roofed a wrist shot past Goaltender Karen Smith to make it 1-0. Karen“Hotlegs”Smith who up until that point had flashed her glove successfully snatching ranger shots out of the air had a strong game.

The pack defense did a good job of protecting her and clearing pucks from the crease and ranger players from the slot.   The Rangers had outshot and out chanced the pack but not without a few scares from the ever improving offensive tandem of Pelletier and Kuntz who are tearing up the West Coast League as part the US nat’l under 20 team. Andrew  “I’ll be back” Schwarz of the Rangers posted the 5^th shutout of his career and is on pace to overtake Martin Broduer by 2029.   Ranger rookie Dan Santos had a strong game along with 2^nd year players Conner Fee (another standout on the under 20 US Nat’l team) and Lou “Steady Eddy” Riccardi …  Midway through the 3^rd period Teodoro scored the insurance goal to make it 2-0 off a beautiful feed from all-star defensemen Chris “the Monster” Meigel.

Story by Anthony “Fitzy” Fitzgerald