Pee Wee A’s Bring Home The Bronze Medal At Lake Placid!

The Danvers Pee Wee A’s represented themselves well over the weekend in Lake Placid. They split a four game series and took home the bronze medal by winning the consolation round besting Watertown, CT. by a score of 4-2. The A’s, their coaches and their families found time between games to participate in bobsledding, tobogganing, and speedskating at the Olympic Oval Rink. They also took in all the many sites the Olympic Village and the quaint City of Lake Placid (which hosted the 1932 & 1980 Olympic Games) had to offer. It was a great time had by all!

A’s Win First Round Game 2-1!

The A’s got off on the right foot in the tourney by beating Watertown, CT. on a late Brian Sample goal with 3:30 left in the game. Watertown took an early lead when they scored off a backhander. The A’s gathered themselves and changed the momentum of the game. Frank Familiette, Ryan Burge and John Curran had some great scoring opportunities but the period ended with Watertown holding onto a slim 1-0 lead.

Jon Mini made a terrific defensive play by stopping a Watertown breakaway with the A’s shorthanded (T.J. Patrikas off for crosschecking). Just as the penalty expired, John Curran slashed in from the left and scored the equalizer on a quick wrist shot. Patrikas’ wraparound attempt just missed as the A’s were swarming the Watertown goal. Danvers went on the powerplay and Charlie Ross, Bob Maraffa and Curran each put shots on goal. The rock solid defense of T.J. Ingraham, Andrew Piatelli, Ross and Mini kept the play in the offensive zone. Colin Cooper went off for interference and the A’s successfully killed off the penalty, carrying the play into the final period with the score knotted at 1-1.

Watertown had a great chance to go ahead but Ross broke up a breakaway bid by tripping the opponent before he got the shot off in what was considered a "good" penalty. The A’s killed off the penalty and worked hard on the offensive side as Curran, Patrikas and Ingraham all came close to scoring. With 3:30 left in the game, Curran set up Sample for the gamewinning goal with a backhander that eluded the Watertown goalie. The A’s went on the powerplay and Cooper had a great bid for an insurance goal but was robbed. Danvers ran out the clock and posted a well-played 2-1 victory. A’s goalie, Mike Sullivan had an easy time between the pipes stopping four of five shots he faced Co-captain Johnny Curran (1 goal, 1 assist) deservedly earned "Player of the Game" honors.

Nepean, Ontario Pins 5-1 Loss on A’s

Nepean Ontario gave the A’s and their fine goaltender, Mike Sullivan all they could handle as they put 48 shots on goal and dominated play taking the second round game by the score of 5-1. Nepean was a Double A rated club and were the heavy favorites to win it all. The locals played them tough but could only muster six shots on goal. The A’s surprised their opponent by taking an early 1-0 lead when Bobby Maraffa sent John Curran in for the A’s one and only goal of the game on the first shift. Nepean quickly tied it 1-1 and looked like their potent offense was just getting untracked. Danvers went on the powerplay but couldn’t get anything going. Nepean took advantage of a Danvers defensive lapse and scored the go ahead goal and the period ended with the score 2-1. In the second period, Nepean turned it up a notch scoring twice and for all intents and purposes put this game away. Aside from Nepean scoring twice more, the highlight of the third period was the sensational play of A’s goaltender, Mike Sullivan who put on a goaltending exhibition. Nepean turned their offensive zone into a shooting gallery but Sullivan kept the score respectable stopping 30 shots in the period, many of which had him standing on his head. For his magnificient effort, Sully (43 saves) earned "Player of the Game" honors.

Cheektowaga Warriors Dump A’s 6-3

The Cheektowaga Warriors from New York took it to the A’s in the third round winning handily as the A’s were outplayed at both ends of the ice. The Warriors jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first period. Jordan Mzioch shoveled a nice pass over to a streaking Bobby Maraffa who redirected the puck past the Warrior goaltender for a powerplay goal. In the second stanza, the Warriors tallied twice more but it could have been worse had it not been for Sully who came up with some big saves. Ryan Burge and Mzioch nearly connected on a play to start the third but what is so often the case, the opponent Cheektowaga, went back down the other end to score again. Staring at a 5-1 deficit, the A’s were trying to find a way back into the game. Sully made brilliant back to back saves then finally, Johnny "on the spot" Curran picked up a loose puck and buried the A’s second goal of the game. The Warriors answered with their sixth and final goal. Maraffa rapped home a rebound from the left side to round out the scoring. Linesmates, Curran and Sample assisted on the goal. Defenseman, Charlie Ross, who played a solid defensive game was voted "Player of the Game". The loss put the A’s in the consolation game Sunday morning to determine who would take home the bronze medal.

Famigliette and Ross Take Second Place in Skills’ Relay Race!

Frank Familiette and Charlie Ross gave an awesome effort winning the first two rounds of the Two-Man Relay Race competition. The Dynamic Duo were nipped at the wire in the final round but earned a very respectable second place finish in a field of eight teams. Jordan Mzioch and T.J. Ingraham represented Danvers in the Shoot-out and Sully represented Danvers in the Goalie competition.

A’s Capture Bronze Medal with 4-2 Victory!

In the consolation game held Sunday morning, the A’s were determined not to go home empty handed. They didn’t disappoint themselves or their loyal supporters who experienced a wonderful winter weekend at the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics.

The A’s faced off against Watertown, CT. who they narrowly edged out of the opening round 2-1. Watertown was seeking revenge and came out aggressively. The A’s matched the intensity and although the final period was scoreless, there was plenty of action. Brian Sample and Bobby Maraffa had good scoring chances as did T.J. Patrikas who showed some nice stickhandling around the Watertown goal looking to create some offense. Charlie Ross and T.J. Ingraham got off hard shots from the blueline. Matt Costanza and Patrikas nearly connected towards the end of the period. Sully fought off a flurry of five shots as the period came to an end.

Danvers broke the scoreless tie when John Curran perfectly fed Brian
Sample and the right winger finished off the play sneaking a wrist shot by the goaltender for a 1-0 lead. The A’s were dominating the play but only had a one goal advantage. Sully came up with a huge save on a Watertown breakaway. With Jordan Mzioch off for interference, the A’s penalty killing unit did the job and maintained the lead. Just as the penalty expired, Watertown was able to get on the scoreboard and tied the game at 1-1. The A’s Andrew Piatelli, Patrikas and Costanza all had scoring bids as the second period came to an end.

Coach Mark Jones challenged his squad between the periods and they responded immediately as Curran set up Maraffa who tickled the twine with a nice backhander that gave the A’s a 2-1 advantage. Sample scored his second goal of the game when he picked the top corner with a wrist shot from the slot and now the A’s had a two goal cushion to work with. Colin Cooper, Ryan Burge and Frankie Familiette all put shots on net as all three forward lines were clicking on all cylinders. Sully (12 saves) made a nice diving save to prevent any damage. Curran delivered a crushing blow to Watertown’s hopes of mounting a comeback when he wristed a shot from the slot that put the game out of reach as time was running out. Jon Mini, T.J. Ingraham, Andrew Piatelli and Charlie Ross all played stingy defense from start to finish. Sully came out of the goal to stop a Watertown breakaway but failed to clear the puck and Watertown shot it into the vacant net accounting for the 4-2 final score. The A’s held on and the buzzer sounded giving the team a well deserved third place finish in the tournament. Brian Sample who scored a pair of goals was named "Player of the Game" and he and his teammates received individual bronze medals at center ice. The victory capped a wonderful weekend, one that the boys and their families will not soon forget.