Posted on March 31, 2012 at 11:10 AM by
Johnz
JR. ROYALS UPSET #1 SEED JR. A HELENA
March 30th.......In Game #1 of the National Championship today in Rochester
Minnesota the Long Island Jr Royals played the 2010 Jr A National
Champions Helena Bighorns. Helena who is currently ranked #1 at the Jr
A level by Junior Hockey Rankings was also the #1 seed from the America
West Junior Hockey League.
The Jr Royals had transportation problems getting to the game today with
several players not being able to make it so Coach Hoey had just 14
players on the bench. One of those players was Rebel Alumni Brendan
Jones who started in net for the Royals.
The game started with Helena on the attack causing Jones to make several
acrobatic saves. Back to back penalty kills wore the Royals down and
frustrated the Bighorns only to have the (Rebel alumni) Jake Bichko put
one in the back of the net to go up 1-0. The Royals team was
giving up bodies blocking shots and taking big hits to keep Helena away
from the net.
A few seconds into the second period Royals Assistant Capt.
Brendan Keating found a hole to make it a 2-0 game. In the second period the Royals short bench was starting to wear
down and Helena's constant pressure final paid off making the score 2-1
where the period ended.
The Royals could sense a big upset and came out in the third all fired
up. Bodies were given up to block shots and sacrificed to make a last
second pass. Brendan Jones was giving a show with save after save being
highlight quality. With a few minutes left in the third Helena again
went on a power play with Jones shutting the door on several cross ice
plays. With less than minute left in the game Helena pulled the goalie
to go 6 on 5 when JT Hall stripped the defense and buried an empty net
for the final score Royals 3 - Helena 1.
The Royals were outshot 48 to 18. A lot of credit has to go to the Jr
Royal players for working so hard but the player of the game once again
is Brendan Jones for stopping 47 of 48 shots. Several NAHL and USHL teams were present and expressed interest in Royal players.
The Royals play game two today (3-31) against the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League #1 Seed Chicago Bulldogs.
To follow the Jr Royals in Rochester Minnesota check their web page at www.liroyalsjrs.com or watch the games live at www.fasthockey.com