Sat-Dec-21, 2024
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Fall 2006 Playoffs

Long Island Cup Fall 2006 Championship Games

B League - [draw] | [box scores] | [back to top]
Championship Game
B6 - No Doubt - Bruins shellac Storm 13-4 to repeat as Fall B League champions
Exploding for six unanswered second period goals, the GN-Bruins vaporized a 3-2 first period deficit and trounced the Storm to defend their Fall B title. In the final two periods, the Bruins shook off the vulnerability that saw their first two playoff games decided in the final minute, and left no question who was the elite B team this campaign.

This championship match turned on the second shift of the second period. Scoring three times within a minute, the Bruins stunned the Storm, who never recovered. The lightning strike was spearheaded by B League Co-MVPs Chris Ferazzoli and Adam Greene. All season long this dynamic duo provided the jet fuel to the Bruins high octane attack. As was their want, the pair roamed the ice unbridled. Taking turns shredding the Storm defensive, they each scored twice in the decisive middle stanza and four overall. In the wing man position, Casey Tremblay pitched in six points, a goal and five helpers.
Winner's Bracket
B4 - Scratch and Claw - Bruins pushed to the limit, need third period to overcome Saints 6-5
B2 - Cinco de Wowyo - Saints rally past Storm 6-5 behind Yuengling's five
B1 - Taken to the Limit - GN-Bruins fend off plucky Klash squad 10-7
Loser's Bracket
B5 - Halfway There - Storm defrock staggered Saints 6-3
B0 - Not Pretty - Storm withstand Klash third period, prevail 5-3
Wildcard
B0 - Party Crasher - Klash "klick" into playoff mode, upset LI-Patriots 4-1

C League - [draw] | [box scores] | [back to top]
Championship Game
C4 - Raise your Cup - Brew Crew bounce Grizzlies 3-2 to win first Long Island Cup
Sean Chaitman's goal with 4 1/2 to go proved the titlewinner as the Brew Crew fended off a determined Grizzlies squad. With the win, the Brew Crew, who dropped the three regular season meetings with the Grizzlies, raised the LI Cup for the first time.

The Brew Crew executed their winning blueprint to near perfection. They forged an early lead, scoring twice in the first eight minutes. They protected the box, keeping the Grizzly offense mostly on the fringe. And, they rode the big, broad shoulders of C League MVP Jonathan Parrella. Parrella, who at times eclipsed the net, was near impenetrable, frustrating the Grizzlies throughout this title contest. Parrella impacted the game in several ways. He owned along the ice, forcing players to shoot both high and wide. He played defense, repeatedly breaking up cross slot passes. He played offense, essentially negating any dump-in with deft puck handling often turning a dump-in into a lead pass. During their playoff run, eight different Brew Crew scored with only Anthony Auciello scoring in successive games.
Winner's Bracket
C2 - One for the Cup - Brew Crew stymie Grizzlies 3-2
C1 - Bellying Up - Brew Crew defuse Bombers 4-3 in OT
Loser's Bracket
C3 - At Last - Grizzlies finally prevail over Bombers 7-6 in overtime
Wildcard
C0 - Pay Back - Bombers exorcise Phantoms-LCF 6-5

D1 League - [draw] | [box scores] | [back to top]
Championship Game
D7 - One for the Ages - Scorpions survive Panthers 4-3 in sudden death to capture D1 crown
In one of the alltime HLI playoff games, the Scorpions completed the championship double to stagger the Panthers in overtime. Charlie Mott potted the titlewinner five minutes into extra time, converting a behind-the-back pass from D1 MVP Dale Lewis. Lewis, indefatigable throughout the playoffs, had scored earlier in the contest. It was, however, his two-way play that proved more valuable as his tenacious backchecking often disrupted the high-octane Panther offense.

This high intensity championship match was relentless, as the teams threw rush after rush at each other. The Scorpions seized an early three goal first period lead to only watch the Panthers gather. The inevitable three goal Panther rally was spearheaded by Keith Meliak who scored twice - the second a shortie coming with just 29 ticks left in the second. The teams then played the third as Balboa and Creed which each refusing to yield. The play was crisp, the tension was thick, and the drama was certain. To wit, the teams split six meetings with four decided by a single puck.

D6 - Round 15 - Scorpions deny Panthers 4-3 to set up winner-take-all
Winner's Bracket
D4 - Ambush - Panthers pelt Scorpions with five 3rd period goals to advance 7-4
D2 - Rising to the Top - Scorpions ride five 3rd goals to rebuff Red Wings 7-4
D1 - Ouch! - Panthers paw LI-Stars 7-0
Loser's Bracket
D5 - Shooting Stars - Scorpions extinguish LI-Stars 8-2
D3 - Party Crasher - LI-Stars clip Red Wings 6-4
Wildcard
D0 - Quick Strike - LI-Stars score 17 seconds into OT to put away the Peckers 2-1

D2 League - [draw] | [box scores] | [back to top]
Championship Game
DD7 - Last Man Standing - Cyclones-D close out Hex-D 3-2 to emerge as D2 champions
In a flip of script, the Cyclones forged the early lead and hung on to vex the Hex and clinch the D2, and their first HLI, championship. From the drop, the teams took turns forcing play. Familiar to the point of begrudged respect, there was little room for letdown. The Hex blinked first when a redeeming Tim Daly scored twice in four minutes. The Cyclones continued to create pressure and when D2 MVP Ryan Yost set up captain Al Bento for a onetimer early in the second, the Cyclones was in the welcomed, unfamiliar territory of a multiple goal lead. Naturally, the Hex rallied, and narrowed to 3-2 with 10 to go.

The stretch dripped with intensity. As the Hex futilily scrambled for the equalizer, Yost led the Cyclones impressive defensive effort. Yost was stellar both on the fore and back check. Several times, his hustle had a direct hand in disrupting impending Hex scoring chances.
DD6 - High Wire Act (again!) - Hex-D escape Cyclones-D 5-4 in overtime
Winner's Bracket
DD4 - Spellbound - Cyclones-D hypnotize Hex-D in 3rd, score four unanswered in 5-4 OT stunner
DD2 - Pulling Away - Cyclones-D break out in 3rd, lance the NY Knights 7-3
DD1 - Phew! - Hex-D survive Spectres in 2-1 shootout
Loser's Bracket
DD5 - Survive and Advance - Ciara scores 10 minutes into OT to deliver Hex-D past Spectres 1-0
DD3 - The Viscusi Wall - Spectres shut down NY Knights 2-0
Wildcard
DD0 - Sweatin' It - Spectres squeak past NY-Coyotes 2-1 in OT

E1 League - [draw] | [box scores] | [back to top]
Championship Game
E7 - Serendipity - Dead to rights, PLT stun the Crush 5-4 in OT to filch the E1 crown
Pulling one from the abyss, PLT staged an inexplicable rally to erase a three goal 3rd period hole and captured the E1 championship. Damian Ercole provided the improbable titlewinner 8 1/2 into sudden death. From the corner goal line, he threw the puck at the net and found a fortuitous deflection that delivered the unlikely win.

With eight minutes remaining, PLT was a dead carcass, and they trailed 4-1. Their prior game's lethargy lingered, and they seemingly were waiting for the heavyset woman. And then, as if destined, PLT sparked. In just two minutes, they scored thrice in a rally as baffling as it was spellbinding. E1 League MVP Mike Costello led the PLT charge. He scored twice in 46 seconds, both goals resulting from pure hustle and desire. He disrupted the defense with an aggressive forecheck as PLT pinned the puck and refused to allow the Crush to clear the zone. In overtime, both teams had prime scoring chances before Ercole's fateful puck.
E6 - Setting the Stage - Crush crush PLT 8-0
Winner's Bracket
E4 - Chipping Away - PLT again hangs on in 3rd for 4-3 win over Minutemen
E2 - Bend but No - PLT race to four goal lead and hold off Crush 4-3
E1 - Marching On - Minutemen clip Cyclones-E 5-4
Loser's Bracket
E5 - Barnburner - Crush score twice in final 2 minutes to cap wild 6-5 win over Minutemen
E3 - Send Off - Crush extinguish Cyclones-E 5-2
Wildcard
E0 - Ole' - Cyclones-E skirt Raging Bulls 5-3

E2 League - [draw] | [box scores] | [back to top]
Championship Game
EE7 - The Slipper Fits! - Tribe punctuate improbable run to E2 crown with 4-3 OT thriller over Rats
Cinderella showed and stayed, as the Tribe, the #4 seed, rallied in the third and danced 11 minutes into OT to drink from their first LI Cup. Giancarlo Amato provided the sudden death heroics as he broke free from a right circle face-off, gathered a rebound and stared down a fortuitous open net to deliver the E2 title to his deserving mates. The goal completed a two goal third period rally buoyed by the stellar play of E2 MVP Chris Wilder. Wilder stood steadfast and tall throughout the match turning away 36 shots. He was impeccable patrolling the lower half as he often withstood extended shifts where the Rats swarmed his crease. The Rats seemingly wrested control at 3-1 when Rob Bentrewicz notched his third just 12 seconds into the third period. Ironically, however, in a reversal of the previous match, it was the Tribe surmounting a two goal third period deficit. Rob Cowen, then Peter Boyle, scored to force overtime and set up the impending Tribe destiny.
EE6 - So Close, Yet... - Rats bedevil Tribe 5-4 at 17 minutes of extra time and force decisive game
Winner's Bracket
EE4 - Magic Carpet - Tribe continue Cinderella run with 3-2 sudden death win over East Coast
EE2 - Getting By - East Coast nip Rage 2-1
EE1 - Scalped! - Tribe corner Rats in 4-3 OT stunner
Loser's Bracket
EE5 - Halfway There - Rats erase East Coast 5-1
EE3 - Punching the Clock - Rats begin long haul with emphatic 9-1 thumping of Rage
Wildcard
EE0 - Stonewall Wilder - Tribe blank Katie Dalys 3-0

3C League - [draw] | [box scores] | [back to top]
Championship Game
3C5 - Primetime is the Right Time - Primetime handcuffs Court Officers 4-2 to collar 30C championship
Staying true to form for the duration, Primetime ground out a hard hat effort to ascend from the loser's bracket and put away the Officers. With the win, Primetime stamped themselves as the division's Alpha as they defended their spring 30C title.

After an evenly played first two periods, the turning point came with nine to go. Neil Brenes, who was a "Prime" offensive force throughout the playoffs, seized a neutral zone turnover, led a 2-on-1 break, enticed the defense, and feathered a touch pass to a streaking Dale Lewis. Once ahead, Primetime turned to the their "Mariano", 30C MVP Ruben Santana. Amid the Officers frantic, final push Santana was resolute. Santana exceled at closing out angles, guarding the ice down low, and limiting rebounds. With Santana as the final stop, Primetime brimmed with the confidence to remain aggressive on the forecheck, and they netted the title insurance with just under 2 remaining.
3C4 - One More Time - Primetime extends Court Officers 4-2
Winner's Bracket
3C2 - Late to the Party - Officers spot Pioneers two before serving five unanswered
3C1 - Pitcher's Duel - Pioneers blank Primetime 2-0
Loser's Bracket
3C3 - Back to the Big Show - Primetime cancel Pioneer's season 6-2
Wildcard
3C0 - Leashing the Puppies - Primetime heel Ice Dawgz 6-3

3D League - [draw] | [box scores] | [back to top]
Championship Game
3D4 - By the Book - Bladerunners banish Bucs 4-2 to capture the 30D championship
Executing their bend-but-don't-break style to near perfection, the Bladerunners protected a 4 goal second period to win the HLI Cup after a 2 1/2 years absence. The Bladerunners winning trademark is staunch goaltending and defense with opportunistic scoring. After spotting the Bucs a first period goal, they took advantage of several Bucs mishaps to forge their four goal outburst. Leading the scoring charge was 30D MVP Charlie Picciano. Early in the second, Picciano turned the Bucs over at their blueline and netted a seeing eye grounder. He then threaded a tape-to-tape pass, through traffic, that led to sucessful onetimer. He would subsequently cap the Blade scoring with a deflating goalmouth redirect with just 21 ticks left in the second. In the third, the Blades retreated into a familiar defensive shell backboned by the stellar play of goalie Chris Vience. In all, Vience turned away all 12 Bucs third period shots, several from the prone position amidst goalmouth mayhem.
Winner's Bracket
3D2 - Lockdown - Blades bottle up Bucs 3-1
3D1 - Taking It - Bucs ransack Moose 6-1
Loser's Bracket
3D3 - Bounce Back - Bucs take out Moose 4-0
Wildcard
3D0 - Bait and Hook - Moose sucker Rangers 3-2

3E League - [draw] | [box scores] | [back to top]
Championship Game
3E4 - Summit - Leafs topple Sabres 4-3 to win first HLI championship
Building a three goal lead and fending off the inevitable late rally, the Leafs put away the battle tested Sabres 4-3 to garner the 30E championship and the their initial Long Island Cup. The Leafs controlled much of the early play. They charged out of the locker room with a 15 shot first period with two tickling the twine. 30E MVP Mike Fischetti set the stage early with a blueline blast, and soon thereafter, he assisted on a John Maggio tally. Four minutes in, the Leafs led 2-0 and would never trail en route to their championship. The Leafs would subseqently forge a 4-1 lead with Fischetti again having a hand. In the middle of the third, he set up captain Dennis Campagna's gamewinner. The Sabres, true to their championship pedigree, narrowed the lead to one with 86 ticks remaining. The Leafs, however, thwarted all final Sabre gasps for overtime.
Winner's Bracket
3E2 - Knockin on the Door - Leafs on the brink of 1st HLI crown w/ 4-3 squeaker over Banshees
3E1 - Sweatin' It - Leafs slip past Sabres 2-1
Loser's Bracket
3E3 - Not Again - Sabres stick it to Banshees 4-0
Wildcard
3E0 - Hard Fought - Sabres edge Blues 3-2 in well-played thriller