WOLFPACK AND SPARTANS FACE OFF-FIGHT TO A DRAW
New Hartford’s Luke Hyer (2) looks to break out of his zone as Whitestown’s Jillian Brown (34) gives chase.
Jeff Pexton-MHTS-PGI
The New Hartford Recreation Center was a mighty busy place this morning as the Whitestown Wolfpack Squirts traversed State 840 for a Saturday morning tilt with the New Hartford Spartans.
Games at other levels were also slated this morning, to be capped off by a Spartans high school game against Fulton this afternoon.
With the hectic pace that youth hockey families deal with every winter, when a “road” game is just a couple of miles away it’s a beautiful thing.
Throw in that Whitestown/Boro – New Hartford rivalry and you’ll find yourself hollering “game on”!
Spartans center Tyler Penree (50) wins a draw late in the game.
This morning’s squirt game was of the “travel” variety, featuring mostly second year squirt age ( 9 and 10 year old ) players, who spend quite a bit of time on the road playing games in distant places.
Just a few weeks back we spent some time with the squirt house league teams at the annual New Hartford tournament.
New Hartford’s squirts have been on a tear this winter, losing just a handful of games and finishing second in the coveted Silver Stick Tournament in Rome a couple of weeks ago.
The pesky Wolfpack overcame deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 today and finally took a 4-3 lead late into the third period against the Spartans.
Spartans forward Shane Calhoun knocked home a rebound to tie this game at 4-4, with just 32 seconds remaining in the contest. David Antone scored New Hartford’s other 3 goals in the morning matchup.
Noah Scranton scored twice for Whitestown, while teammates Bryce Gnatek and Troy Chamberlin chipped in a goal apiece in a really good youth hockey game this morning.
Teammates Bryce Gnatek and Troy Chamberlain celebrate a second period goal for Whitestown.
What is it with ties in hockey this season? This game was similar in many ways to the New Hartford / Whitesboro high school game heard on ESPN Radio 1310 am, that ended in a tie back on 12/7 in the same building.
Whitestown Goalie Dylan LaSalle had a solid day between the pipes, including a huge save on a shot in close from New Hartford’s David Antone with just a couple of seconds remaining in the game.
Liam Ronan was equally solid in the net for the Spartans.
New Hartford will host its annual “Doc Barber” Travel Hockey Tournament next weekend at the Rec Center, featuring teams from Philadelphia, PA, Cortland, Clinton, Adirondack, Ridgefield, CT and Center State. Later in February, Whitestown will be hosting the Central Section Tier II Squirt Tournament, where they will likely see the Spartans again.
Congratulations to both teams on a great game today and best of luck the rest of the season!
Shane Calhoun (33) left locks onto a loose puck as Dylan LaSalle (37) tries to reel it in.
Whitestown 4 New Hartford 4
Box Score
1 2 3 Final
Whitestown 1 1 2 4
New Hartford 1 2 1 4
