NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The New Rochelle Lightning PeeWee “A” ice hockey team travelled on the weekend of October 23-25 to play in the Philadelphia Fall Classic. Playing 5 games in two days, the New Rochelle Lightning won their first tournament of the year by beating the Rochester Red Wings in the semi-finals and the first place seeded Carolina Lightning 5-1 in the Championship game.
In the Championship game, New Rochelle was behind 1-0 after the 1stperiod. However with some very timely goaltending and key saves by Sam Glusker (New Rochelle), the Lightning roared back to take a 2-1 lead after 2 periods. Then some very aggressive offensive play by the forwards (Kevin Allen (Yonkers), SeanBenko (New Rochelle), Zach Dering (Cross River), Jack Korb (Bronxville), Dani Loren (New Rochelle), Jack McCormick (New Rochelle), and Ethan Richmond (New Rochelle)) resulted in two quick goals early in the third period to break open the game. The defense, stellar all tournament (Luke Ferrara (Eastchester), Luke Nascimento (New Rochelle), Joey Pulcino (Mamaroneck), and Paul Ruggiero (New Rochelle)), allowing only 5 goals in 5 games, kept the Carolinians at bay for the remaining part of the game and even scored the 5th goal.
“It was truly a team effort, from the forward lines to the back end, so much so that had we been asked, we wouldn’t have been able to pick an MVP, ”said Head Coach DemetriXistris (New Rochelle), who was ably assisted by Assistant Coaches Ted Ferrara (Eastchester) and Dominick Ruggiero (New Rochelle).