The Stampede prepared for last weekends match-up vs the Jersey Shore Wildcats with one goal in mind. Keep things close and take advantage of opportunities. That is just what they did in game one on Saturday.
The Stampede played tight defense and frustrated the Wildcats breakout while staying very disipline within their systems. However Jersey shore struck first, sixteen minutes into the contest with a goal from Frederic Ampleman.
The Stampede answered back five minutes into the second on a nice goal from Hunter Soden. The Wildcats regained the lead seven minutes later on a goal by Jacolbie McGowan.
But the Stampede took advantage of a couple broken plays by the Wildcats as Nate Walker netted two goals late in the second period within thirty seconds to give the Stampede a 3-2 lead after two periods of play. The first place Wildcats showed they were not going away as they tied the contest with a goal by Bogdan Khvatov to knot the score at 3-3 within the first two minutes of play but the Stampede stuck to the plan and focused on composure.
With a little over five minutes to play Nate Walker completed the Hat Trick for the eventual game winner and Rocco DeRollo sealed the 5-3 victory for the home team with an empty net goal with under a minute to play. “The guy’s stuck with the game plan and worked a full sixty.” Stated Stampede coach Jason Lefevre. The victory seated the Stampede into third place in the West and handed the Wildcats only their second loss of the season.
In Sunday’s contest the Stampede looked to play pretty much the same as game one, but were quickly stunned as Jersey Shore scored 8 seconds into the contest to send the Stampede reeling. The Stampede kept it a close contest trailing by two until late in the third when two undisciplined penalty’s cost them.
Jersey Shore’s power play showed why they are a top team in the NA3EHL by netting two power play goals within two minutes to seal the 4-0 victory. Goal scorers for the Wildcats were Jared Karas (2), John Rubin and Scott Hansen.
Jersey shore goaltender Scott Albettoni turned away all 29 Syracuse shots for the shutout. While Stampede netminder Kyle VanWagner stopped 40 of the 44 shots he faced.
“A couple penalty’s cost us late in this one. We had some sustained pressure but just couldn’t capitalize on our chances. They are a good team and I think our guy’s played well over the weekend. We will take it and build from there.” Stated Coach Mike Beavis on his teams play over the weekend.
The Stampede will break for the Thanksgiving holiday then re-focus to again face the Wildcats in Jersey on December 5th and 6th at the Jersey Shore Arena. The entire staff of the Stampede as well as the team would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday !
