CANTON –Week 9 of New England Pro Am Hockey’s College Summer League had games played on August 18 and 19 at the Canton Ice House.
August 18
Bruins 0 vs. Sharks 1:
It is the last week showing on the summer schedule and with two games to be played, the Sharks (5-4-0) needed both – and some help – if they wanted to finish the season atop New England Pro Am’s College Summer Hockey League standings. They took their first steps on Sunday as they defeated the Bruins (2-7-0) 1-0.
With few goals to be had, the contest became a match-up between Sharks netminder Tom Haley and Bruins counterpart Kurt Gutting. Haley got the better of the two’s showings with his clean sheet, Gutting yielding the only score of the game. An unassisted score by Becker College’s Sean Peckham 10 minutes into the game’s opening half.
August 19:
Penguins 1 vs. Vegas 0:
With a slim lead in the standings and two games to play, Vegas (6-2-1) came up short in their first attempt to cement themselves in the top spot of New England Pro Am Hockey’s College Sumer League’s standings as they fell to the Penguins (4-4-1) 1-0 on Monday.
The Penguins Justin Ketola and Vegas’ Alex Crone squared off in their respective nets in what could be considered a goaltenders’ duel. Crone, who has been amongst the league’s most reliable goaltenders all summer, had one blemish in the contest, while Ketola recorded his first shutout of the season to secure the win for the Penguins.
Curry College’s Mick Curran was credited with the game’s only goal. An unassisted score at 10:00 of the first half.
Bruins 0 vs. Penguins 8:
Shortly after blanking the league’s top team earlier in the day, the Penguins (5-4-1) doubled down with an authoritative, 8-0 shutout of the Bruins (2-8-0) Monday evening.
The Pens went for four aside as they ran roughshod over the competition, which included a pair of shorthanded scores in the contest. Bryant’s Alex Avva, Norwich Club’s Tom Willis and Stonehill’s Mike Seaone each went for two goals, while defensemen Tom Marhoffa and Jason Bishop rounded out the scoring with a goal apiece.
Curry College’s Justin Ketola earned his second shutout in as many tries from the Penguins net.
Sharks 8 vs. Vegas 5:
The final scheduled game of New England Pro Am Hockey’s College Summer League was an epic final battle. A back-and-forth tilt between Vegas (6-3-1) and the Sharks (6-4-0) that saw the Sharks win the battle 8-5, but Vegas win the war as they finished the week atop the league standings.
Chances for their own ascension to the top of the leaderboard had already been spoiled, but the Sharks seemed determined to spoil Vegas’ coronation as best they could, ringing up a 3-0 lead in the game’s first 10 minutes. The latter half of the opening frame saw Vegas pull a similar trick, netting a trio to send the game to the break tied 3-3.
Another two out of the gate in the second made it 5-3 in favor of the Sharks, but Vegas rallied once again, tying it up on goals by Brenden Lloyd and Nate Chase.
A power play goal by Salem State defenseman Matt Hammel at 19:08 put the Sharks back on top. This time it was for good as they slammed the door with another two goals after Hammel’s score to finalize the 8-5 victory.
It was eight goals for the Sharks from seven different goal scorers. Only Landon Hasenfus had two scores in the game, tied atop the scoring leaderboard by Joe Smith, who was also credited with two point in the contest for the Sharks (1G, 1A).
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