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 BURTSVILLE.COM WELCOMES YOU TO THIS NEW SITE:

 

This site is a new venture for me.  I have written for local papers for years; especially about sports.  I will stay true to that focus and will try to cover the high school circuit and youth sports around town as best I can.  I hold no illusions.  I make a living practicing law.  This will be a part time venture that sometimes (most times?) will not compare with the pros who do this for a living.  If I can give our great youth in this town some ink and exposure that I feel has been desperately lacking, then I will have accomplished my goal.

 

Please don't look for any hard hitting editorials or articles.  My main goal is to make each kid feel good about  their participation in his or her sport.  If they score three goals or forty points, great.  If not, that to me doesn't mean they haven't contributed--perhaps mightily--to their team.

 

I will also try to be inclusive and fair.  My aim is not to slight any child.  I may not know everyone's name on the teams I report.  I may get a name or a picture or an assist or point total wrong sometime.  I may not get each named spelled correctly and every name might not be in every article. Please forgive me in advance.  My main goal is to give the kids something to read about themselves that will make them feel good.  If I screw up every once in awhile, I hope you will forgive me.

 

I often get kidded by those nearby me at the rink that if I am not sure who had the second assist on a goal then my kid gets credit for it--even if he wasn't on the ice.  I want you all to know that that aspect of my reporting will stay the same. 

 

I would love to add articles on other sports to my pages.  If you have stories regarding other high school teams or youth sports, please email them to me at Ned@BurtLaw.us.  I will try my best to include them in future issues.  Right now I am now sure about taking pictures from others.  I hope to add that at a future date.  If you send me an article, please do so in Word format.

 

I also would be happy to consider other articles or news about town or announcements.  Again, this is a part time venture but I will be happy to look at what you send me.  I may not have time to acknowledge receipt of same and it may not get in as quickly as you'd like (or not at all), but nothing ventured nothing gained.  Please make sure that when you email me an article you make that clear to me in the subject header.  I typically delete emails I receive from people I don't know.

 

I also welcome articles by students on sports or other topics.

 

I truly hope you enjoy this site.  I am not sure if I am going to be able to archive stories at this point in time so please print out anything you see that you want to make sure you keep.

 

If I write any legal articles, please make sure that you consult with your attorney on any legal topic.  I may address some matters in a broad sense, but no one should rely simply on what is written here if they have a legal issue to address.  Sorry, I just had to put that in here.  I also have to add, that if I print stories by others and any errors are contained in them, I take no responsibility for same.  Okay, enough of the legal jargon

 

So what do you think?  Scotty Burrell?  Rich Diana?  Matt Martin?  Todd Hall?  John Glynne?  Danny Ford? Albie Kissner?  Billy Kuchar? Brian O'Connor?  Charlie Malloy? Horace Dodd?  Someone else?  And if you don't know the question, then you didn't wear the Green and Gold of Hamden High School....

 

ARCHIVED ARTICLES BELOW

 

 

May 11, 2009

 

VINNY TEIXERA NAMED AREA BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

 

BurtsVille is happy to announce that Hamden Hall's, Vinny Teixera, was named the New Haven Register Area Baseball Player of the Week this past week.  "Tex" is a former standout youth hockey and baseball player in the Hamden Youth Sports Program.  He is one of the nicest kids and most talented athletes that Hamden can call its own.  His parents, John and Cathy Teixera, are almost as proud of him as is his brother Nick.  Nick is one of the hardest working young men in town.  He recently started up his own lawn care business in addition to his early morning job he holds before heading off to school.

 

BurtsVille congratulates the entire Teixera Family on this wonderful recognition.  Way to go "Tex"!!! 

 

 

 

May 8, 2009

 

HEF INDUCTS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI IN HAMDEN HIGH SCHOOL'S HALL OF FAME

Vin Iezzi still making his dad proud!

Gretchen C. and Fran R. discuss the State of Affairs

Antoinetta Carmody

The Hamden Education Foundation had its induction dinner this past week recognizing distinguished alumni from Hamden High School.  The Foundation is a community based organization dedicated to  enriching the tradition of excellence in the Hamden Public Schools.

Principal Wins TV!

Girls Check Tickets

Boys Chow Down

This was the Eighth Annual Awards Dinner.  This year the following people were inducted:  James S. O'Brien (1956), Stuart E. Johnson (1962), John P. Amodeo (1968), Robert J. Westervelt (1969), Paula Milone-Nuzzo (1971), Edward C. Burt, Jr. (1973), Christine Dellacamera Wilson (1976), Jayne O'Donnell (1977) and Hamlet M. Hernandez (1980).

Carl Amento & Al Gorman enjoy the evening!

The Amodeo Clan

Don B. & Christine W.

Jayne O'Donnell and Jack O'Donnell

John Amodeo with Proud Parents

Mary Jane Burt and Ned Burt

Vincent Iezzi, former principal of Hamden High School acted as the Master of Ceremonies for the dinner which attracted a sell out crowd of over two hundred fifty people.  Principal Gary Highsmith won the big screen television in the raffle and Ned Burt won the award the longest speech!

 

INDUCTEES INTO HHS HALL OF FAME

It was a wonderful evening and a delightful award to receive.  Thank you to everyone involved in the Hamden Education Foundation for running such a fine organization and great dinner banquet.

 

Linda & Anthony Bonadies with Ed Walsh

Tony Mentone, Larry DeNardis & Rose Mentone

Gary H., Joey D. & Jane G.

 

May 5, 2009

MADDY JEROLMAN LEADS TEAM TO VICTORY IN PRESTIGIOUS MONTREAL TOURNAMENT

 

Maddy Jerolman's CT Yankee Champions--Maddy is Third Row Right Red Shirt Standing

 

Hamden's own, Maddy Jerolman, daughter of George and Ericka Jerolman, recently led her CT YankeesTeam to a Championship Victory in the prestigious Quebec Women's Prospects Tournament in Montreal.  The tournament is held each year for Triple A Teams with talented players looking to play at the highest level of the sport.  Maddy had an all around great tournament scoring a goal with four assists as her team went 5-0-1.  Her team won an exciting Championship Game against the powerful Team Pacific 1-0.  Maddy stole the puck from a Pacific player and fed her line mate who scored the lone and winning goal.

 

Way to go Maddy!!!!!

 

 

April 28, 2009

 

HAMDEN EDUCATION FOUNDATION 8TH ALUMNI AWARDS DINNER 

The Hamden Education Foundation will be holding its 8th Annual Alumni Dinner next Wednesday evening at Laurel View Country Club.  The evening begins at 6:00 PM with a cocktail hour and then dinner begins at 7:00 PM.  This year's honorees include:

 

           1956 James O'Brien              

 1962 Stuart Johnson   
            1968 John P. Amodeo, M.D.
    1969 Robert Westervelt
      1971 Paula Mione-Nuzzo
     1973 Edward C. Burt, Jr.
1976 Christine Wilson
1977 Jayne O'Donnell
    1980 Hamlet Hernandez

 

Tickets are $ 60.00 per person and can be obtained by contacting the Hamden Board of Education at (203) 407-2113.

 


  And welcome back Dave Findley! 

 

 

 

January 23, 2009

 

BURTSVILLE CONGRATULATES  MICHAEL PIERNE AND SHANNON CALLAN OF HAMDEN AS BEING SELECTED AS STARS OF THE WEEK THIS WEEK BY THE NEW HAVEN REGISTER.  WE ALSO SALUTE RJ NEGRI AND JACKIE JOLLES, JR. FOR BEING SELECTED AS GOALIES OF THE WEEK.

 

 

January 17, 2009

 

CUSANO SCORES!!!!!!!!

LYNCH HITS VARSITY ICE

 

Hamden tops North Haven 4-0

 

 

 

 

 

Dan Cusano capped off a marvelous game with his first varsity goal in leading Hamden to a 4-0 win over a feisty North Haven squad.  Cusano, a senior defense man, was moved up to center the second line due to an injury to CJ Carignan.  Cusano worked well with PJ Vakos and Jim Burt almost connecting on a pretty goal their first shift of the game.  Burt hit Cusano with a fine pass and the lefty swinging Cusano rilfed a cross ice pass to Vakos who was robbed by goaltender Zack Back.

 


 DAN CUSANO CELEBRATES FIRST VARSITY GOAL

 


Cusano scored late in the game to give Hamden a 3-0 lead.  Burt scored a little while later as the hard working winger took a feed from Vakos to make it a 4-0 victory. 
 
Hamden started the game strong as freshman defense man Eric Sullivan kept the puck in the zone with some gritty work along the boards.  Sullivan saw the most ice time of his young varsity career and used it well. He is a strong skater, smart on his feet and plays both ends of the ice. He made his first big check at the 5:29 mark of the first period and shortly after an Anthony Avitable save (12 on the night) Pat McGovern tossed an innocent looking shot at the net that found its way through the five hole and gave Hamden a 1-0 lead.  It was to be a wonderful evening for McGovern as the sizzliing hot senior would pour in another goal later in the game.

 

 

Pat McGovern #1                          Pat McGovern #2                                              Tyler Benson

 

Sullivan on the ice.  McGovern with two goals.  Burt a goal and an assist.  Scott Walsh two assists.  And Patrick Lynch hittiing the varsity ice for the first time.  Me God Boys, has Coach Veneris turned the Green Dragons into the Green Irishmen?  Hold on now a minute mates, we did have the likes of Avitable making saves in net, Michael Pierne and Johnny Teulings were dishing out  assists of their own, and let's not forget that Cusano lad and that Vakos character who gernered two helpers on the night.  It was a mulit-national force that prevailed upon our neighbors to the north.
 
Tyler Benson, Zach Back and the other fine players from North Haven never stopped skating or fighting.  They were an extremely competitive and talented crew that has plenty of good hockey in front of them.  The score may have been 4-0 but it felt more like a one goal game.

 

 

Matt Morgan                           Jim Burt Scores                                                  Pat Lynch

 
Nick Castaldi had a fine game on defense, Matt Morgan and Mark Fracasso played strong on offense, but the crowd rose to its feet when sophomore forward, Patrick "Patch" Lynch hit the ice.  "You give me nine Pat Lynch's and I'll take on the Yankees," legendary Hamden Little League Coach John Mendes is fond of saying regarding Lynch's competitive spunk and skill level.  And Lynch didn't waste any time getting into the mix beating a defender to the puck down low and trying to set up his winger for a shot.

 

Proud Grandparents with Goal Scorer   Proud Mom & Capt.                             Proud Retired Principal and Grand Dad

 
The defense had a solid game.  Dan Wheeler, Steven Sorrentino, AJ Gemmel, RJ Ugolik, Teulings, Sullivan, fellow freshman Brandon Dadio and Castaldi kept the shots to a minimum.  Pierne could have scored a handful of goals had it not been for the brilliant work of Back in net for the Indians.  Mike Berezecky continues to be one of the hardest working skaters on the team who is destined to explode with a multiple goal game of his own one of these nights.  And once this team gets Breezy going the train will really be rolling down the track.

 Jack Fisher and squad                                 International Recruiting Trip                         Snack Bar Supremes


Paul Amarone and Justin MacGregor had another high energy game and Walsh has continued his fine play since the start of the season.  Burt and Vakos have picked up the scoring slack and with these two scoring along with Walsh, Pierne and McGovern the Green Dragons are a powerful offensive force.  Look to see this team steadily improve s the defense grows more experienced and the rest of the offense gets into gear.  It may not have seen it to those on the outside at the beginning of the year but this team has the makings of something real special as the season heads into the second half.

 

   

January 25, 2009

 

AVITABLE SHINES, WALSH NETS TWO IN TIE WITH ND OF FAIRFIELD

 

GARRETT MENDEZ WINS!!!!!

 

Anthony Avitable is the BEST goalie in the state.  If that wasn't clear to anyone, it certainly was on last Wednesday night in Milford when Hamden High and ND of Fairfield battled to a 2-2 overtime tie.  Avitable made 35 saves including six in the eight minute overtime.  A tough luck goal with 14.9 seconds left in the game tied it for ND or Hamden would have beaten the Lancers for the second time this year.

Team Bus Driver              Jack Vets & Crew       Hamden Fans                 Anthony Avitable

 


The team came out flying with Scott Walsh leading the charge.  The tough hitting senior just always finds the puck and the net.  He is having an incredible year and this game was a composite of the year he has had.  "The kid never stops working," said Tom Smith Coach of the Yonkers Blades.  "He hits, he works, and he moves the puck well.  Man, did you see that deflection he made in the first period that almost put them up 3-0!  He just knows where to go and compliments the two guys he plays with on that line."

 


Scott Walsh's Folly Floater Goal #2 on the evening

 
Walsh got Hamden on top at the 11:11 mark slamming home his own rebound off a John Teulings slap shot.  Walsh gathered the rebound, shot it into the goalie and then slammed in his own rebound off that shot for the goal.  Michael Pierne also had an assist on that goal.
 
Both teams were going at each other hard as the flow of the game was pretty steady.  A rash of penalties hurt Hamden as many of its big guns had to log an inordinate amount of ice time while either short handed or on the power play.  This trend continued into the second period which had an effect on the player’s legs as the second period saw Hamden get off only two shots and saw the territorial domination in the third period swing to the Lancers. 
 
The players are going to need to keep the penalties to a minimum and the coaches are going to have to adjust to this situation if it occurs again because it was clear that the legs on the players logging all those minutes just weren't there the last half of that game.
 
Avitable kept making saves and Walsh kept finding the puck and putting it in the net.  The senior winger gathered another rebound off to the right of the goalie at the fourteen second mark of the first and put the puck into the net for a 2-0 Hamden lead.  Dan Wheeler, who played a great game on defense, fed a pass to Pierne who came up the middle around two defenders and shot the puck which goalie Nick D'Auria stopped.  Walsh was charging hard and got the puck on his stick and shot it just as a defender got the blade of his stick on the blade of Walsh's stick.  You ever watch a butter fly?
 
The puck was turning slowly as it flew through mid air over the defender, up and over the goalie and then descended ever so slowly as Walsh, the defender and the goalie all stood still and watched like a Mighty Duck freeze frame shot that fast forwarded as the puck hit the ice and rolled into the net.  Jubilation for Hamden.  No more ice time for D'Auria as the talented net minder was replaced in the second period.
 
Hamden actually scored another goal near the end of the second period as Pierne and Walsh came in on a rush all alone but the referee said the net had been knocked off its pins. 
 
It was an exciting game to watch.  CJ Carignan was back on the ice skating well after recovering from an injury.  PJ Vakos and Jim Burt had outstanding games and gave their typical hustle at all times.  Pierne had another strong game as did line mate Pat McGovern who just missed a couple of goals himself.  Walsh had his best game of the year and should be considered for a Star of the Week next week by the New Haven Register.
 
Paul Amarone, Justin MacGregor and Mike Berezecky all played hard.  They came out like gang busters on their first shift and almost scored.  Berezecky clearly had the best legs on the team in the third period.  Again, once this senior gets that first goal, he'll get them in buckets.
 
The defense played well.  Dan Cusano had a great game hitting, moving the puck and clearing out down low.  Brandon Dadio, RJ Ugolik, Steven Sorrentino and Teulings all played well.  Sorrentino's strength is a great asset to this team especially against a team like ND that likes to get a lot of deflections and rebound opportunities.  And Avitable in net was incredible.
 
The ND team had pulled their goalie and then Hamden was called for a penalty with just twenty four seconds left.  This gave the home team a two man advantage.  It was a legitimate, but unfortunate call as the ND forward stumbled just before a Hamden player hit him near the boards which made the hit appear worse than it was.  Trust me, Walsh got buried on a hit from behind in the first period that should have been the same call meted out to a Hamden player five minutes earlier in the period.  At any rate, Avitable made every save and then a slap shot from the point hit the boards behind him and came out to his left and a ND forward knocked it home to tie the score 2-2.

 

Avitable continued to make save after save.  He’d make saves with his left pads, his right pads, his blocker and his stick.  Why he even made one incredible save late in the game off his head!

 

Now That's Using Your Head Anthony!

 


Overtime led to more thrills and chills for those in attendance.  The real thrills and chills at the Milford Ice Pavilion this night though had nothing to do with the fine game the two teams played on the ice.  It had everything to do with young Garrett Mendez and the courage and bravery displayed by this young athlete.  This young stroke victim.  (See related story below.)

 

                                                             

Just in Case any non believers wondered if Avits made the catch.......................

 
So, as the season winds down Hamden has qualified for a spot in the state tournament with its 8-2-1 record.  The team looks good as we get into the doldrums of winter.  The monotony of practice and the wear on the body will soon be replaced by the excitement of the state tournament and what lies ahead.
 

 January 25, 2009

 

GARRETT MENDEZ: A WINNER IN LIFE!!!

Garrett with mom Eileen after game

 

 

A game was played last Wednesday night between two of the most powerful programs in the state of Connecticut.  The Notre Dame of Fairfield Lancers hosted the Green Dragons of Hamden at the Milford Ice Pavilion.  It was a match up of teams that have combined to win the State Championship close to thirty times, a game against the second and fourth ranked teams in the state, and a game between legendary coach Marty Roos and longtime Hamden coach Bill Veneris.  Yet, this game had little to do with either man or either team.
 
No.  This game truly was about Garrett Mendez.  Garrett is a graduate of ND of Fairfield who suffered a near fatal stroke during the Thanksgiving Holidays in 2005. You read that correctly.  This young man suffered a stroke more than three years ago. 

 

This young man had to fight for his life.  He had to struggle to talk.  He had to struggle to move. He couldn’t see.  It was a brain stem stroke.  His mother, Eileen, found him unresponsive on his bedroom floor.  He was rushed to the hospital where he lie paralyzed in a coma.

 

Modern medicine and its machines and tests did not offer much hope.  This modern era of technology with its tubes, wires and beeps on a screen may have been able to measure his heart rate but they couldn’t measure his HEART or his SOUL.

 

He amazed his doctors and family by waking from his coma.  He began to react to stimuli around him.  He was moved from St. Vincent’s Medical Center to Gaylord Rehabilitation Hospital.  Remarkably, he was able to take a few steps just three months after his devastating stroke.

 
So, you know what he does before the game?  As the teams lined their respective blue lines, as the capacity crowd rose to its feet, as the public address announcer summarized what this athlete has been through over the past three years this inspiration SKATED onto his team's ice to drop the ceremonial puck. 

 

                                                                     Garrett drops the puck in center ice

 

 It was a special moment.  It was a tear jerker if there ever was one. It was an inspiration to young and old.  And as my friend Dave Castaldi whose son is a senior on the Hamden team said as we watched this brave kid skate off the ice with his dad, '"That puts everything into perspective, doesn't it?"
             Dave Castaldi and Paul Scott watch brave young man skate onto ice


And it surely does.
 
I had the pleasure of speaking to this young warrior before and after the game.  What a fine young man and the character that lies deep within his soul were evident from the first hello.  His presence gives a warmth without words, strength at sight and comfort in speech.  His mom, Eileen and dad Gary, should be very proud of him.

 

After the game he came by the Hamden locker room and addressed the team and congratulated them on a game well played.   A game Hamden had won despite being outplayed by ND all night until a last second goal.  A disappointing end for the Green Dragons?  I say not.  I think of what Mr. Castaldi said, think of the inspiration I just witnessed by the name of Garrett Mendez and I move on in the knowledge that the wins and losses in life come in many different ways.

                   Garrett talks to Hamden Players and Coaches afte the game

 

Garrett made everyone present a winner that evening.  He did so because he is the biggest winner of them all.  Best of luck on your continued rehab Garrett.  BurtsVille and the entire Hamden Hockey Community tip its cap to you and wish you nothing but the best on your continued road to a full recovery.

 
 

 

 

January 25, 2009

 

 

BEREZECKY SCORES!!!!!!!!

 

I WANT TO BE LIKE MIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

HAMDEN BEATS WEST HAVEN 6-0

 

WALSH AND BURT NET TWO EACH

 

 


 
Mike Berezecky Scores                               Rick Gentle                Scott Walsh Scores   

    

Mike Pierne took a pass from Scott Walsh on the first shift of the game and came down and hit the post.  Jim Burt took a pass from CJ Carignan on the next shift and was robbed on a rocket wrist shot from the high circle.  Paul Amarone fed Mike Berezecky on the third shift of the game and the hard charging forward just missed on the low side.

 

The rest of the first period had the Hamden offense hibernate as if a bear in the woods.  The bear woke up in the second period and the game was over.

 

"I love this team" gushed Vineyard Vipers Coach, Johnny Sides.  "It has something about it.  They just play so well together that is impresses me.  The kid in the net is playing well, the defense is getting better every game and man has the offense taken off.  They are scoring like cannon fire."

 

Hamden took a real bad penalty after getting a 1-0 lead on a Scott Walsh goal.  Walsh, a senior, continues to pour the puck in the net and set up his teammates for scores of their own.  While it was nice to see the offense wake up, no one on the team wants the feisty, quiet Walsh to wake up during this dream season.

 


Mike Sarno & Dennis O'Keefe                  The Berube Family                                        Paul Amarone  

 

“Walshie tips the puck better than anyone,” said last year’s outstanding defense man Sean O’Sullivan watching the game with fellow rag and teammate Tom Roche.  “It’s great to see him doing so well.”

 

Walsh was assisted by Pierne and Dan Cusano.

 

Pierne, the senior co-captain, came onto the ice with Jim Burt, the sophomore forward to kill the five minute major penalty.  Thirteen seconds into the penalty kill Pierne had the puck on a great pass from Dan Wheeler, carried two defenders on his back from the blue line in and scored a short handed goal.  Hamden up 2-0.

 

PJ Vakos, the crafty junior forward gave Pierne a rest and promptly stole the puck, fed it to Burt who this time hammered his wrist shot in the top left corner over the goalie’s shoulder.  Hamden up 3-0.  The team had scored two short-handed goals eighteen seconds a part.  Wheeler had an assist on Pierne’s goal and Vakos one on Burt’s goal.

 

 Jim Burt Power Play Goal                  Mike Pierne Short Handed Goal               Jim Burt Short Handed Goal

Burt wasn’t done and neither was Walsh and Company.  Hamden was awarded a Power Play with a little over two minutes to play in the period.  Walsh got a pass from John Teulings in center ice.  He skated it down low on the right side, deked the goalie and hit Burt with a hard pass on the blade of his stick.  The powerful forward let go with a lightening quick shot from the slot for his second goal of the game.

 

Hamden was up 4-0 with Walsh and Teulings getting helpers on the goal.

 

CJ Carignan was having his best game of the year.  The sophomore forward was flying all over the ice as was senior Mike Berezecky whose goal drought was about to end before the final horn sounded.  Nick Castaldi and Eric Sullivan were having solid games on defense.

 

Anthony Avitable had another shut out in what is becoming a great senior season for this co-captain.  Dan Cusano, who was robbed late in the game, is having a marvelous senior season as are  defense men junior Steve Sorrentino, sophomore RJ Ugolik and freshman Brandon Dadio.

 

Dan Cusano robbed                                                Joe Mortalli and date                              The Guys That Follow the Bus

 

Freshman Paul Amarone continues to impress with this hard charging game along with sophomore forward Justin MacGregor.  Sophomore Pat Lynch looks real comfortable in the Green Dragon scheme and line mates senior Matt Morgan and junior Mark Fracasso continue to perform well.  AJ Gemmel, a junior, is also playing well on defense.

 

Gemmel Baby                                                                                 Melissa and Mom 

Berezecky got on the board with six minutes to play on a fine feed from Carignan.  It was a well deserved goal as this hard skating, hard hitting forward never stops working.

 

“I love the kid,” offered Terry Loukidies, long time Hamden sports enthusiast.  “He just never stops.  I’m glad to see him get his first goal of the year.”

 

Walsh’s unselfish play was rewarded late then Pierne made a great pass off the side boards from deep in the Hamden zone.  The co-captain hit it off the boards and around a defender while Carignan flew up the ice, past the defender and corralled the puck at the red line. 

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM, POPPY UGOLIK, AND MICHELLE FROM BURTSVILLE

 

The swift skating center man made his way into the zone and slid a pass across to Walsh who did what he has been doing all year long and made it dance with the twines at the back of the net.  Hamden 6 West Haven 0.  Pierne and Carignan had assists on the play.

 

 

 

Hamden is coached by Bill Veneris, George Jerolman and Todd Hall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 26, 2009

 

BurtsVille would like to congratulate Colleen Murphy on being named one of the Stars of the Week and Kaity Smith as being named Goalie of the Week in the most recent New Haven Register Poll.

 

BurtsVille would also like to acknowledge and congratulate Mike Pierne (11G, 13A),  Jim Burt (9G, 11A) , PJ Vakos (5G, 13A), and Scott Walsh (10G, 6A)  for remaining in the Top 35 in State Scorers for the past several weeks.

 

BurtsVille puts out a special congratulations to all those being inducted into the Quinnipiac University Athletic Hall of Fame this Saturday.  BurtsVille would like to especially recognize its good friends Bill Mecca and Tim Belcher along with Dan Gooley's Baseball Squad and LInda Wooster's Hoop Team.  And let's not forget to congratulate Kimberly Doheny and all the rest of the fine student athletes being inducted this weekend in a ceremony that has over 400 people attending.  Well done.  Well deserved.  And as Coach Mecca would say, "Peace".

 

Fairfield Prep--now Ranked Number 1 in the State-- plays Number 3 Hamden at the Lou Astorino Ice Arena this Saturday at 2:30 P.M.  The final Green Dragon Home Game will be Wednesday, March 4th at 6:00 P.M. against the hard charging Notre Dame of West Haven squad led by Coach Bill Gerosa.

 

 

February 5, 2009

 

 

CARIGNAN SCORES: ENDS OVERTIME THRILLER

 

HAMDEN 5 FAIRFIELD PREP 4

 

CARIGNAN NETS TWO

VAKOS GOAL & THREE ASSISTS

BURT ADDS THREE HELPERS

PIERNE & CUSANO SCORE GOALS

 

 

 

  CJ Carignan scored his second goal of the game at the 4:15 mark of overtime to propel the Hamden Green Dragons to a hard fought victory over the previously Number One ranked Jesuits of Fairfield Prep.  They don’t call it the Wonderland of Ice Arena for nothing as these two powerhouse teams fought bitterly to the end at the Ferguson Ice Center.  The previously Number 2 ranked Hamden squad may have topped the score board but the real winner was Connecticut High School Hockey.

 


             
      CARRIGAN SCORES WINNING OT GOAL!!!!!!!

 

The Jesuits started fast as they used their quickness and skill to go up 2-0 in the first period.  Josh Roberts got the red and white going

on a goal just a little over a minute into the contest.  The Prep defense has been stingy all year long with fine goal tending from Spencer Sodokoff and when Darric White scored at the 4:43 mark to make it 2-0 Prep the home team looked well on its way to its’ tenth victory of the year.

 

White had gotten an assist on the first goal and his goal was assisted by Jackson Bargiello and James Horne.

 

          
                  DAN  WHEELER ON DEFENSE

                       
                              AVITS MAKES THE SAVE        


                          TEULS & RJ DEFEND

                                                                                                    

 

Someone forgot to tell Hamden the game was over.  The Hamden team did not panic and kept rolling out its three lines.  This has been a consistent winning formula for the Green Dragons this year as it has kept all three lines fresh.  One brilliant change between periods was the shifting of Mike Berezecky to first line center and dropping Dan Cusano back to defense with the hard hitting, ever hustling Matt Morgan joining Paul Amarone and Justin MacGregor.

 

                        MIKE BEREZECKY DAN CUSAN0      MIKE PIERNE
 

Berezecky has been flying over the past several games and the senior winger used his speed, strength and quickness to create several opportunities for his line mates.  Cusano helped bolster the defense as the quick as cats Prep team buzzed around goalie Anthony Avitable in that first period.

 

 

                 FERGUSON ICE CENTER ACTIVITY


MICHAEL FERGUSON & FRIENDS 
   JOHN MENDES, JP & FRIENDS  
 JOHN FERGUSON & FRIEND

                                                                             

 

 

PJ Vakos, coming off a three point game against Notre Dame of West Haven, got Hamden on the board with a Power Play goal at the 4:49 mark of the second period.  He was assisted on the goal by Co-Captain Mike Pierne.   Pierne had an outstanding game scoring an unassisted goal later in the period on a fine rush and rebound of his own shot to put Hamden up 3-2 at the 8:58 mark.  RJ Ugolik didn’t get an assist on the Pierne goal but he got things going with a great outlet pass from deep in his zone.

 

Prior to Pierne scoring Cusano let one rip from the point on a four on four to know the game at 2-2.  It was at the 7:52 mark and Vakos and Jim Burt got the assists.  It was just the beginning for Vakos and Burt who would later factor into a stirring comeback and win along with center man, Carignan.

 

Cusano has been “Johnny on the Spot” for Hamden the past several weeks moving up from defense to fill in for injured players. He has centered several lines in fine fashion but it was evident that he was needed more on defense after the Prep team had stormed out to the first period lead.  So what does the kid do but goes out and fires a rocket slap shot from just inside the blue line to tie the game mid way through the second period.

 

Pierne then made a bull rush to the net, fired a shot that Sodokoff somehow stopped but Pierne stayed with the rebound and fired the puck into the twine to put Hamden in front 3-2.

 

The fans on both sides of the arena were buzzing.  They were being treated to two talented teams with tons of heart battling each other with goalies matching the intensity of the hardest hits being thrown on the ice.  If this wasn’t the greatest regular season game in Connecticut High School Hockey history, it certainly ranks right up there with the best of them.

 

 "I haven't been to the Wonderland of Ice since I graduated from Fairfield University over thirty years ago," said Ed Brachocki.  "I always wondered how it got its' name.  Now I know.  It was a Wonderland last night. What a game!  All the kids on both teams should be proud of themselves.  And what about those Ferguson boys and the place they run.  It's a Golden Palace compared to the old days."

 

Prep was far from done.  Darric White took a pass from the smooth skating Colin Sullivan and blasted a slap shot from the left point that fired past Avitable before he could even see it.  A Power Play goal at the 10:50 mark of the second period that would send the game into the third period all knotted up at three a piece.  White’s goal was assisted by Sullivan and Prep Captain Alex Zeiss.

 


 DARRIC WHITE FIRES SLAP SHOT 
                      WHITE SHOT IN NET  
         SODOKOFF STOPS SORRENTINO BLAST

                                                                                             

 

The third period started to a buzz in the stands.  The fans from each school were cheering their fine players on, the ice was cold and hard and the players determined as ever to battle each other to the end.  And that they did.

 

Prep scored less than a minute into the third to go up a goal.  It was at that point that the line of Carignan, Vakos and Burt simply took the game over.  Each time this threesome hit the ice they created opportunities.  As Bob Ugolik offered after the game, “Can a line be the Stars of the Week?” referring to the New Haven Register selections each Wednesday.  “If there is a better line in the state, I haven’t seen it,” added the astute Ugolik.

 


         PAUL AMARONE &  MATT MORGAN 
                        PENALTY KILL 
                        SCOTTY WALSH
                                                                                                      

 

 

Vakos, off his recent three point night,  had a goal and three assists, Burt, coming off a three point night against Notre Dame of West Haven,  added three assists and was robbed by Sodokoff’s glove save late in the third, and Carignan has been playing his best hockey of the year the past three games scored two goals including the game winner after having a goal and two assists in his last two games.  The line scored a total of seven points against ND of West Haven and backed it up with a nine point night against Fairfield Prep.

 

 JIM  BURT ROBBED BY SPENCER SODOKOFF LATE IN THIRD PERIOD

 

 

“Vakos has great vision, Burt is a big, rugged right winger, and with Carignan in the middle it makes the line something special,” said Coach Bill Veneris after the game.

 

It was at the 11:00 minute mark when Burt took a hit in center ice but still fed Vakos with the puck.  The crafty winger skated down to the left of Sodokoff as Carignan streaked down on his right.  Vakos fed the puck to his center man who promptly shot it into the net to tie the game.

 

The teams battled back and forth and entered overtime as if they had been through fifteen rounds of a heavy weight fight.  At the 4:15 mark sophomore Burt and junior Vakos worked down low to fight off two Prep defenders.  Vakos had been knocked to the ice and got up just in time to receive Burt’s pass and Vakos quickly looked up and saw Carignan in the slot.  He hit him with a hard pass and the gifted sophomore wasted no time firing in the game winner for the Green Dragons.

 

 

                                      BURT  TO                                                                                        VAKOS TO                                                                CARIGNAN--------SCORE!!!!!!

 

 

Pierne had an exceptional two way game making several fine back checks throughout.  Wingers Scott Walsh, Morgan, MacGregor along with center man Amarone continue to play hard and well, and Berezecky had his best game of the year.

 

Cusano was joined on defense by Dan Wheeler, John Teulings, Steven Sorrentino and RJ Ugolik who all had strong games.  Freshmen Brandon Dadio and Eric Sullivan also played well for the visitors.

 

JUSTIN MACGREGOR                                                           TEAM CELEBRATES WIN                                                                 HAT WOMAN AT WONDERLAND

 

The Prep squad led by Zeiss, White, Sullivan and company played hard and well.  They are a skillful team with a ton of team quickness and are solid in net with Sodokoff.

 

The two teams will meet again in late February at the Lou Astorino Ice Arena in Hamden.  It should be another great game with the prospects of both teams seeing each other later in March in the state tournament. (Burtsville took over 1000 pictures of this game.  Anyone can view, download and print the pictures free of charge. Go to www.burtsville.com/pix/burtlaw/.  They all should be up by the end of the week.)

 

 

 

 

Hamden is coached by Bill Veneris, George Jerolman and Todd Hall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 4, 2009

 

BurtsVille would like to congratulate PJ Vakos and Colleen Murphy on their selections as Players of the Week by the New Haven Register.

 

 

FEBRUARY 3, 2009

 

LEGENDARY BOB GREENWOOD HAS LAST AT BAT

 

It is with great sadness that BurtsVille acknowledges the death of Robert "Mr. West Haven Twilight League" Greenwood.  Bob was a legend to those who love sports in the Greater New Haven area.  He was a gifted player back in his day but his legacy will be all the work he did for so many others especially those connected with West Haven baseball.

 

BurtsVille was fortunate to meet Bob through the Greater New Haven Diamond Club.  The GNHDC is a group founded by Sam Burrell, Dan Gooley, George Wadley, Francis "Huck" Finn and others to Foster and Promote the great game of Baseball. (See related story in A Look Back section of BurtsVille.)

 

The Club is now known as the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club and has been resurrected by Tony Mentone and the other fine umpires in this region.  The Club annually honors high school players and other members of the baseball community who have devoted time and effort to our American Past Time in Connecticut.

 

Hall of Fame Member and Head Coach at Quinnipiac University, Dan Gooley,  said, "The State of Connecticut and the City of West Haven lost a baseball gem in Bob Greenwood.  Bob was and always will be Mr. Baseball in the City of West Haven.  I considered Bob a personal friend of mine and a great friend to baseball throughout the state.  He will be dearly missed."

 

Bob was inducted into the Diamond Club Hall of Fame in 1987 with legendary Southern Coach Gene Casey and former Baseball Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti.  Bob's annual telephone call--a call made to BurtsVille every year for the past twenty-one years--soliciting funds for the Twilight League Ad Book will be sorely missed by us and many others who were fortunate to know this affable, gracious and modest man.

 

 

Bob Greenwood Hall of Famer

 

Bob's Wake is today at the Keenan Funeral Home in West Haven.  It begins at 4:00 P.M.  Information concerning the services can be obtained by contacting the funeral home.

 

God's speed to you my friend.  Tell Huck to tell you a baseball story and try to get Wads to be there on time.  We'll see you when we get there.

 

 

January 31, 2009

 

AVITABLE LEAPS TO SHUTOUT

 

BURT VAKOS CARIGNAN LEAD OFFENSE

SORRENTINO DADIO SULLIVAN LEAD DEFENSE

 

HAMDEN 3       NDWH 0

 

 

 

The Hamden High School Boys’ Varsity Hockey Team kept rolling along Saturday with a 3-0 win over Notre Dame of West Haven.  The Irishmen were playing without their most potent offensive player and one of their top defense men.  Both were out due to injuries.

 

       Brandon Dadio throws a check  

         Steven Sorrentino defends in front

     Eric Sullivan guards the net

 

 

The Hamden squad was still missing outstanding forward Dave Findley and also gifted center man Pat McGovern.

 

Dan Cusano the team’s most versatile player moved up again to center the team’s first line.  Cusano, a forward throughout his career, has been converted to defense this year.  The senior has excelled on the back line, but has not lost any of his fine offensive moves.  This has been a boost to the team when injuries have forced the coaches to move Cusano up to the front line.

 

Dan Cusano                                                                       Scott Walsh                                                                                      Francesco Sandillo

 

 

The Notre Dame game belonged to goalie Anthony Avitable and the boys on the second line.  Avitable was simply outstanding in net tossing another shut out during his fine senior season.  He made saves of every kind and even auditioned for the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest on one gigantic leap to the sky to avoid a collision.

 

“Did you see that kid get out of the air!?” exclaimed Waterbury Playground Legend, Paul “The Flinterizer” Flinter.  “Who said White Men can’t jump?  And he had  forty pounds of equipment on him!”

 

Avitable made leg saves, blocker saves, glove saves and even chest saves.  The kid has been on his game all season long and if there is a better goalie in the state BurtsVille has not seen anyone yet that outshines the Green Dragon Co-Captain.

 

         UP, UP, AND AWAY.....AVITS LEAPS TO THE SKY IN RECORDING ANOTHER SHUTOUT VICTORY

 

It may be a tad early to start talking about All -Area and All-State teams but if votes were cast today one would have to give serious consideration to a number of the Hamden players who have simply had marvelous seasons to date.  Co-Captain Mike Pierne and senior goal scorer Scott Walsh have to be right there along with sophomore sensation Jim Burt and junior winger PJ Vakos.  Defensemen Dan Wheeler, John Teulings, Dan Cusano, Steven Sorrentino and another sophomore sensation RJ Ugolik have to be on the radar screen of opposing coaches as they consider those team selections.  And of course, Avits in net.

                                                                             

Burt and Vakos had games to dream for on Saturday.  The two talented, hard working forwards hooked up with the dirty work that resulted in a CJ Carignan goal less than a minute into the game.  Carignan, fully recovered from an earlier injury, is starting to show the gifts of his talent.  “The kid played well last game and was flat out flying today,” offered Rich Shattuck of the Baltimore Blades semi-pro team.  “It looks like those three kids work well together and have a knack of knowing where the other will be.”

 

And that they do.  Burt and Vakos hooked up last game for a short handed goal when Vakos fed Burt for the goal.  Saturday afternoon it was Burt’s turn to pay back the favor.  Vakos stole the puck about five minutes into the third period and fed the rugged, smooth skating Burt who tried one move too many before shooting.  The puck got knocked to the back boards as Burt got knocked with it by an ND defender.

 

Vakos was out front and Burt backhanded a gorgeous pass onto his stick blade and the crafty, tough forward knocked it home for a 3-0 Hamden lead.  Vakos almost had a highlight reel goal in the second period that Burt scooped up to make it 2-0 Hamden.

 

Pierne had just come in alone on Vincent Vitale the ND goal tender.  Vitale had a strong game against his arch rivals as did defense men Mike Taddei and Francesco Sandillo.  Joe Sweeney led the ND forwards who ripped over twenty shots on Avitable and dominated territorial play in the third period.  Coach Bill Gerosa's Green Knights came roaring back in the third period and showed what has made this team one of the best in the state over the past several years.  The ND Team and Coach can be proud of their effort and skill in a game that was much closer than its score.

 

 

Vincent Vitale makes another great save for NDWH

 

Pierne came flying down ice with nine minutes to go in the second and Vitale made a sprawling save as the puck and Hamden Co-Captain careened off the back boards.  Sweeney then got the puck form Taddei and got in close to Avitable before the Hamden net minder rejected a certain goal.  It was at this point in time that the term Greek Gyro took on a whole new meaning to mankind.

CJ Carignan stoned by ND goalie                                                 Paul Amarone forechecks                               Matt Morgan robbed by ND net minder

 

 

Vakos, auditioning for "Dancing with the Stars", corralled the puck just outside of the ND blue line.  The Greek Gunner sashayed to the left with the puck leaping to avoid a hit and just as deftly turned right with the puck once again going air borne to avoid a would be checker.  Burt was on his way towards the net on the left side ten yards behind his dance partner.

 

Vakos, wanting to be sure the paying public didn’t miss his moves the first time, repeated this ditsy doodle left and right move one more time as the puck floated across the ice to the left of the net minder twenty feet out.  The quick on his feet Vakos, gathered in the puck as he hit his landing better than any Olympic gymnast and fired a rocket that clanged off the left post.

 

 PJ does The Vakos Shuffle

 

 

While Vakos was turning left and right and right and left, his line mate was taking a bull rush straight towards the net.  Vakos shot came bouncing out to Burt and the lessons he learned from baseball over the years kicked in as he passed his hand-eye coordination test knocking the bouncing puck out of the air and into the net for a score to put Hamden up 2-0 at the time.

 

 

Jim Burt knocks rebound out of air for goal

 

 

Vakos and Burt and Carignan and Avitable may have garnered the head lines today, but make no mistake this was a team win.  The Hamden defense, questioned at the start of the year, has simply been fantastic.  The defensive integrity of the team cannot be questioned.  Just take a look at the pictures taken from this game to see the gritty, smart play of Teulings, Wheeler, Ugolik, Brandon Dadio and Steven Sorrentino.  And now freshman Eric Sullivan is seeing some quality ice time and performing well as has his fellow freshman, Dadio, all year long.

 

Matt Morgan had another fine game.  The rugged senior has made the most of his ice time and came close to scoring a goal late in the game.  Morgan has continued to work hard, and his ice time, along with the of junior forward Mark Fracasso and sophomore Patrick Lynch, may be limited to date but is none the less important in keeping the entire team fresh.  Just like last year’s team, the Hamden squad is loaded with depth and the player’s lines one through four have a great respect for one another’s games.

 

 Dan Wheeler Controls and Clears Puck

 

Coach Todd Hall has to be proud of his defensive unit as the season moves along into its final stages.  Freshman Dadio has played a regular shift most of the year and is progressing nicely.  Seniors Dan Wheeler and Dan Cusano are solid, smart, gifted players that just keep on getting better as the season continues, and juniors John Teulings and Steven Sorrentino add speed and strength, respectively, to this ever developing corp.  AJ Gemmel and Nick Castaldi along with freshman Eric Sullivan round out this unit in fine fashion.

 

Johnny Teulings Clears the Puck for the Green Dragons 

 

And what can you say about the offense?  Coach George Jerolman has molded these players into cohesive units that blend well together.  They may have started slowly, except for senior sensation Scotty Walsh who has been pouring in goals faster than a bartender pours drinks at The Wharf for the entire year, but man have they picked up their production lately.

 

RJ Ugolik Clears the puck for Hamden

 

Pierne is having the type of senior season the team was looking to in order to excel.  The fast skating co-captain is not only scoring, he is one of the team’s top penalty killers and is as strong a defensive forward as you will find in the state.  Walsh is simply having a dream season.  The feisty, hard skating senior is always in the right spot at the right time.  He is the most unselfish player on the team and if "to give is to receive" then his bounty has been overflowing all year.

 

McGovern has the quickest hands on the team and led the team in goal scoring last year.  He will be looked to down the stretch to get back on track with his scoring touch late into the season and into the state tournament.

 

What can you say about Jim Burt?  The fast charging sophomore is having a break out season that has caught everyone’s attention.  He is a fine skating, never say die player, who has excelled on the Penalty Kill and Power Play Units in addition to producing consistently on both ends of the ice. 

 

 Mike Taddei checks Burt                Jim Burt on the move                                                      Hamden Team heads off the ice

 Asscociate BurtsVille contributors Bob "The Glass Man" Ugolik and Steve "I Got Your Number" Walsh added:

 

What can you say about Jim Burt?  We were trying to define the fast charging sophomore who's having a break out season that has caught everyone’s attention.   Last year he had a limited role as one of only two  freshman to skate with the squad, but this year, Jimbo can be seen grinding it out with his current linemates PJ (Vakos) and CJ (Carignan) who have affectionately dubbed him JJ, because they feel it promotes their connection.  " They pass to each other as if they have eyes in the back of their heads.  They kind of remind me of the "conehead" line of the 80's - the way the just gel- shoot- pass- score!",  observed  CHC Rookie Referee Steve Walsh. Another noticeable component this year is Burt's role on power plays and penalty kills .  Every time special teams are out there- you can find Burt reeking havoc.  Nevertheless, we couldn't quite find the words so we asked the fine skating savoir-faire himself- How do you feel about your play and that of your team this season Jim?  Young Burt retorted, " So far, so good.... I just can't express how pumped up I get for games knowing that I am part, I mean really a part, of such a great group of guys that want to work hard to prove that this year's team is no joke.  Man, I am having a lot of fun out there this year!  Speaking of "fun and no joke"- have you seen my Dad's website www.burtsville.com? He seems to be having a lot of fun with it and our team this year, as well as providing a very informative and completely objective look at Hamden Hockey.  My only complaint is I wished I got a little more ink!"  After posing for a long overdue action shot,  young Burt smiled, shook my hand and rode off into the sunset.....Truly- A chip off the old block!

Will Work for Food Foursome

 

Another kid who is excelling is junior winger PJ Vakos.  Vakos has been a scrappy, feisty player since the season began.  He is a crafty skater, never shies away from physical contact and is unselfish as they come.  He has teamed up nicely with Burt and Carignan over the past several weeks and is also solid on the Penalty Kill and Power Play Units.

 

Carignan, also a sophomore looks like he has hit his stride over the last two games.  The fine skating, hard hitting center man has two assists and a goal the last two weeks and to get him going along with Burt and Vakos will give the team another high scoring line to contend with down the stretch.

 

Let’s not forget the third line of freshman Paul Amarone, sophomore Justin MacGregor and senior Mike Berezecky.  Amarone is one of the strongest kids on the team and never stops working.  He has just missed a couple of goals in the last few games and his hustle and desire with his skill is sure to continue to be of benefit to the Green Dragons down the stretch.  Berezecky is one of the hardest, fastest skaters on the team.  He just never stops moving and hitting and got on the board last game with a beautiful goal  He will benefit from his hustle and one’s sure there are more goals in that stick before his high school career is over.

 

MacGregor continues to work hard along the boards and he too has just missed a few goals over the past few weeks.  He blends will with Amarone and Berezecky and just needs to keep on motoring as it is just a matter of time before all three of these line mates have a monster scoring game.

 

Goaltenders Karl Zukufnt and Ryan Amarone knew coming into the season that their time on the ice in games would be limited.  Both players should be complimented for their team first approach and their work ethic.  Both net minders are always into the game and ready to go if and when called upon by Coach Veneris.

 

What can you say about Coach Veneris?  The King of the Hill has let the three top lines roll out each game with the fourth line spelling them at the right time. This has kept the lines fresh and the rest has done them good.  The only game this year that the first two lines got overworked was the Notre Dame of Fairfield game and that had more to do with penalties than anything else.  The three line roll out has spelled trouble for every team the Green Dragons have faced this year keeping each and every line fresh from start to finish. 

 

 The Power Play Unit has been strong and the Penalty Killers have excelled.  He’s been tough when he’s had to be but the “Keep It Simple Stupid Principle” of not piling on too many X’s and O’s has worked perfectly to date.  Here’s hoping the team keeps working on the simple things and the players keep working together as the season turns into the final month of high school play for our seniors.

 

Nice job coaching staff and players.  We are all proud of you and wish you nothing but the best the rest of the season.

 Coach Todd & Refs share a chuckle                                Coach Billy V. leads the way    Coach George keeps  eye on Allie

 

And while you’re at it, if you haven’t tuned into Don Boyle’s telecasts at www.sportingnewsct.com you don’t know what you are missing.  Don and his crew do a great job for high school hockey in the state and BurtsVille tips its' cap to him for all the fine coverage he gives all of the children in this state.  Go to his site, subscribe to his newscast and think about being a sponsor.

 

 

Don Boyle & Crew from www.sportingnewsct.com broadcast another event for high school sports in Ct.

 

Hamden has the toughest part of it’s’ schedule remaining and it should prove a great way to prepare for the State Tournament.  Keep up the fine work Green Dragons and Coaching Staff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 9, 2009

 

STATE TOURNAMENT ARRIVES

LOCK IT IN!

 

 

Team Photo at Edgartown Light House

 

The Division One Boys High School Hockey State Tournament starts today.  Hamden, the Number One Ranked Team,  will play  its first game this Wednesday at the Lou Astorino Ice Arena.  BurtsVille believes the time will be 6:30 PM but check with the Rink on Wednesday if you are not certain.  The team will play the winner of tonight's game between East Haven High School and New Canaan High School.

 

 

Ryan Amarone

Matt Morgan

Dan Wheeler

Dave Findley

Justin MacGregor

PJ Vakos

Steven Sorrentino

John Teulings

Mike Pierne

 

Boys, you have done a remarkable job this year.  You have put yourself in a wonderful position and BurtsVille has all the faith in the world in you.  Just keep playing confident, aggressive hockey and the results will follow.  It has been a special year and it is only going to get better.

 

It won't be easy.  You will find in life that the best things that happen are not easy.  You have worked hard.  Allow yourselves to dream the dream and just go out there and play the way you have all year long.  Your last two games were the best of the year for you.  Hard skating, aggressive to the end solid hockey.

 

Coaches Bill Veneris, George Jerolman, Todd Hall and Team Manager Alli Aloi

 

The lovely Christine Rimar graduated from Hamden High School.  She delivered the Graduation Speech.  No better words can I give all you great players and coaches than what this young woman delivered to her classmates that fine day in June of 2005.  Here is but a snipit of what she said:

 

"...Look around at your peers; you have spent the past four years of your life with them.  Reflect on your high school career and think about the times you've shared.  Hold those thoughts...About six years ago, my father and I were in Battery Park in Manhattan.  It was nighttime and the city was alive.  I remember looking across the harbor at the Statute of Liberty.  She was majestic.  The Twin Towers loomed over me.  I was awestruck by the sights.  My father detected my awe and said to me, "Lock It In".  He gave me a simple, three word suggestion, but I've used it to capture and recapture the essence of many wonderful moments...I suggest that you begin consciously locking in significant moments.  Practice and you'll be able to tap into them whenever the need arises....Lock It In.  Lock It All In."

 

Anthony Avitable

Scott Walsh

Dan Cusano

Mark Fracasso

CJ Carignan

Eric Sullivan

RJ Ugolik

Nick Castaldi

Brandon Dadio

 

 

 No better words can BurtsVille provide to you magnificent players.  No finer words can BurtsVille bestow on this hard working group of individuals who have formed such an outstanding team.  You have been MAJESTIC. Think about the BEST moments of the season.  Think of your own BEST plays.  Think of the BEST team moments.

AJ Gemmell

Mike Berezecky

 

BurtsVille has the utmost confidence in each and every one of you.  Play as you have all year long.  Make each and every moment of each and every shift your best time on the ice.  BELIEVE in yourselves. BELIEVE in your teammates. There is no better feeling in the world than a total belief in oneself and ones friends.  You have done it all year long.  Just go after and IT WILL HAPPEN.

 

Patrick Lynch

Jim Burt

Paul Amarone

 

BurtsVille believes.  BurtsVille has seen it.  Enjoy it.  Skate hard.  Have fun.

 

 Stay focused, drive for your goal and believe in yourselves as a team of destiny. Go make Memories That Will Last a Lifetime.   LOCK IT IN!!!

 

 

Team Huddle last game in Maine

 

Good Luck Green Dragons.

 

 

 

March 7, 2009

 

 

HAMDEN BESTS NDWH 4-1 ON SENIOR NIGHT

WALSH SCORES TWO GOALS
CUSANO AND BURT CHIP IN ONE EACH

 

 

 

 Senior Scott Walsh had two goals to lead Hamden to a 4-1 win over Notre Dame of West Haven in Hamden’s last regular season game of the year.  Senior Dan Cusano and sophomore Jim Burt also had goals as did Jon Knobloch of ND.  Seniors Dan Wheeler and Mike Pierne had assist and junior PJ Vakos had two assists as the Green Dragons closed out the regular season with a 15-4-1 record and head into the State Tournament as the Number One Ranked Team.

Walsh Scores Beauty

Avits with Save

Avits with Save

Burt thinks he Scores

 

Senior Anthony Avitable lost his shut out bid with just five seconds to go in the game as he completed a great season for the SCC Champion Team.  The Green Dragons head into the State Tournament with great momentum and the addition of senior Dave Findley has had a noticeable effect on the energy level of the team.  Findley’s infectious personality and high revved engine has his mates re-energized from the doldrums of mid February.  The team is playing confident and hard each and every shift and that is what it will need to do to bring home the State Championship.

Alexis Hall and Pal

Ray G. & Buddy

Boyle Beauties

Jenny with Grand Moms

RJ & Jim

Hamden Beauties

 

“This team doesn’t panic.  It has shown its true character all year long.  Maine we got spanked twice in one day and came back against a powerhouse the next day.  Prep we’re down two zip in their building playing lousy and we come back to win in overtime.  We have played the best and beat the best.  Now we have to go out and do it for four more games.  I am confident this group will do it.  They have what it takes,” offered team manager Allie Aloi.

 

But let’s give the boys a round of applause on their fine regular season.  The coaches and kids deserve the credit as they have completed a great regular season run.  BurtsVille congratulates them on a fine regular season ending it as SCC Division One Champions and the Number One Ranking in the Division One State Tournament.

 

Coaches with Alli

Senior Night Cake

Dave Findley's  last Regular Season Check

Mike Pierne with Grand Parents

 BurtsVille has the utmost confidence that the team will not only continue to perform well in the state tournament but actually excel as their best hockey is before them.  A State Championship is what awaits this hard working group of individuals that have been molded into a team unit by Coach Bill Veneris, Coach Todd Hall and Coach George Jerolman. It is a group that will not be denied.

 

As we head into the post season, let’s pause for a moment and give our seniors their due.  Melissa Boyle started the night out with a wonderful rendition of The National Anthem with a voice as sweet as they come.  Scott Walsh entertained with s highlight reel breakaway goal to end his masterful regular season and Avits put in another stellar performance along with his defense mates.

 

And all Dan Cusano did to cap off his fine senior regular season was score the goal that teammate Jim Burt told him he would earlier in the day.  Burt returned the favor scoring one of is won to end a wonderful regular season for him as well.

 

What does Dan Wheeler do on Senior Night?  He has himself a great game along with Nick Castaldi, Matt Morgan and Mike Berezecky.  In fact, Wheels had himself a ball catching one where the Monongahela meets the Ohio as his voice after the game was as high pitched as Ms. Boyle’s was singing The National Anthem.

 

Co-Captains Mike Pierne and Anthony Avitable closed it out in style and should be so proud of the job they have done this year.  Performance wise they have both been spectacular and their leadership off the ice has helped mold this team into what it is—a winner.  Keep up the good work boys.  The best is yet to come.  Play hard each and every shift.  Continue to believe in yourselves and one another.  No matter what happens stay positive.   The results will astound you.


 

 

 

March 4, 2009

 

BurtsVille would like to congratulate Mike Berezecky on being named one of the Stars of the Week and Anthony Avitable as being named Alternate Goalie of the Week in the most recent New Haven Register Poll.

 

BurtsVille would also like to acknowledge and congratulate Mike Pierne,  Jim Burt , PJ Vakos,  and Scott Walsh for remaining in the Top 35 in State Scorers for the past several weeks.  The Regular Season ends tomorrow so the Hamden Team should have these four players remain in high positions regarding scorers in the State.  Congratulations.

 

And finally, BurtsVille congratulates all of the seniors on the team.  Tonight will be a flood of emotions for you and your families as you take to the Hamden Ice for your last regular season game.  Enjoy each and every minute of it  as you look around the rink at your teammates, opponents, family, friends, classmates and fans.

 

 

 

March 13, 2009

 

 QUARTER FINALS AWAIT

NEW CANAAN AFTERMATH JUST BRINGS MORE CLASS

 

Okay Boys.  Great game v. New Canaan.  One that will go down in the history of Hamden High School Hockey as one of the most electrifying, epic battles ever played at your historic rink. Here is an email I received this morning from the New Canaan Captain, Frank Granito.  He wanted me to share it with the Hamden Team.  It is an email that touched my heart along with others I received from Kris Nugent and Bo McGinnis two of the other many fine players and individuals that make them proud to play for and attend New Canaan High School.  I thank them all.

 

Dear Mr. Burt,

 

My name is Frank Granito. I am number 9 and a Captain of the New Canaan Rams hockey team. I was the kid who you took the picture of hugging his father and also the last kid to enter the bus whose hand you shook. I wanted to say thank you for a couple things, First on how you and the Hamden associates including the team handled yourselves, I don't think I have ever seen a team win with as much class as you guys did Wed night it was really an honor to be apart of a game like that and you guys made it that special by not ruining it in the end. Second I would like to thank you for the way you spoke of my teammates in the article, it means a lot to me again to see such class and honor still shown in a time where emotions run so wild and it is very easy to put down the weaker amongst us. Finally I would like to thank you for giving us the respect we have been looking for all year. In my four years at New Canaan I have seen when we want to we can skate with anyone in this state, and for the first time last night someone else recognized this skill. I hope you can pass this message onto the hockey team for me and tell them how great of a game it was and that myself and the rest of Rams are pulling for them to win because of the way they treated us after the game. All we ever wanted was to prove we could play hockey with the best, and sure enough we all got to have a little fun as well. 

 

Thank you again for everything I can't stress to you how much it means to all of us apart of the organization.

 

Frank Granito

 

 

 

 Mrs. Pierne is going to give you all copies of these emails.  Frank, you and your team more than proved you can play with the best. I tell you again, it was a game that was played by two teams that exhibited incredible athletes with an incredible amount of HEART & CLASS.

 

New Canaan won the State Football Championship as many of you know.  Frank Granito III, my friend and father of three New Canaan Team members, sent me an email too.   He was as gracious as his son, but drove home a very important point.  He wished you all  the best and reminded me that your job is but 25% over.  If you are to wear the crown, you need three more victories.  And you have the New Canaan kids in your corner as well as all of your friends, fans and families in Hamden.

 

                                                                                                         RJ

Did you hear what RJ Ugolik said in the Locker Room? "If you think this feels great, multiply it Ten Times and you'll know how it will feel to win the State Championship".

 

One more thing.  It's BurtsVille's Birthday tomorrow.  How about we skip the cake and ice cream and you just let me keep on writing a few more articles?  How does that sound to you? I think three more good ones would do the trick.

 

 Remember, just play hard and have fun.  The rest will fall into place.  And anyone who played in or watched that game the other night, and didn't have fun, doesn't know what it is all about.

 

As you leave the Hamden Rink tomorrow to board your bus, stop and take a look at that ice surface,  LOCK IT IN-- that special feeling you got from playing in that oh so special game that was played there Wednesday Night.  And head to Northford confident and with a belief in yourselves and your teammates to make new Memories That Will Last a Lifetime.

 

  

April 1, 2009

 

HAMDEN SHOCKED AS VENERIS RETIRES
CARIGNAN--VAKOS--BURT-UGOLIK TRANSFER

BEST LINE IN STATE LEAVES GREEN DRAGONS 

PJ Vakos

Jim Burt

CJ Carignan


The Hamden High School Hockey Team received a double dose of bad news today.  Coach Bill Veneris, a former Hamden Star Player, has resgined.  Veneris, who recently guided Hamden to its first State Championship in Twenty Years, called in his resignation to Senior Team Advisor Attorney Steve Walsh.   Walsh, who was tracked down at The Wharf on Martha's Vineyard, responded, "Coach and I are on a little fishing trip.  It has been a hectic season for him.  He and I need to re-evaluate just where things are going from here."


Coach Bill Veneris Calls in Resignation to Advisor Steve Walsh

The team received more bad news when BurtsVille learned that the  "Best Line in the State" has transferred to Bemiji Prep School in northern Minnesota.  It was unclear at Press Time whether this defection had anything to do with Veneris' resignation.  Super Sophomore defense man, RJ Ugolik, has also transferred and is ready for the northern Minnesota weather.


RJ Ugolik

 

"I can't let Burt and CJ leave without me.  I carried them all year.  What are they going to do without me?" said Tournament Co-MVP Vakos. "Vakos, that scrawny little kid had me protecting him all year long," said Burt.  "If it wasn't for me and CJ he wouldn't even know how to tie his skates.  How's he gonna deal with the Minnesota winter without us taking care of him."  "Burt and Vakos leaving?" asked Carignan.  "Why those two right handers don't even know which side of the ice to skate on without me.  And if either one of them would ever learn to make an accurate pass to the slot maybe we'd have had a few laughers this year.  Dang, what they have left for brains is gonna freeze in Minnesota.  I have to go with them just to make sure they get home okay."

 

Athlectic Director Jeanne Cooper wasted no time in replacing Veneris.  Former Hamden Star and recent graduate, Dave Findley, has been named the new Head Coach.  Findley, injured most of the year, but back in time to help lead Hamden to the State Championship commented, " I tried to tell Coach to take it easy.  God, he would drive me nuts.  Thank God he had me as his anchor.  Now he can use Walsh as an anchor.  How much better does it get than to have an attorney as your anchor!"

New Hamden Head Coach Dave Findley

 

"I have a 'Finn Plan' in mind.  My staff is already picked out.  I will be sorry to see Coach Jerolman and Coach Hall leave the Program, but I have a few great assistants coming on board.  I think everyone will be pleased with my selections."

 

HAMDEN'S NEW COACHING STAFF UNDER FINDLEY

Robert "Glass Man to Cash Man" Ugolik

Jake "The Bubble" Jerolman & Kelsey "The Hat" Carignan

Allie Aloi--Employee of the Year

 

A varied group of parents gathered at different parts of the globe to contemplate all that has transpired.  At Press Time they were not available for comment.

 

Vineyard Foursome--Post Wharf

Christine Burt--Heir Apparent to Steve Walsh

Vasso, Ellen & Marion

 

 

                                                      

April 21, 2009

FARM NECK GOLF CLUB:HEAVEN ON EARTH
CINCO DE MAYO GOLF TOURNEY AMONG FRIENDS

Pro Shop in Heaven

 

Heaven means different things to different people.  Yet, in some ways, we all have our own little heaven on earth.  Or, shall I say, heavens on earth because there are so many fine places and so many good people, that “Heaven on Earth” can be had depending upon where you are and who you are with at a particular time in your life.

7th Hole Water View

Duke the Amazing

Allistar at First Tee

10th Fairway

Joey Airto watches ball in flight on 15th Tee

Aitro just misses bird in flight on 15th--still no birdies Joe!

 

This week I get to visit one of those “Heaven on Earth” places when I go on an annual golf trip to Martha’s Vineyard.  And if the Vineyard is one little heaven, then Farm Neck Golf Club is its’ hub.  At least, for this Cinco De Mayo tournament we dreamed up years ago that has become a wonderful tradition for twelve to twenty of us from Connecticut, New York and beyond who grace (did I say “grace”?) the links at “The Neck”.

Bill, Mike & Glen get ready to Tee Off

Brendan in the Pro shop

Woods and Water

Jon, Ernie and a host of friends at Lola's

Kevin & Marc

Marc & Ernie

 

We have the golf pro, Jon Wilson; typically grace our group with tee to green lessons that fall upon deaf ears as we rack up our 85-115 scores.  No one cares---so long as we are done in four hours.  We also have our John Wilson who keeps us sane and in line when we are out and about for the early spring evenings’ that the Vineyard offers.

 

Farm Neck is a semi-private course that defies description.  Its grounds are impeccable and the lush fairways and smooth greens invite one so graciously to attempt to conquer it with club and ball.  No more gracious is the course than the entire staff inside and outside of the Pro Shop.

 

Don, Mike, Kyle, Tara, Allistar, Richie, Sandy, Brendan and others greet you as if you had been a member for years.  Our group has been there for years and some of the guys play there at other times of the year and we are always treated royally from our first telephone call in April until our final round is complete.  The marshals keep us moving along at a good clip so that we meet the four hour round limit but do so with the gentle touch that Glen Field shows with his wedges when playing the course.

Kyle takes call from Tiger!

Mike and Kyle befriend disturbed golfer at Pro Shop

Ernie Bags It as Fred lights up!

Fred & the Boys enjoy lunch

A thorn between two roses!

Ian, Ned & John enjoy lunch at FN Cafe

 

Duke is the best darn geese dog on earth.  He chases away the water fowl and stays friendly and obedient, shall we say, to a tee.  Sorry!

 

And speaking of Tees, the First Tee at Farm Neck gives one a clear look at the Par 4 green some 410 yards away.  Unless of course, the early morning mist/fog allows you to see only as far as a Fred Kleykamp drive.  This reckons to be about 80-90 yards or so for our Kentucky native. 

 

Either way, with the Clubhouse and Pro Shop to your right and a vast driving range to your left there is nothing left to do but begin your four hour trip around Heaven’s Paradise with a drive splitting the fairway.  The second hole is an inviting Par 5 and then onto a short Par 4 with an elevated green and trees to both sides.  It is here on the Third Tee that you get your first look at the ocean.

Pro Shop in the Mist

Father & Son--It doesn't get any better-Dick & Brady

Pro Shop and Cafe across from First Tee

Tom & Ian discuss the morning round at lunch

Manny enjoys a chuckle at lunch

John Wilson & Jon Wilson

 

And what a great sight it is.  Of course, until you hit the fourth tee box!

 

Once you get through figuring out which club to hit into the green on the 145 yard Par 3 fourth hole the wind suddenly shifts and your seven iron ends up in the water behind the hole or your five iron ends up short of the front bunkers.  Just part of the lore and legend of Farm Neck.

 

The 5th hole is a short Par 4 with woods on both sides and a slicer’s delight on the Tee Box so long as you play your drive out to the left enough.  Then you have a mid to low iron into a large green tucked up in the corner of a hill surrounded by bunkers.  A long Par 3 awaits on the 6th and then a beautiful, simple, tough Par 4 at the 7th with a tight driving lane and water before the large slopping green.

 

The wind can howl as you walk up to the 8th Tee but if it’s at your back you just might reach the one and only par 5 in your life in two.  Of course, if it’s against you just put down the 7 on the scorecard and move on so that you don’t have to actually write down the 10.  The front nine ends with a water carry to a 160 yard dowhill Par 3 and then a short ride back to the Café.

 

Lunch awaits at the Farm Neck Café & Restaurant.  A fine establishment that also serves tasty dinners.  Diana, Mia, Jordan and the friendly, beautiful wait staff is to the Café what Don, Mike, Kyle, Tara and crew are to the Pro Shop.  It is always a highlight of our trip to spend time with these wonderful women who treat us so nicely.

Don, Ian & John at Lunch

Wait Staff Supreme at Farm Neck

Road to Heaven

 

The back nine seems innocent enough with the 10th.  A straight ahead Par 4 that starts out with tennis courts next to the tee.  Just make sure that any food or wallets are hidden as you walk up the green from your carts or you will watch them fly away with the crows that have grown fat over the years perched on the trees by the green.

 

The 11th is a long Par 5 with a grass air strip next to it. It’s a great hole with a green that runs away from you seemingly no matter which direction you approach it.  The 12th can take your breath away for many reasons.  First, the house next to the tee is beautiful.  It seems that every year a new part of it is added just to make sure you are paying attention.

 

A look down the fairway flashes back not only beauty, but danger.  A long pond awaits you nestled up before the two tiered green.  Hit your drive to the right and you may find the trap and trees.  Down the middle too far and the water awaits you.  Go left and you have a 200+ yard carry over the pond.  A golfer’s delight.  Did I say Heaven on Earth?

 

This brings us to the short Par 4 13th.  A moment of silence please.  One of the Vineyard’s true treasures was located next to this hole.  Lola’s Restaurant.  An eclectic bar/restaurant with New Orleans flair is no more.  It has closed and been sold.  A Tournament ending dinner tradition that we looked forward to every year is no more.  It is our hope that the new owners are successful and that they retain a little bit of Lola’s flavor for those of us to remember a wonderful past.

Fred's Country Smile at Lola's

Fred & John relax at Lola's

Lola's Sideways--Don orders dinner

Don  enters Lola'a after great round

Albanyites enjoy Lola's Atmosphere and fine dining

Tim asks if Fred was serious about....

 

Good Luck to Paul and Kathy and family as they enter the next phase of their lives. You done good with Lola’s and we shall never forget you.  Thank you for all the graces you bestowed upon us over the years.

 

Now, if you dare to cut off the corner at the 13th you’d better be a big hitter.  Conventional wisdom says take out the 3 wood and go up the middle and then a wedge to the green.  Are we having fun yet?  No, not until you get on the 14th tee have you had fun at Farm Neck.

 

There are views and then there are views.  I defy you to find me any better views tee to green on this hole than any other hole in the USA.  Okay, that’s a mouthful, I admit it.  But, the bottom line is that the hole is a beauty.  I mean, have you ever hit your wedge from 180 yards out?  I have.  Have you ever had to use a 5 wood from the 100 yard marker---and not reached the green?  I have.

Chris & Lee discuss English Tea Shops in Edgartown

Marc & Ernie discuss who is the better golfing cousin

 

There is wind.  And then there is wind.  And then there is wind on the 14th hole at Farm Neck.  Can’t wait to get there. 

Bill Murray joins Cinco de Mayo Tourney

Joe & Ned on 2nd Tee

Ned Tees off on 10th Hole

 

The 15th is a 160 year elevated tee Par 3 entirely over water.   Why even Joe Aitro has trouble on this hole.  The 16th a short Par 4.  The 17th more water.  The 18th ends with a dog leg right, Spike Lee’s house to the left off the tee and a take your pick row of trophy houses on your right.  You may even get lucky and have to hit it through a rainbow as my friend Dick Goodell did last summer while he and Glen Field put up with me for a round of golf.

 

Dick Goodell's Rainbow Shot on 18: If this ain't Heaven, what is?

And that’s the other part of golf’s charm and the mystique of Farm Neck.  You meet so many wonderful people on the golf course as I have had the pleasure of doing over the years.  Mike Joyce, Mike Joyce, Jr., Bill Jones, Hanif Moledina, Joe A., Ozzie, Dick and Glen are just some of the regular guys I have had the pleasure of playing with at Farm Neck and look forward to playing with again this summer as we head into another golf season.

 

So, to Farm Neck I raise a toast and look forward to our rounds this week.  Cinco de Mayo shall come and go quickly but the bonds of friendship formed and the memories made will last us all for a long, long time.

 

 

 

 

 April 12, 2009

 

HAPPY EASTER FROM BURTSVILLE

 

Thank you A-1 Toyota, Wheeler Family, Dr. James Sorrentino, Dan Bush of Hamden Sports Center and most of all to the Players & Coaches on the Hamden High School Division One State Championship Team.

 

The Easter Bunny says LOCK IT IN!!!

You Boys Done Good!!!

 

 

  Dixwell Avenue Billboard erected by A-1 Toyota and the Wheeler Family across from Hamden High School

April 10, 2009

 

HAMDEN TENNIS STARTS SEASON OUT WITH A WIN

HAMDEN 6 CAREER 1

Coaches Val, Niles & George

The Hamden High School Tennis Team, coached by Niles LeBlang, started the season with a hard fought 6-1 victory over a game Career Squad on a windy and cold Wednesday afternoon.  Coach Val Gissentanner's Career Team gave Hamden an early season test in less than ideal conditions.

Alex Winnick

Career Panthers Jacket

Hamden led by one of the top players in the state in Luke Maloney got on top early with some fine play byTeal Howard and his brother Ryan.  Both brothers defeated Career players, Robert Grooucer and Joey Hah.  Max Coassin  and Kevin Hochstrasser also won for Hamden beating Lynette Perez and Lindsey Redd.

Giovanni E. for Career High School

The Good Looking Guys on Hamden's Tennis Team
 

Jim Burt and Alex Winnick defeated the duo of Vollano-Aponte and Dom Dimitri and Manny Bravo defeeted Smith-Vargas in doubles.

I serve better than my brother!

Hamden High School Tennis Team

I serve better than my brother!

COLD! COLD! COLD!

Jim "Where's my Hockey Skates?" Burt

Jeff "Samuel L. Jackson" Smith watches lovely daughter

 

Maloney was matched up against another top player in the State in Career's Giovanni Emestik.  These two talented players were still on the court one and a half hours after every other match was over.  They fought each other with fine serves and volleys that were simpy magnificent this early in the season.  Emestik took the hard fought match 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (2).  It will not surprise anyone to see these two fine players competing deep into the State Tournament at the end of the year.

Howard Candid

Burt Candid

Kevin Maloney watches son Luke

Winnick/Burt Candid

Maloney Candid

Luke Maloney on the Return

Maloney Return

Max Coassin Slams Return

Ms. Smith and Teammates

 

"It was cold.  It was windy.  And it was another April weather start of the season," offered Rachel Burt, home from her Fordham University.  "I have seen Kevin Maloney play tennis in college.  I actually think Luke has better legs."

 

 

March 19, 2009

 

FINDLEY--MACGREGOR--CUSANO-AVITABLE

MORGAN--AMARONE--PK UNITS

LEAD HAMDEN OVER FERMI 4-2

 

 

The Hamden High School Boys Hockey Team used a team effort to defeat a tough Fermi Team last evening 4-2 at Yale’s Ingalls’ Rink.  Anthony Avitable had his best game ever at the hallowed rink in turning away 22 shots to lead Hamden to victory.

 

The Penalty Kill Units were very much in display especially in the Third Period.  Let’s emphasize the word THIRD.  BurtsVille says this because the hard working Third Line had the break out game the team has been waiting for last night scoring five of the   twelve points the team had on the night.

 

“I can’t say enough good things about our guys, especially our penalty killing,” said a happy Bill Veneris after the game.  “Our special teams played well for us and Anthony, as usual, had a great game.”

 

The Green Dragons saw the swift skating team from up north take an early lead when Matt Perdurski took a feed from Steve Daddario to make it 1-0 at the 2:06 mark of the First Period.  Don’t let anyone tell you that Fermi and the upstate teams can’t compete with their down state foes.  Hamden had all it could handle this year with Simsbury, Conard, South Windsor and now Fermi.   It was no surprise to the Hamden faithful that this was going to be a tight game.

 

 

PJ Vakos Celebrates Beautiful Tip In Goal

As it has all year long, the team just kept working hard and banging bodies.  At the 4:43 mark of the First Period, Jim Burt worked down low to free up the puck to line mate PJ Vakos who fed Dan Cusano at the point.  Cusano, a big time player if there ever was one, let go with a blast from just inside the Blue Line---close quarters for him considering his Conard game winning rocket—and scorched the puck low to the ice and into the net to knot the score at one a piece.  Burt and Vakos had assists on the play.

 

Dan Cusano just missed great feed from Mike Berezecky

Face Off with Hamden Faithful in Full Attendance

Zac Nolan stones Mike Berezecky

Anthony Avitable with Big Save on Fermi Forward

Hamden seemed to get back on track after the goal and Fermi seemed to get a little down and shortly thereafter took a penalty.  It was at the 5:38 mark and Hamden’s Power Play Unit which has been really clicking lately took to the ice.  The Hamden Fans, enthusiastic and much in number rose to their feet cheering on their team.

 

They stayed on their feet as the talented and speedy Mike Cherpak stole the puck from Hamden and came flying down on Avitable all alone.  It was one of the defining moments of the game as the Fermi Sniper came darting in on the State’s best goalie.  Deke, move, shot—SAVE!!!!!  The Hamden faithful went nuts.  Avitable had done it again.

 

Then not two minutes later Burt banged the puck from behind the net up the side boards to John Teulings who did his Dan Cusano imitation with a hard, high slap shot that Vakos somehow knocked out of the air on a beauty of a tip in goal.  Hamden up 2-1.  Teulings and Burt picked up assists on the play.

Anthony Avitable shaken up after save

Have I TOED you that I Love You?  Avits with remarkable save!

Flying Fermi Forward leaps over Avits

Finn Man does the Cha Cha Finn Man Style

 

Fermi did not get Ranked #5 in the State because it folds when it is down.  No way.  This team of talented players, led by goalie Zac Nolan, Matt Simons, Dan Kraucunas, Nick Dwyer, Kyle Dyer, Mike Cherpak, Tony Colca, Ryan Cuhne and their teammates came to play and came to win.  And it has a wealth of talent coming back next year in Rob Picard, Joe Rush and Chris Oski to just name a few.

 

So, Avitable wants to stone Cherpak on a break away?  Well, Mr. Nolan sure was up for the challenge.  Justin MacGregor came in all alone from the blue line after stealing the puck with just a little over four minutes to play in the First Period and the Fermi net minder rejected his shot as the Hamden faithful rose to their collective feet only to sit down on their collective butts after the great save by Nolan.

State Tournament Diplomacy Lessons--Class Full!

 

Justin MacGregor leads Matt Morgan and Dave Findley off the ice after Findley goal

Justin MacGregor robbed by Zac Nolan on Great Save

Jim Burt stopped by Zac Nolan

 

Hamden’s vaunted Short Handed Units then shut down the Fermi Power Play to end the First Period with a 2-1 lead.

 

Hamden came out flying in the Second Period and Co-Captain Mike Pierne, who along with line mates, Mike Berezecky and Scott Walsh, had another fine game, almost put it in the net during the first thirty seconds of the period.  Once again Nolan was there to stop the Hamden assault.  Hamden then picked up another penalty at the 1:36 mark and Avitable, as he has all year long, made one of those saves that pulled the groin of every man in that rink over thirty.

 

The kid had a Fermi forward all alone inside five feet.  Avits was on the right post as the winger made a great move and came across the front of the net ready to tuck one in the left side when the acrobatic Avitable darted out his left leg to make a toe save and smothered the left side of the net along with defense man John Teulings denying a rebound attempt.  “Unbelievable.  Just an unbelievable game,” repeated Veneris.  “They really created more quality chances than we did.”  And that was certainly one of them.

 

Fermi kept coming as the teams battled back and forth.  At the 5:37 mark they tied it up on a nice unassisted goal by Cherpak.  He had stolen the puck at the Hamden Blue Line and came in and fired one that just got through the five hole off of Avitable’s pads.  So, here we go 2-2 with less than six minutes to go in the Second Period.

All Universe Wink Team--Maggie, Bridget, & Becca

All Area Track Star Chris Fitzsimmons--Congrats!

All World Football Star Steve Teague with Principal and Pals

Abner O. & Bob C. enjoy the atmosphere

Nick gets crowd cheering

Teammates and Friends--Avits & Wheels

 

There are so many wonderful stories to be told this season for Hamden.   A number of them happened lat night.  And while others played a part, it was the magical Third Line’s night to shine.  So, let’s start with the first story line.

 

The Hamden Team got to the Rink last evening at 5:00 PM.  Coach had told the kids to be there at 5:30 but the players decided they would get there even earlier.  The kids thought they had heard the bus arrive so they sauntered out to the parking lot.  No bus.  So, they had time to kill.

 

And when boys ages 14 to 85 have time to kill, there is a tradition that gets handed down from generation to generation.  They started to jokingly give each other a hard time.  And one of the joys of this team is knowing that they all have pet names for each other.  For instance, Mr. Burt and Mr. MacGregor refer to each other as “Charlie” at times.  So, Charlie Burt told Charlie MacGregor to take out the garbage.

 

Charlie M. replied “What does that mean?”  And Charlie B. replied, “You know.  Take out the garbage.  Get us a garbage goal tonight.  Smack in a rebound.”  Just then the bus arrived and off they went to Ingalls.

 

At the 9:33 mark Paul Amarone, a freshman, Dave Findley, a senior, and Justin MacGregor, a sophomore took to the ice flying.  And Findley took a pass from the hard working Amarone and fired it on net.  Nolan, as usual made the save, but Charlie MacGregor was hanging by the doorstep and knocked in the rebound for the prettiest garbage goal Charlie Burt has ever seen. Findley and Amarone had assists on the goal.

 

 Hamden up 3-2 and the winning goal to boot.  Although, they sure didn’t know it at the time.

 

At the 10:08 mark Ryan Amarone’s heart started beating faster than it had all year.  Avitable had made another gorgeous save that he somehow makes look routine, but the senior Co-Captain got hurt.  The players on the ice huddled round him as the team trainer Jersey headed onto the ice.  The Hamden crowd was silent and restless as it watched Avitable hunched over in pain.  Amarone was seen taking oxygen and looking for Reverend Owen Sanderson in the crowd for a quick prayer vigil.

 

But before Jersey could get over the GW Bridge, Avits was back up and in the net ready to play.  Amarone’s color came back into his model, good looks face and Hamden kept up the pressure with fine skating and hard hitting.  CJ Carignan was flying all over the ice, Brandon Dadio, Steven Sorrentino, Dan Wheeler, and RJ Ugolik were all playing their games to perfection.

 

Then one of Hamden’s warmest stories of the year almost came to a crashing halt as hard skating senior forward Dave Findley took a hard check into the boards and skated off gingerly.  If you know the Finn Man, he doesn’t do anything gingerly unless he is hurt.  This fine player—who was destined for an All Area and All State Year—which by the way,  BurtsVille feels several of the Hamden Players deserve to be recognized on both those teams—had been out most of the year with injuries.  He came back a few games ago and has breathed new life into the team and has the freshest legs of any skater in the State.

 

Findley just doesn’t know the meaning of quit.  The kid not only came back for his next shift but at the fifty second mark of the Second Period he took a pass from senior Matt Morgan who had taken one from MacGregor and nailed a wrist shot into the net to give Hamden the 4-2 lead and an important cushion going into the Third Period.  Morgan and MacGregor had assists on the goal.

 

“That kids got guts,” said Paul Scott, longtime area youth sports coach.  “You just have to love him.  And you have to love this team.  They just never quit and they are truly a TEAM.”

 

Team Huddle Before the Game

Want another story line to put this Semi-Final Game in perspective?  How about you go to try-out for the sport you love on the team you love for the school you have dreamed to play for since you were a kid playing knee hockey on your kitchen floor?  How about you suffer two freak injuries a year to the day apart during try-outs that take away any chance you have of seeing any regular time?

 

How about you put your head down, work your tail off, and suck it up for your senior year as a role player and Captain of the Green Aces?  And how about you go out in the Semi Final Game of the State Championship at Ingalls’ Rink at Yale University in front of the biggest crowd you have ever played before and not only almost score a goal but get an assist on your fellow senior’s goal?

 

 I present you with the wonderful and resilient, Matt Morgan.  Matt along with Mark Fracasso, Eric Sullivan, Ryan Amarone, AJ Gemmel, Pat Lynch and Nick Castaldi continue to work hard in practice and make the most of their ice time for the Green Dragons.  They are as much a part of this wonderful team as its team leaders and have the love and respect of all their teammates and coaches.  And as BurtsVille has told this group before and it certainly happened last evening, how great is it to be ready and to deliver in the State Tournament like Mr. Morgan did last evening.  Stay ready boys.  Your day may come on Saturday to deliver the big play for the Green Dragons.

 

What a time for MacGregor, Morgan, Amarone, and Findley to have their best games of the year.  The offensive damn has been burst me boys.  You have piled through it in a majestic way.  Let the flood gates open and let all three lines and their defensive counterparts have the game of their lives Saturday against a very tough and talented Glastonbury squad.  Tell yourself you are going to have the best game you have ever played.  Tell yourself the next shift is going to be your best shift.  Don't let up.  Stay aggressive and confident for the entire game just like you did last night.  Go make Memories That Will Last A Lifetime!

 

Lock It In!  Lock It In!  Lock It In!  BurtsVille Believes!!!

 

 

 

 

The Hamden Team is coached by Bill Veneris, George Jerolman and Todd Hall.

 

(Please see the Photo Gallery Page for a ftp link to all the pictures taken at games by BurtsVille.  They are all up there within a week of the game and can be downloaded or printed at no charge.  These are pictures of players on both teams and may include some crowd shots.  If you don't see your game on this ftp site, please open the Pre-Season Folder on it as some regular season games were inadvertently put into that folder.  Enjoy!) 

 

March 17, 2009

 

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL!

 

Boys have a Ball tomorrow!  SKATE HARD AND HAVE FUN!!!

 

LOCK IT IN!!!!

 

BURTSVILLE BELIEVES!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

March 14, 2009

 

WHEELER--- AVITABLE--- CUSANO

TEULINGS ---UGOLIK--- DADIO

 

LEAD HAMDEN PAST XAVIER 3-1

Avits Stones Point Blank Shot

Teuls blocks shot--skates only in pix

Avits Makes Save on tough back handed shot

Cusano Clears out Forward

Cusano Clears out Puck

Dadio Clears Puck as Mike Samek gives it his all

 

VAKOS---PIERNE---BURT SCORE

 

 

The Hamden High Hockey Team advanced to the Semi-Finals of the State Tournament on the backs of their defense and goal tending.  Seniors Dan Wheeler and Dan Cusano along with senior net minder Anthony Avitable played inspired games.  Wheeler was omnipresent as the hard hitting defense man was everywhere on the ice clearing pucks, hitting Xavier forwards, clearing people from the net; and, oh by the way, setting up his buddy, Jim Burt with Hamden's third goal.  It was Wheelers best game of his career and BurtsVille's money's on this great kid and teammate to best it in the upcoming game.
 
Cusano simply controlled the puck under pressure and made every play he has had to for two big games in a row.  The lefty senior has had a knack for playing great in big games since his Little League days and this trend has carried over to Hamden's State Tourney run.  He played tough and smart in the defensive zone, he is patient and smart with the puck, and sets up his wingers with hard, crisp passes.

Dave Findley applies another crunching check

Zach Gosselin robs Scotty Walsh Tip In Attempt

Vakos--Wheeler--Burt--Avits--TEAMMATES!

Nick Malz lets go with Slap Shot Goal

PJ Vakos Acrobatic Goal--Both he and puck in Net

Nick Malz Rocket in Net

 
Avitable defies description.  If great players save their best for the big games, this senior Co-Captain has a couple of more beauties in him.  He was magnificent in denying a determined Xavier team on this sunny but brisk afternoon.  And brisk was the pace of this game from start to finish.  A Nick Malz rocket was the only thing keeping Avits from posting back to back shutouts in this year's State Tournament.
 
These three young men were joined by Junior Johnny Teulings who did everything.  Teuls fought down low, blocked shots with reckless abandon and with no regard for his body; and carried the puck out of the defensive zone making one great pass after another to put Hamden in a position to score.  Teulings is Hamden's best skating defense man and this skill was put into play many times yesterday to the benefit of his team. He was ably assisted by freshman Brandon Dadio who simply went out and had the best game of his young career.
 
Dadio played solid positionally and used his strong body to hit anything that moved.  The young man has steadily progressed this year and the best is yet to come.  He handles the puck well, has a strong shot which he got off a couple of times quickly and always manages to get the puck or the man wherever he is on the ice.
 
Hamden is blest with some outstanding sophomore players.  There was no one on the ice yesterday more visible than sophomore defense man RJ Ugolik.  The kid made plays against the boards when he knew he was going to get crunched, joined Wheeler as a force in front of the net, and joined Teulings with sacrificing his body to block shots and passes.  He is steady with the puck and just keeps on getting better.
 
Despite having to kill five penalties to one, the Hamden offense started the game skating fast and ended it the same way.  PJ Vakos was tripped early in the first period on a no call.  Unfortunately for Hamden, the feisty junior didn't take a number for later but retaliated right away and was whistled for a minor tripping penalty of his own.  Unfortunately for Xavier, all of this also occurred.
 
One could see steam coming out of the Penalty Box as Vakos sat impatiently thinking of revenge.  He shortly got it.  Freshman Paul Amarone, who continues to bust his butt every time this fine player is on the ice, hit Vakos with a gorgeous pass shortly after Vakos's penalty was over and the crafty Vakos put on a show.  Vakos did his Greek Gyro Move perfected in a game earlier in the year in West Haven.
 
You remember that move?  It was the Vakos Shuffle when he turned left and right through four players only to hit the post that Jim Burt buried on the rebound.  Not today.  Vakos was determined to score even if it seemed he had to carry himself and the puck into the net.
 
Vakos went by one defense man putting the puck through his legs as this daredevil went left around him on his way to goalie Zach Gosselin's net.  He took the shot about two feet out from Gosselin and somehow collided up and over him as the puck and Vakos ended up in the net.  Hamden up 1-0 at the 11:09 mark.
 
Vakos, CJ Carignan and Burt had a marvelous game.  The threesome almost scored on their first shift of the game with ticky tack passes between all three.  Once again Hamden has found itself with big time players stepping up in big time games.  Vakos clearly had his best game of a great season as this was shadowed by Burt who was a force all over the ice.  Carignan was flying as he and Burt make up the triumvirate of sensational sophomore talent along with Ugolik.
 
The game remained at one a piece at the end of the period.  Hamden got its only Power Play at the thirteen second mark of the Second Period.  Teulings hit Burt with a low wrist shot that the soft handed winger almost deflected into the net but for a Gosselin-gorgeous save.  The Power Play was working but the Xavier defense was up to the task along with their talented goalie.

 

Zach Gosselin, Xavier's goalie, is another of the fine goalies the State of Connecticut has been blest with this year.  He played Hamden tough early in the year and Coach Scott Gainey's team defense along with Gosselin in the net certainly rivals what Coach Bill Veneris has in Hamden.

 

"Xavier is a young team.  They have come a long way and look to be the team of the future," opinined Johnny Sides, East Coast Area Scout for the Vinyeard Vipers.  "They have come a long way with their new coach in a short period of time."
 
Hamden then took another penalty and it was then that Hamden's Penalty Killing Units went on display--again.  Burt and Vakos up front did what they have done all year long.  They killed the penalty with an aggressive style that has silenced others Power Plays for months. The dynamic duo have scored several short handed goals and almost created a couple of chances yesterday.  Mike Berezecky and Mike Pierne then took over with an assist from Scotty Walsh in denying the Xavier PP any room to move.

 

 Yet, as well as these two units killed penalties yesterday, one has to look no further than Wheeler, Teulings, Cusano and Ugolik for the plays they made yesterday short-handed.

 
This defensive core just jumped on every loose puck with the speed and determination of a mongoose versus a cobra.  They blocked shots, cleared pucks, made and accepted hits and just flat out protected Avitable as if he had no equipment on him.  And when a puck did get through--whether from thirty feet or three--Avits was up to the challenge.
 
"This was an outstanding game played by Hamden.  The Xavier kids came to play but Hamden was up to the task.  They played an epic game the other night against New Canaan. Today was more a workman-like effort.  It just seemed they knew they had a job to do and they did it," said Carefree Comets General Manager Ed Brachocki who is here scouting the teams in the State Tournament. 


UGOLIK-TEULINGS-WHEELER-BEREZECKY LEAD WAY TO VICTORY

 
Hamden made it 2-0 at the 5:58 mark of the Second Period.  The Grand-Pops Line made up of seniors Mike Berezecky, Scotty Walsh and Mike Pierne just keep on trucking.  These old geezers were flying yesterday.  Berezecky had some outstanding penalty kill shifts and goal scoring machines Walsh and Pierne just keep leading the team forward.
 
As it has since it was formed, all three of these great players joined in the fun on Co-Captain Pierne's netter.  It was created with some good old-fashioned hard work hockey.  These three and their defense men just would not let the puck get out of the offensive zone.  Every time Xavier went to clear it a Hamden player would stop it and keep it in the zone.
 
After what seemed like an eternity, Walsh and Berezecky got the puck to Pierne and the Co-Captain buried the puck behind the Xavier net minder with a hard wrist shot. This goal ended up being the winning goal of the game and Berezecky and Walsh had assists on the play.
 
Hamden then picked up a Too Many Men on the ice penalty that really was no one's fault.  The play was away from the Hamden bench and somehow the puck got sent into the cluster of Hamden players when it was inadvertently touched.  A good call but not a bad penalty.
 
Avitable simply went to work.  He made save after save.  Ugolik, Cusano, Berezecky, Pierne, Teulings and Cusano did what they have been doing all year long too.  They did whatever was necessary to kill the penalty.  And they did.
 
At the 9:18 mark Jim Burt stepped onto the ice and got a pass from his teammate Dan Wheeler.  Burt is another one of the Hamden players who has had a remarkable season that just keeps getting better.  The sophomore winger had his best all around game of the year topping it off with a bullet wrist shot that hit the Xavier net minder's stick and tickled the twines to give the Green Dragons a nice cushion at 3-0.  Wheeler had an assist on the goal.
 
His goal proved to be crucial as Xavier scored at the 11:10 mark of the second on a blistering slap shot by senior Nick Malz.  Malz, a fine skating winger,  came streaking down the left side of the ice as Avitable came out to greet him and cut down the angle.  The fast skating, talented Malz had nothing to shoot at and still somehow managed to explode a rocket of a slap shot into a tiny spot in the upper right hand corner.  It was a pro-lie shot that had the crowd behind the net buzzing as it ripped into the netting. This made it 3-1 heading into the third with Xavier on the Power Play.
 
Burt almost scored a short hander to start the third as he took the puck away from the goalie against the back boards and just missed putting it off the goalie's back and into the net.  Hamden had taken a penalty at the end of the Second Period and Xavier came out storming to start the third.  The young Middletown Team was flying all over the ice as the Randolph Road Gang was not here to watch Hamden cruise into the semi-finals.
 
Once again Wheeler, Ugolik, Dadio, Berezecky and everyone else on the ice did a wonderful job in killing off the penalty.  Avitable made several fine saves and the defense cleared the puck out time and time again.  Wheeler made a great block of shot at the 5:35 mark that was par for the course for the Captain of the HHS Golf Team.
 
Once again Hamden found itself down a man at the 6:38 mark and this time it was Cusano with the block, Ugolik with the clear and Wheeler and Berezecky simply controlling the puck to kill time. Teulings?  All this kid was doing was all of the above:  block a shot, clear the puck, and control the puck to kill time.

 

Avitable and Gosselin exhchanged great save after great save as both teams kept up the pressure.  It was a game both teams could be proud of and spoke volumes of the talent--especially the young talent--out on the ice for both teams.  "Wow. You had two fine teams competing out there today.  And I'd say that the fans got to see some of the best young talent the State of Connecticut has to offer.  It's gonna be fun watching those kids on each team compete against each other the next few years," offered Bob Hall father of Hamden's assistant coach and former Hartford Wolf Pack Star, Todd Hall.
 
Steven Sorrentino also had a fine game on defense as did Justin MacGregor on offense. Matt Morgan once again proved valuable as the Captain of the Green Aces busted his butt when called upon by the coaching staff.  Amarone had another fine game up front and his pass to Vakos is what got the team going in the first period.

 

LOCK IT IN!!!

 

Dave Findley keeps astounding everyone.  The high energy senior has breathed new life into the entire team and especially his line mates.  He almost had his first goal since returning after being out for two months.  He looks like he is getting his game legs and wind back which can only be a further boost to the Hamden squad.  Keep it up Finn-Man!

 

Thank you for a wonderful birthday present boys.  Stay focused.  Stay confident. Stay aggressive.  Play hard. Don't underestimate anyone.  Play your game.  Leave it all on the ice.  Make your next game your best game.  Make your next shift your best shift.  Focus only on what you need to do on Wednesday against a very tough, talented Fermi Team.

 

Have Fun!  Play Hard!

 

BurtsVille Believes!!!
 

February 23, 2009

 

BURTSVILLE VISITS QUINNIPIAC WOMAN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

 

Coach Helen Ridley

Three Point Sweetness

You want to know what the best buy for your entertainment dollar is in Hamden?  Try a Woman's Basketball game at Quinnipiac University.  BurtsVille visited the female BobCats last night with members of his Sports Law Class and was treated to a special evening.

 

Class plus Christopher meet the Asst. Coaches

Coach Tom follows Coach Kara

Coach Helen follows Coach Tom

Coach Tricia follows Coaches Helen, Tom & Kara


Hosted by Team Manager Kara Walsh, the Class visited before the game with Assistant Coaches Tom Blake, Kara Cassidy and Helen Ridley.  These three fine individuals gave of their time to help the students understand better the workings of the team on the court and off the court.  It was an interesting evening for the students and was greatly appreciated by one and all.

 

LADY BOBCATS ROCK THE TDBANKNORTH CENTER

I LIKED MY SHOT

I LIKED MY SHOT BETTER

YEAH, I'M LOOKING AT YOU!

AND SO AM I!

 

Then on to the game itself.  The lady Bobcats are a multi-talented team playing in the finest facility in America.  Hard to fully appreciate that at times but there is not an athletic facility in any college or university in these United States that compares with the Quinnipiac University TDBankNorth Athletic Complex.  No where.  No how.

 

SUPREME VOICES--BILL & BILL

SUPREME COMPETITOR-SARAH M.

SUPREME SPORTS LAW STUDENT LAUGHERS-ANGELA & KARA

SUPREME SPORTS LAW STUDENT WAVERS-LINDSAY & KELLY

 

The team was playing the ladies from Fairleigh Dickinson University last night.  Both teams headed into the game tied for fifth place in their Conference.  Coach Tricia Fabbri's squad put on quite a show for the fans in winning the game 74-53.  Mandy Pennewell scored 22 points. She hit more three pointers (5) than color commentator and soon to be inducted Quinnipiac Hall of Famer Bill Mecca has hairs on his head.

CHEERLEADERS MATCH MCGOWAN CAST

iS THAT BOOMER OR ONE OF PROF. JILL MARTIN'S STUDENTS?

SCORER'S TABLE GETS CHEERS OF THEIR OWN

LESSON PLANNERS GO EVERYWHERE AT QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY

 

Pennewell was ably assisted by teammates Kathleen Neyens who had an all around fine game scoring 12 points, dishing out 5 assists and snaring 9 rebounds.  Erin Kerner had 16 points and a season high 7 assists.  Brianna Rooney added 12 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds in another outstanding performance by this incredibly gifted athlete.  The team defense was incredible shutting down the vaunted FDU offense in the second half of the game.


BOBCATS DO IT ALL IN SHUTTING DOWN FDU IN SECOND HALF 

The team now stands with a Northeast Conference record of 9-7 and is 16-10 overall.  "I love watching this Woman's Team play," said sports junkie and season ticket holder Terry Loukidies.  "And you know that kid on crutches?" he said referring to injured Sarah McGowan.  " I saw that kid go down with a badly injured knee and she was so tough she got up and chased down the girl with the ball before collapsing again on the Court.  What a competitor!"

 

BurtsVille would like to thank Coach Blake, Coach Cassidy and Coach Ridley for talking to our class before the game and thank Coach Fabbri for allowing us to visit with her assistants.  BurtsVille has put up papers done by the Sports Law Students which can be read on the Links Page of BurtsVille.  Also, all the pictures taken at this game have been put up on the BurtsVille FTP site which can be found on the Photo Gallery Page.  Anyone wishing to view, download or print a picture can do so free of charge.

 

BURTSVILLE'S BOBCATS ARE #1 TO THIS MAN

Next time you are looking for something to do treat yourself by taking in one of the Women's Basketball Games at Quinnipiac University and come cheer on the BobCat Women!!!

 

February 22, 2009

 

SLUGGISH DRAGONS SLAIN BY WEST HAVEN 6-2

 

RYAN AMARONE HITS VARSITY ICE FOR FIRST TIME

CASTALDI PLAYS TOUGH ON D IN FINAL MINUTES

MIKE PIERNE NETS TWO FOR HAMDEN

 

Ryan Amarone makes first Varsity Save

 

The Hamden Green Dragons spent their vacation week hard at practice and it showed Saturday as a sluggish squad lost to the West Haven Blue Devils 6-2.  The hard week at practice should pay dividends for the Hamden squad as the team prepares for its last two regular season games before the State Tournament in March.  The players have been given Monday off and the engines at this time of the year for every team are a little worn down.  A rest on Monday will find the team revitalized and ready to go as the Green Dragons finish off what has been a wonderful season to date.

 

Eric Sullivan Clears Puck

Matt Morgan Digs Towards Net

Mike Pierne Shot and Goal

Nick Castaldi and Pat Lynch Help Ryan Amarone


The squad was led offensively by two Mike Pierne goals.  The co-captain scored on two roof top specials assisted on one by Brandon Dadio and Scott Walsh.  Anthony Avitable played well in net before yielding to Ryan Amarone who saw his first varsity action.

"Ryan is a tremendously gifted athlete," said Terry Loukidies his former Babe Ruth Baseball coach.  " I know it was a tough spot to put him in but hey the kid got his first taste of varsity action and made some nice saves in the time he had. I couldn't be happier for him. This will only serve him well if needed later this season and certainly will help him for next year."

Nick Castaldi Defends in Front of Ryan Amarone

Mark Fracasso and Eric Sullivan Clear Puck

Ryan Amarone Escorts Uninvited Guest out of Crease

Ryan Amarone Makes Another Save

 

Eric Sullivan and Nick Castaldi along with Pat Lynch hit the ice also for Hamden.  They each played well during the last few minutes of the game.  It can be frustrating not getting much playing time, but this team has had each player accept their respective roles and that is what makes up a team.  Saturday in many ways reminded one of the second game on the same day in Maine.  Remember what happened after that game?  The team responded in a fashion that has led them to the Number One Ranking in the state (a ranking that will probably disappear this week) and with a legitimate shot at the State Championship.

 

BurtsVille is confident that the team will respond, get revitalized with their rest on Monday and come out charging into the final two games of the season.  BurtsVille sees the team going all the way this year and with the spirit, character and talent on this team there is no reason for any of the kids or coaches to think differently. 

 

By the way, is there a surprise coming for Hamden this week?  Stay tuned.

 

 

February 19, 2009

 

BEREZECKY NETS TWO FOR GREEN DRAGONS

 WEBER BAGS TWO FOR CONARD

 

HAMDEN WINS 4-3 ON CUSANO LAST SECOND GOAL

DEFENSE MAN HAS THREE POINT NIGHT IN THRILLER

 

 

HAMDEN CELEBRATES WINNING GOAL WITH ONE SECOND LEFT IN GAME

 

Dan Cusano let go with a prayer last night from center ice that somehow found the back of the net ending a great game as Hamden beat Conard 4-3.  Mike Berezecky had two goals and Mike Pierne netted one as the Number One team beat a determined Conard squad.

 

WATER BOTTLE IN AIR                                                                                      

            

 

 

 

                     PUCK IN NET

 

Conard rode the goal tending of Alston Benn and outstanding play by Captains JT Weber and Sam Holl to almost upset the Green Dragons at Veteran’s Ice Arena in West Hartford.  Weber, going next year to Providence College on a lacrosse scholarship, showed why he is considered one of the top forwards in the state.

 

The fine skating senior put the home team on top in the first period at the 9:47 mark.  He came in on Hamden goalie, Anthony Avitable, and scored on a wrist shot from the lower left slot.  He was assisted on this goal by Holl and Stephen Dandurand.  This goal followed an unworldly save by Benn on CJ Carignan who all but had his hands raised celebrating a goal.

 

Benn had made two fine saves on Pierne and Scott Walsh down low to his right.  The rebound came out to his left as Carignan gathered it on his stick.  Benn was down and out when Carignan shot the puck towards the net just three feet away.  Benn somehow thrust his glove over to this left and snared the puck out of mid-air for the save of the year.  Carignan skated away not with his hands held high but with them both securely planted on his head in disbelief.

 

BIG BENN GIVES CARIGNAN HEADACHE ON GREAT SAVE 

 

Carignan has been playing with PJ Vakos and Jim Burt but was moved up as the team dealt with some absent players.  Burt moved to center with Vakos and Berezecky ; and Matt Morgan and Mark Fracasso played wing on Paul Amarones’ line.  Eric Sullivan saw some ice time on defense as John Teulings was out with an injury.

 

Berezecky was flying all night and capitalized early on a fine feed from Vakos. He beat Benn with a low, five hole wrist shot from the top of the right circle. He knotted the score at one each at the 8:50 mark.  Vakos and Cusano picked up assists on the play.

 

 

 

BIG BENN STOPS MIKE B.

BIG BENN STOPS MIKE P.

Hamden was dominating the territorial edge but Benn and his mates would not give up.  Weber and Company had a few chances that Avitable turned away and Dan Wheeler, Steven Sorrentino and RJ Ugolik were playing tough on defense.  Brandon Dadio, Cusano and Sullivan were also playing well on defense.

 

At the 2:35 mark Berezecky stole the puck on a fore check and fired a wrist shot that beat the Conard goalie and gave Hamden a 2-1  lead heading into the second period. 

 

                                                                                                           

MARK FRACASSO

STEVEN SORRENTINO

ANTHONY AVITABLE

 

Hamden came out in the second and scored at the 5:05 mark after storming the Conard net.  Mike Pierne netted the goal on fine assists by Burt and Cusano.  This put Hamden up 3-1 and the host team was teetering on the brink or disaster but their Captains had something else in mind for the evening’s festivities.

 

Sam Holl took a pass from Weber down low in the Hamden zone after the two of them and John Stanton successfully fore checked Hamden off the puck.  Holl came screaming at Avitable from off the right boards and roof topped a beauty of a goal at the 3:34 mark that made the score 3-2 and brought the home town fans out of their seats.  Game on!

 

                                                    

          JT WEBER ON THE MOVE

                CONARD TEAM

  CAPT. WEBER FACE OFF

 

The two teams entered the third period with the visitors in the lead 3-2.  Both teams went up and down the ice as Avitable and Benn were putting on a show in their respective nets.  There was a little less than nine minutes to play when Weber (who has the good sense to be dating a young woman whose mom hails from Hamden) grabbed the puck in his own end and out-skated the Hamden team for a one on one meeting with Avitable.  (See the Photo Gallery Page for a site to gain access to every picture BurtsVille took at this game.)

 

Tonight Weber was not to be denied.  He swooped in and fired the puck into the twines to tie the score 3-3 at the 6:30 mark.  The crowd went crazy and his teammates mobbed this highly skilled athlete.  The Conard squad, who last year had lost a lead at Hamden and was beaten on a shot from center ice with one and one half ticks left on the clock, had come back to tie the Green Dragons and were playing to beat the perennially state power house.

 

“For these two teams this late in a long season to play at this level at this hour of the night on a week night is incredible,” beamed birthday boy, Bob Ugolik.  “I mean really.  These two teams are outstanding and each and every one of them in my mind are great!  And that Weber kid for Conard....well, that kid is something special."

 

 

HAMDEN AND  CONARD BEAUTIES 

         FINDLEY'S FINEST

    CONARD BEAUTIES

 

The teams battled back and forth.  Holl was robbed by Avitable.  Weber had another shot at the winner.  The Conard team kept coming as did Hamden.  Ugolik let go with a slap shot.  Scott Walsh almost tipped one in on a Wheeler blast.  Pierne, Vakos and Burt almost scored and Carignan let go with a high slot hummer that never made it through the bodies to the net.  Time was winding down and overtime was looming.

 

Cusano gathered the puck near the Conard bench with three seconds to play and heard Assistant Coach George Jerolman scream, “Shoot Cousy” and shoot he did.  Not again said the Conard fans.  It can’t be.  Is this the film Ground Hog Day? You've got to be kidding me!

 

PAT MACGREGOR LAST SECOND WINNING SHOT FEBRUARY 2008

 

Cusano’s slap shot rode through the air on a jet stream and went up and over the Conard goalie’s left shoulder and into the top left side of the net.  There was one second left on the clock.  Hamden 4  Conard 3.  The Hamden players raised their hands and sticks in disbelief.  The Conard team collapsed to the ice in total disbelief.  It was an unassisted, last second, game winning goal for Hamden---two years in a row!


 

COACH TODD HALL WITH KIDS ON THE BENCH

 

It was a great game to watch.  Conard played extremely well and the Hamden team played determined with its undermanned squad.  No game has been easy since the Green Dragons became the Number One team in the State and the final games of the season will prove to be no different.

 

                   PAT LYNCH AND MATES

                       KELSEY & PAL


"Hamden is going all the way this year," exclaimed Johnny Sides.  "I said it.  This team has something special you can't teach on a chalk board.  They have talent.  They have character.  And they plain out never give up.  It's been a real team effort since the start of the year and it's got nothing but better," emphaiszed the Cape Cod Coast League Super Scout.  "And I'll tell you what.  This team still hasn't had the offensive explosion that they have had bottled up.  They are coming.  Watch out.  Berezecky with two tonight.  Pierne, Walsh, and that line of Carignan, Burt, and Vakos have been producing all year and yet I firmly believe they have more to give.  And you mark my words, Amarone and MacGregor and Morgan and Fracasso are soon to follow.  This team is gonna do it.  I can feel it and I believe the kids and the coaching staff can too."

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 18,2009

 

BurtsVille would like to congratulate CJ Carignan and Savanna Reilly for being named Stars of the Week by the New Haven Register.  We would also like to congratulate Mike Pierne, Jim Burt, PJ Vakos and Scott Walsh for being in the Top Thirty Area Scorers.


ROBERT "THE GLASS MAN TO CASH MAN" UGOLIK

 

 

BURTSVILLE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WISH A SPECIAL HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MR. ROBERT UGOLIK.  THE MAN WHO DOES SO MUCH FOR HAMDEN HOCKEY AND OTHERS WITHOUT LOOKING FOR ANY RECOGNITION.  THANK YOU BOB FROM BURTSVILLE AND HAPPY 43RD BIRTHDAY!!!!

 

 

 

 

February 15, 2009

 

 

 

AVITABLE, CARIGNAN, BURT LEAD HAMDEN OVER SOUTH WINDSOR 2-1

RAMO STARS IN NET FOR BOBCATS WITH 38 SAVES

PIERNE, AMARONE, MACGREGOR,  TEULINGS AND CO. PLAY WELL FOR DRAGONS

DUGGAN NETS BEAUTY FOR HOST TEAM

 

 

The Hamden High School Green Dragons used a great effort by Anthony Avitable and goals by Jim Burt and CJ Carignan to beat a tough South Windsor team 2-1 last night in South Windsor.  There is no better place to spend a Valentine’s Date with your honey than the beautiful confines of the Golden Palace Ice Arena in South Windsor.  Why they even replaced one pane of glass behind the net so BurtsVille’s pictures would come out clean.

 

BRANDON DADIO CARRIES PUCK OUT OF HARM'S WAY

STEVEN SORRENTINO KEEPS EYE ON THINGS

 

The game belonged to both goalies as Avitable and South Windsor’s Lauri Ramo weren’t saying yes on this romantic holiday.  Avitable made 17 saves on 18 shots.  He was beat on a great goal by smooth skating South Windsor’s Eddie Duggan less than a minute into the second period.  Hamden had been peppering the big Ramo with shot after shot.  The nifty junior rejected Mike Pierne so many times that the poor Co-Captain of the Hamden team was reportedly having rejection anxiety counseling immediately following the game.

 

                             AVITS MAKES TEXT BOOK BLOCKER SAVE

                             RJ UGOLIK HELPS OUT ANTHONY AVITABLE

 

The first three shifts of the game the Green Dragons were pouring it on but the Bobcats refused to fold.  Some fine play in the defensive zone by the entire Bobcats team held the Number One ranked visitors off the board.  The youthful hosts led by Kyle Benson, Brett Buccigross, Sean Herlihy, Robert Hart, Kyle Foley, Dan Wegrzyn, Shaun Brault, Gavin Grigorian and Ramo were just plain solid in their own end.

 

                        PRESENT SOUTH WINDSOR STARS

                          FUTURE SOUTH WINDSOR STARS

 

Pierne was stopped down low.  Scott Walsh fed Pat McGovern for a shot from the slot.  Burt fed PJ Vakos who was robbed.  Carignan fired a bullet that was somehow stopped.  Burt ripped a low wrister that Ramo discarded with disdain.  Paul Amarone, who was flying all night with his line mates, Mike Berezecky and Justin MacGregor, was robbed so many times by Ramo body parts that the kid thought he was shooting at some freaky, larger than life Spider.

 

Amarone, MacGregor and Brezecky are on the verge of breaking out big time.  This line has been jelling and flying over the past several games and with the addition of senior Matt Morgan in spelling different line mates BurtsVille predicts a scoring explosion before long for these hard working players.  But Ramo and his South Windsor teammates would have none of that last evening.

 

BEREZECKY SHOOTS                                                          AMARONE AT READY AS UGOLIK FIRES                              MACGREGOR HITS AMARONE WITH PASS

 

Someone forgot to tell the Bobcats they weren’t suppose to be in the game. The young squad with just three wins on the season sure looked solid in all phases of the game. Avitable had made some nice saves as Hart, Duggan, Conor Stanley and company applied some pressure on the talented Hamden goal keeper.  It was at the end of the first period when the smooth skating Duggan got called for a penalty.  This was shortly after an apparent South Windsor goal was disallowed as the post had come off the peg in the Hamden net.

 

 

Hamden was applying pressure that Ramo was handling when the penalty expired and the fleet footed Duggan came storming out of the penalty box to receive a beauty of a pass from Stanley. He was all alone behind the Hamden defense as the crowd rose to its feet. Duggan came in on Avitable and snapped a hard shot to the left of the Hamden net minder to send the home team fans into an explosion of cheers.  Bobcats up 1-0.

 

                RAMO THE REJECTOR STOPS PAT MCGOVERN IN  TIGHT

                      DAN CUSANO ON THE FORECHECK

 

(The cheers heard after the goal brought one back to the beginning of the game when BurtsVille and those in attendance were graced by the lovely sounds of South Windsor’s Malleri Acevedo singing The National Anthem.  This young beauty is one of the three lovely managers for the Boys Ice Hockey team along with cousins, Paige O’Brien and Kaitlyn Foley.  Ms. Acevedo was greeted with well deserved applause from the crowd after listening to her silky smooth voice.)

 

PAIGE O'BRIEN, MALLERI "THE VOICE" ACEVEDO, & KAITLYN FOLEY                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                  EDDIE DUGGAN GOAL

 

 

Duggan was mobbed by his teammates and the Hamden team’s frustration with Brother Ramo and his Rejection Theme on this lover’s holiday was making the Hamden players feel as if they had all been left at the altar.  Hamden would pound away at Ramo and the South Windsor defense. It wasn’t as if Hamden was playing poorly.  They were peppering the Bobcats goalie but it seemed like the only thing they were going to get in the net was a stray South Windsor defense man’s glove.  


 

LAURI "THE REJECTOR" RAMO ROBS MIKE PIERNE--AGAIN & AGAIN

 

Pierne was robbed again.  Walsh was robbed.  Burt, McGovern certain goals stolen from them by the junior net minder for South Windsor.  Somebody call the Police this kid in net was getting away with highway robbery.  The Hamden Coaches estimated after the game that the team had more than twenty shots in the second period alone.  Coach Bill Veneris sat slumped in the Coaches Room after the game shaking his head at Ramo’s performance saying, “What did we have 74 shots on net tonight?”  The South Windsor goalie and his mates would bend but not break.

 

The Bobcats offense would make a rush into the Hamden offensive zone.  The rushes weren’t many in number but they were quality chances.  Dan Wheeler, RJ Ugolik, John Teulings, Brandon Dadio, Steven Sorrentino and Dan Cusano tried to keep them at bay.  And Avitable was back to his normal self making great saves when the team needed them most.

 

                  KEVIN AUCOIN MOVES THE PUCK

              JOHN TEULINGS FIRES AS SCOTT WALSH PRAYS FOR TIP

At the 8:24 mark of the second sophomores Jim Burt and CJ Carignan teamed up to get Hamden back in the game.   Burt had been flying all game as had Carignan and the big righty let go with an innocent looking shot towards the net after receiving a pass from Carignan.  Burt’s shot just snuck between the right arm and body of Ramo to knot the score at 1-1.  Carignan and Teulings had assists on the play which was started with a great break out pass through traffic by Teulings.

 

The goal got the Hamden team fired up.  Amarone, MacGregor and Berezecky were storming the net on the next shift.  Matt Morgan joined the parade and the hard-nosed senior almost netted two on the same shift.  The second period ended with both teams tied 1-1 and the crowd abuzz at what awaited them in the third.

 

                    HAMDEN VALENTINE'S DAY BABES

           SOUTH WINDSOR VALENTINE'S DAY BABES, FUTURE STARS & FAMILY

 

 

“There is something special about this Hamden team,” said Cape Cod Cutters General Manager Johnny Sides.  “You just get the feeling watching them that this is going to be a special year.  They play solid defense, have a great goal tender and their offense is the really jelling.  But what I like most about them is they play as a team.  They simply don’t panic and they rebound well from adversity.  You could see that in them the way they played in Maine.  They suffered two tough losses in one day and then came back for a huge win.  They’ve just played with poise and a quiet confidence all year long.”

 

Hamden started the third period out with a defensive breakdown similar to one that happened late in the second.  Avitable was on his game when it counted most and the senior Co-Captain came through for his team with three big saves at the start of the final stanza.  Wheeler and Ugolik then came up with back to back hustle plays blocking shots deep in their own zone with ten minutes left in the game.

 

                     DAN WHEELER CLEARS PUCK FOR HAMDEN   

                                      PJ VAKOS ON THE MOVE

 

The line of Vakos, Carignan and Burt kept up the pressure on the Bobcats and Ramo.  All of Hamden’s three lines were clicking on the night banging away and never stopping despite the heroic efforts of Ramo and his team defense which was also aided by the fine play of Tommy Pease, Tyler Glassman, Justin Gionfriddo, and company.  The South Windsor team has only five seniors on the squad so watch out for a big turn around next year for this fine coached team.  South Windsor is coached by Neil Rodman, Dave Humiston and Jason Grosso.

 

 

Burt won a face off down deep in the Bobcats zone and Carignan got the puck and rifled an odd angled roof top special at the 6:33 mark to put Hamden up 2-1.  Carignan started the season slowly but has really picked it up the past few games.  He, Burt and Vakos have scored a combined twenty-nine points (Carignan 4G, 3A; Vakos 2G, 8A; Burt 5G, 7A) in their last seven games.

 

BURT FORECHECKS & CARIGNAN SCORES GAME WINNER 

 

 

Pierne could have had five goals on the night if it weren’t for Ramo.  “The kid played great.  We have seen some fine goal tenders and some great team defense this year,” said former Hamden star defense man Michael Sanca, “but this kid in net for South Windsor and his teammates should really be proud of themselves.  They played a great game tonight.”

 

Hamden plays one of the toughest schedules in the state.  Its next game is away against Conard in West Hartford Tuesday evening at 8:00 P.M., then West Haven the 21st before ending the season against Fairfield Prep and ND of West Haven which are both home games.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEBRUARY 12, 2009

 

SIMSBURY KNOCKS OFF HAMDEN 3-2

 

SWEET VICTORY FOR SIMSBURY

 

 

BEREZECKY SHOOTS AS MEYERSON MAKES GREAT SAVE                                              

BRAD M.  SAYS NO AGAIN TO MIKE B. AS GLOVE STOPS REBOUND SHOT

 

 

 

The Hamden High School Boys Hockey Team came up short Saturday Night against a talented and determined Simsbury squad.  Simsbury used an early goal by Sean Reynolds to jump out to a 1-0 lead not two minutes into the contest.  The goal was assisted by Nick Aubin.

 

MIKE PIERNE GOAL AND SCOTT WALSH GOAL

 

Hamden came back to take the lead in the second period on goals by Scott Walsh and Mike Pierne.  Walsh's goal was set up on a nice pass from Pierne and tied the score less than a minute into the second period.  Pat McGovern also had an assist on Walsh's team leading nineth goal of the year.

 

PAT MCGOVERN PASS

 

McGovern then took a pass from Steven Sorrentino with less than a minute left in the period, rushed it into the offensive zone, twirled and hit Pierne with a back handed pass of beauty.  Pierne came in alone on goalie Brad Meyerson and scored to put the Green Dragons up 2-1 entering the third.

 

HAMDEN FANS

FUTURE SIMSBURY STARS

SIMSBURY FANS

 

Myerson was stingy on the night denying several Hamden players with one fine save after another.  And the defense around the net did not play gracious hosts to their down state visitors as more than one Hamden forward found a one way ticket to the ice when camped out by Brother Meyerson's crease.

 

SIMSBURY DEFENSE SUPPORTS BRILLIANT BRAD IN NET 

DIVING LESSONS

ETIQUETTE LESSONS

CLEARING LESSONS

 

Grant Zyskowski, one of the best forwards in the state, decided to put on an offensive show for the home town fans with about nine minutes to go in the game.  He caught Hamden's defense pinching and sent forward Paul Gallagher on his way to a tying goal at the 5:17 mark of the period.

 

Then with just three minutes to play a Hamden defense man got caught up ice again and Zyskowski took fine feeds from Taylor Jette and Kyle Decker to put the home team up for good 3-2. 

 

DAN WHEELER SLAP SHOT

GROUP THERAPY AT END OF GAME

MATT MORGAN ON THE FORECHECK

 

It was a hard fought win for the Simsbury squad and a disappointing loss for Hamden which had just come off a big win against Fairfield Prep.  Hamden next plays at South Windsor this Saturday Evening at 5:00 P.M.

 

 

 

February 11, 2009

 

BurtsVille would like to congratulate CJ Carignan and Shannon Callan and Ned Morley on being named Stars of the Week by the New Haven Register.   We would also like to congratulate Kaity Smith on being named Goalie of the Week.

 

We'd also like to congratulate both the Girl's and Boy's Hockey Teams.  The Girls are first in their league and can win the #1 Spot in their league for the regular season with a win tonight versus Guilford.

 

The Boys are ranked #1 in the State this week by the New Haven Register for the first time this season.

 

BurtsVille would also like to acknowledge and congratulate four players who are ranked in the Top Twenty of the Area's Boy's Scoring Leaders by the New Haven Register.  Mike Pierne is rated as #7 (8G, 13 A), PJ Vakos (5G, 12A) and Jim Burt (8G, 9A) are rated as # 13, and Scott Walsh (10G, 5A) is rated at #20.

 

BurtsVille will say it again.  If votes were cast today, these players along with goalie Anthony Avitable and defensemen John Teulings, Dan Wheeler, RJ Ugolik, Dan Cusano and Steven Sorrentino deserve much attention for post season honors on the All Area and All State Team Selections.

 

 

February 7, 2009

 

HAMDEN GIRLS BEAT SIMSBURY 5-3

 

CALLAN TIPS HAT AS SHAMROCK LINE ROCKS


SMITH BRILLIANT IN NET

DEFENSE PLAYS STRONG

GIULETTI STOCKWELL SCORE FOR DRAGONS

WERLE GIRLS PIORUN MATSON SHINE FOR SIMSBURY

MELANANSON INCREDIBLE IN NET

 

 

SHANNON CALLAN CELEBRATES ONE OF HER THREE GOALS

 

The Hamden High School Girl's Hockey Team had a classic battle Saturday against a tough Simsbury foe.  The Green Dragons used a staunch defense and excellent goal tending early in the game as the visitors came off their bus storming the Hamden net minder, Kaity Smith.

 

Then Jenna Giuletti scored at the 4:39 mark that opened the flood gates as the Hamden team poured in three unanswered goals and the ice surface seemed to shift from one side to the other.

 

 

                                                                                                                    

 Hamden Coaches                                                                                              Coach Jack & His Girls                                   Coach Val & Simsbury Coaches

 

"The strong defense we played early kept us in the game," said Head Coach Val Chamberlain.  "They are a talented team and came at us right away.  Kaity was strong in net and Amanda DelCervo, LeeAnn Esposito, Britne Sargolini and Emily Orser along with the rest of the defense played solid."

 

Colleen Murphy has power lunch of cheese fries, carries sticks and Emily Orser Defends 

Giuletti's goal was set up on some fine work down low by Lyndsay Stockwell.  The hard skating Stockwell got the fleet skating Giuletti the puck and her odd angled shot somehow found the net.  Stockwell got an assist on the play.

 

Ed Donahue's  favorite line then got going.  The affable grand father of the ever hustling Jenny Morgan has dubbed her line with the three Irish lasses, "The Shamrock Line" and rock they did.  Shannon Callan got an unassisted goal at the 7:43 mark.  The smooth skating Callan stole the puck at the top of the circle and let go with a hard wrist shot that put Hamden up 2-0.  Callan centers a line with Colleen Murphy on one wing and Morgan on the other.  It doesn't get more Irish than that.

 

Jenny Morgan's Proud Grandmother and siblings and Emily Orser's proud Grand Parents watch Jenny fire one on net

 

These three hard charging gals were all over the ice on Saturday.  Less than a minute after Callan's first goal Morgan fought hard on the boards below the net to feed the silky smooth Callan a pass that she rammed home to give the Green Dragons a 3-0 lead and led to a goal tending change for Simsbury.  Morgan had an assist on the goal.

 

Simsbury got back on track and at the 12:05 mark Kristen Piorun scored a beauty to make it a 3-1 game.  She was assisted by Jess Matson and Meaghan Werle one of the two brilliant Werle sisters on the up state squad.

 

 

 


                                 FOUR  HAMDEN BEAUTIES
                           LOTS OF SIMSBURY BEAUTIES
                           THE OTHER WERLE BEAUTIES

 

 

 

The second period started with both teams playing strong.  Savanna Reilly, the smooth skating freshman forward for Hamden was having another strong game as she was creating opportunities for herself and her line mates.  Murphy was up and down the ice creating havoc, but the Simsbury team led by goalie Molly Melanson had settled down and the Simsbury offense was applying pressure to the Hamden squad.

 

Jenna Giuletti shoots and scores as Shannon Callan get two of her three goals 

The pressure paid off as Jess Werle scored an unassisted goal on a rocket slap shot at the 6:30 mark to make it a 3-2 game.  Six minutes later Jess Matson got her second point of the night with a nice unassisted goal of her own.  The game was all knotted at the 12:06 mark and the crowd was a buzz.

 

"This was just an epic battle between two of the best teams in the state," said Hamden's Assistant Coach Joe Weber.    The team's came into the game with Hamden sporting a 10-2-1 overall record and an 8-1-1 league record.  Simsbury was 10-5 overall and 9-1 in the league.  Both teams will have legitimate shots at the State Championship and along with Guilford are the cream of Girl's Ice Hockey in the state.

 

Melanson makes more incredible saves and Werle Slaps one home

 

While Delcervo, Sargolini, Esposito,Orser and Company were playing solid defense for Hamden, the Simsbury girls were equaling their Hamden sisters.  Smith and Melanson were making those in attendance forget the name of the Hamden Boy's goalie reputed to be the best in the state.  Believe me, you take Smith, Melanson, Rosie Gluck from West Hartford and put them in a shoot out with Anthony Avitable, Brad Myerson (Simsbury boy's goalie who took out the Hamden Boys Saturday night in a brilliant performance 3-2) and RJ Negri from Lyman Hall and it's a toss up.  They are all top goalies and each team can make a case for their goalie being the best in Connecticut.

 

 Smith makes unbelievable saves and defense stands strong

Lyndsay Stockwell  got a beautiful pass from LeeAnn Esposito and made a slick right to left  move on Melanson to put Hamden up 4-3 at the 13:41 mark of the second period.  Stockwell's play this year has been outstanding.  This goal proved to be the game winner but not before more drama than "Desparate Housewives" has to offer unfolded over the rest of the game.

 

These two giants among Girl's High School Hockey in the state had given the fans a great show for two periods.  John Brandi came out and cleaned the ice with the Zamboni after the second period. The Final Act of this Three Part Play was about to finish this Show as if a hit Broadway production had ended with a Standing Ovation.  It is hard to believe these athletes had more thrills to give those lucky enough to be at the Hamden Rink. Yet, led by the "Girls in Net" each team had more to offer its' paying customers.(All of the pictures BurtsVille took of this game will be uploaded to www.burtsville.com/pix/burtlaw/ by the end of this week.  You can view, download or print any of them courtesy of BurtsVille.  Enjoy!)

 

If Smith and Melanson and the team's defenses had been brilliant in the first two periods, there are no words to describe what they did in the third.  The fans needed CPR and the coaches needed a defibrillator watching these two goalies make one INDESCRIBABLE save after another.  At one point Smith had her entire defense and most of the Simsbury offense within two feet of her as she swatted away shots.  One of the Simsbury Captains just looked to the heavens in wonder and disappointment after Smith had made another unworldly save on her.

 

Melanson?  All she did, along with some help from her fine defense, was to stone Reilly in deep on back to back short handed breakaways that kept her squad in the game.  Reilly was incredible as this talented freshman almost put the game away with a short handed goal.  Twice on the same shift!

 

One was somehow stopped by a Melanson save that fans are still trying to decipher.  Reilly had used her quickness to steal the puck, made some nice moves around a defender and came in alone on the Simsbury net minder.  Ms. Melanson said "No Thank You" as she turned the Hamden frosh away with a save so fast and incredible the BurtsVille lens almost didn't capture it.

 

Reilly was not done.  Late in her Penalty Kill she beat Melanson on a race to the puck, skirted around the sprawling goalie and had a wide open net begging for the puck.  Just then a hustling Simsbury defender came out of nowhere to just hit the puck off Reilly's stick to stop a certain goal. The play would make any NHL defender proud and had to make Coach Kris Arnold even prouder.

 

Savanna Reilly stopped twice by great plays as mom is comforted by friends 

 

"It took a while for us to get going from that 3-0 hole," said the Simsbury Coach.  "We came back but just didn't get the bounces in the third."

 

Hamden put the game away when Jenny Morgan found Shannon Callan who rifled in a shot with less than two minutes to play.  It put Hamden up 5-3.  Morgan got her second assist on the afternoon.  Callan rang up a Hat Trick.  Callan's Hat Trick was the result of her amazing talent and the hard work of her team which was not lost on Assistant Coach Jack Killoy.

 

"I couldn't be more proud of the girls," said the man with the Bionic Ankle.  "They all played well against a top notch team.  And what can you say about Shannon Callan.  The kid just keeps working hard and it's paying off big time for her.  I couldn't be happier for her."

 

Shannon's dad Mike is one of the Hamden Assistant Coaches, but couldn't be at the game on Saturday.  He missed a brilliant performance by the team and his daughter.  There is no truth to the rumor that he has been asked to stay away from all future games.  At least, not as of press time.

 

"This was truly a team effort," said Head Coach Val Chamberlain after the game.  "It's nice to score goals and our offense deserves the kudos it gets.  But I am so proud of our defense.  They all played well.  I can't single one girl out because it was a total team effort.  And that kid in net.  What can I say? I am just so very proud of the way all these athletes have played all year long.  It is a hard working, team first group that is a pleasure to coach."

 

TEAM VICTORY

 

Both teams should be proud of the way they played Saturday. It was a great game to watch and it would not surprise anyone who was there if these two teams meet in the finals of the CCGHL League Playoffs.  Hamden next plays Guilford at home on this Wednesday  at 6:00 P.M.  Please come out and cheer on your girl's team at the Lou Astorino Arena.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JANUARY 30, 2009 

 

HAMDEN GIRLS CONTINUE WIN STREAK

 

MURPHY NETS TWO CALLAN SCORES AGAIN

MORGAN ADDS TWO ASSISTS

 

 

HAMDEN BEATS HAND 3-0

 

 

The Hamden High Girl's Hockey Team skates lock step with its male bretheren.  While the Boys' Team catches most of the ink the Girls' Team keeps gliding along having a fabulous season.  The team is 9-2-1 on the year and 7-1-1 in the SCC Conference.

 

 

Hamden came off a big win earlier in the week over powerhouse Guilford to win last night 3-0 against Hand at the Northford Ice Pavilion.  The score was tied after two periods as each team's goalie was tough in net.  Hamden's Kaity Smith had another outstanding game on her way to an 18 save shut out performance.

 

The team is young and its record somewhat surprising given the team's youth.  Coach Val Chamberlain has molded these young women into a real team and that team play is building confidence and garnering wins for the Lady Green Dragons.

Board of Directors                                            Chairman of the Board flanked by Assistants        Boys watch Girl's Game 

 

Smith is ably assisted by junior goal keeper Jackie Jolles and freshman net minder Lauren Grant.  The defense is young but solid. LeeAnn Esposito, a junior, is the grandmother of the group.  She is an outstanding defenseman and has more than enough talent surrounding her on the blue line. 

 

It seems that no one bothered to tell sophomores Emily Orser, Britne Sargolini and Amanda DelCervo that they are only youngsters not ready to lead.  Their smart, tough, talented play says otherwise.  This defensvie corps of sophomores are all super stats in waiting as the Hamden Team enjoys an abundance of talented youth.

 

Speaking of talented youth, how would you like to go up against the likes of sophomore forwards Shannon Callan (five goals and four assists), Jenna Giuletti (3G,3A), Colleen Murphy (5G,2A) and Jenny Morgan (1G, 4A).  Add to this mix freshman sensation Savanna Reilly (5G) and stallwart senior Lyndsay Stockwell and you have the makings of a championship caliber team.  By the way, did we add that the above scoring totals are as of January 20th!!!

 

See Story Below on Pee Wee A Team & Team Druzhba '78 from the Ukraine

 

Murphy poured in two more goals last evening, Callan had one with an assist also, Morgan added two assists and Reilly had a helper of her own.

 

And it doesn't stop.  The team boasts of third line senior Kim Murray and freshmen Abby Magson and Taylor Teulings.

 

Congratulations to this fine group of talented and hard working young women.  And hats off to Coach Chamberlain, ably assisted by Jack Killoy, Joe Weber and Mike Callan.  Killoy and Weber recently tied in a vote of Connecticut High School Girl's Coaches as to which assistant coach was the best looking in the state.

 

BurtsVille wishes the Girl's Hamden High School Ice Hockey Team continued success and good luck for the rest of the season.  Girl's Ice Hockey Rocks!!!

 

 

 

 

 January 29, 2009

INTERNATIONAL PLAY COMES TO HAMDEN AS PEE WEE A'S HOST TEAM "DRUZHBA '78" FROM THE UKRAINE

INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS HOCKEY STYLE

 

A wonderful event took place at the Lou Astorino Ice Arena in Hamden, Connecticut, USA this past Wednesday evening.  I write USA because that Hamden Pee Wee A Team played host to Team “Druzhba’78” from the Ukraine.  The Ukraine youngsters have been traveling for the past two months playing various teams in the Northeast. 

 John Buckley & Joe D'Errico                    Coaches & Mary Lord           Coach Buckley &  Joe O'Connor

 

 

Hamden team members played host to our visitors.  The children stayed in the homes of the Hamden players.  As one of the organizers, Mary Lord, stated, “I cried when we lost our “kid” from the Ukraine.  

 

The Hamden Rink was packed.  The storied program from the USA met on the ice with the internationally known team coached by legend, Ivan Pravilov.  He is assisted by Alex Barankovskiy.  Hamden is coached by the Irish wonders, Rick McCormack and John “The Horse Man” Buckley.  They are balanced out by our resident Italian Ice Man, Angelo D’Errico, who handles the offense.

 

HAMDEN BENCH                           JOE O'CONNOR                                          HAMDEN FANS 

The Druzhba Team has a unique way of warming up around these parts.  They actually warm up without a puck.  It was fascinating watching their gifted skaters go through this warm up ritual.    Anthony Avitable, Hamden varsity goalie was in attendance with several other varsity players. 

 

“Hey, if all the guys coming down on me had no pucks, my save percentage would be higher,” quipped the talented net minder. It was interesting watching their fast skating pace and how they never stop moving on the ice.

 

 

m

MARY LORD & HOUSE GUEST                      HAMDEN'S BEST LOOKING VARISTY PLAYERS                                             JEFF OWENS & DAUGHTER

 

The home teams’ graciousness and being a good host stopped once the pucks were dropped.  The teams battled back and forth to the delight of the crowd.  Hamden got goals from Dan Chicoine and Cameron Owens with assists to Quintin Miller and Josh McCormack.  Logan Cathey had a strong game in net and Joe O’Connor, Ron Lynn, Jim Magson, John Buckley, Joe D’Errico, Tim Gontarski, Joe Lord, Steven Pantera, Ryan Kallert (also a strong game in net) and Trevor Pretty all played well for the Hamden Team.

 

“What a game”?  said Pat Lynch one of the many Hamden varsity  players in attendance.  “The Druzhba Team was talented but let’s not forget our own team.  We have some pretty talented kids too and they all played well tonight.”

 

GOALIE MAKES  29 SAVES ON THE NIGHT!                   COACH IVAN & TEAM                     TEAM DRUZHBA  LOGO

 

Team Druzhba got strong efforts from Robdan Sharafat, Nidzhat Gasimov, Alex Sumets, Artem Lutsenko, Francel Nzara-Miloneo, Vitaliy Nosov, Stat Savgir, Lera Manchak, Nikita Kovalenko, Igor Khudyakov, Vadim Nesteruk, Ruslan Lisin, Kirill Zharkd, Alex Oleksandrov and Ilya Popov.

 

Dima Kobyliaanskiy and Vitaliy Novitskyy had particularly good games for the team from Ukraine.  They demonstrated outstanding skating skills and stick handling skills on a team loaded with talent. “I just have to tell you that these kids were the nicest kids to have in our house.  They were polite.  They were respectful.  And they were nice,” said Hamden parent Cliff Carignan.  “Their parents, their team, coaches and their country can be very proud of them.  I congratulate them all on giving us the opportunity to host them in our town.”

 

Coach Buckley offered similar comments.  “What a great learning experience for all the kids.  It was a once in a lifetime situation and I am glad I was a part of it,” said one of the leading attorneys in the State of Connecticut.

 

 Dima Kobylianskly                                                                 Team Druzhba '78 Players                            Vitaliy Novitskyy

 

 

Team Druzhba will be going home soon.  The entire Hamden Youth Hockey Association (www.hyha.org) and the Hamden Community Thanks You and wishes you nothing but the best.

 

(One can view, download and/or print out any picture taken on the evening at http://www.BurtsVille.com/pix/burtlaw/

/pix/burtlaw/.  All of the pictures taken from the game are located at this ftp site.  It will allow you to print and/or download any picture you want free of charge.  Enjoy!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

   

 

 

 

JANUARY 29, 2009

 

BURTSVILLE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE SHANNON CALLAN ON BEING NAMED ONE OF THE STARS OF THE WEEK AND KAITY SMITH FOR BEING NAMED GOALIE OF THE WEEK BY THE NEW HAVEN REGISTER.  AND A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GIRLS' HOCKEY TEAM ON THEIR  BIG WIN OVER POWERHOUSE GUILFORD THIS WEEK.  YOU GO GIRLS!!!!!!!!

January 28. 2009

 

 

 

TEAM "DRUZHBA'78" FROM THE UKRAINE VISITS HAMDEN PEE WEE A TEAM

 

 

The Hamden Pee Wee A Team played host to the Druzhba Team from the Ukraine last evening at the Lou Astorino Rink.  The multi-talented team from across the big pond has been traveling in the United States for the past two months playing various teams in the Northeast.  Players stayed with host families from the Hamden Youth Hockey organization.

 

 

This enriching experience in international diplomacy at a young age is just one of the many gifts sports gives to mankind.  A story about the game and more pictures will appear in a later edition of BurtsVille.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   January 15, 2009

 

 

PIERNE LEADS HAMDEN OVER XAVIER 3-2

McGovern and Vakos Score Goals as Co-Captain Pierne has goal and two assists

 

 

The Hamden High School Boys Hockey Team won their seventh game of the year against a determined Xavier team last night.  It was a great win in what is best termed a good game for the Green Dragon Squad.  The team was coming off two highly charged games against East Haven and Notre Dame of Fairfield and had just enough in their tank to defeat the home team Xavier.  The game was held at Wesleyan Rink in Middletown with a packed house cheering on both squads.

Pat McGovern Goal

Mike Pierne Goal

 

Hamden jumped out on top when Pat McGovern let go with an innocent looking wrist shot from above the face off circle.  Somehow it managed to squeeze through the five hole of the Xavier goalie.  It put Hamden up 1-0 at the 2:37 mark of the first period.  It was back and forth action then by both teams with Hamden dominating territorial early in the second period.

 

Xavier was then awarded a Power Play and not six seconds into it Mike Pierne intercepted a pass and drove hard to the net scoring a beautiful unassisted, short handed goal to put the visitors up 2-0 early in the second period.  Hamden then stormed

 

the Xavier team before a time out was called to settle the home team down.  It worked. 

 

Xavier had fallen behind 3-0 when Pierne hit PJ Vakos just getting on the ice from a line shift.  Vakos tapped the pass home to put Hamden in command.  It came at the 8:13 mark of the second period.  Matt Morgan then set up a teammate on a fine rush but a defender just knocked the puck away. After the time out, the Xavier squad leveled the ice and Anthony Avitable proved his mettle once again making nice save after nice save.

                                                                                                                                                                                      Jenny, Laura and Patty Morgan enjoy the game

 

Xavier scored at the 9:41 mark of the second and then again at the 6:13 mark of the third period to make it interesting.  Avitable made all the saves he needed to make in the final minutes to preserve Hamden's victory. 

 

 

 

 

January 14, 2009

 

COSENZA FAMILY WITNESSES SPECIAL GOAL

Hockey holds a special place for those of us who’ve grown up in Hamden.  Many of the memories that flood our minds are happy ones.  Kids who have played on the high school team and beyond come back every year to watch the Green Dragons chase another State Championship.

 

Some guys who played on the team are fortunate enough to coach it.  Others who went to school at Hamden High may have the pleasure of watching their kid play on the vaunted and revered Hamden High School Team.  Others are simply fans who come to cheer on the Hamden tradition.

 

And, then there is Ron Cosenza and his wife Virginia.  They have a special relationship with Hamden High School Hockey.  It is different than many others.  It’s special in its’ own way.  Their story is known to some but not to others.  It is a story of love and sadness.  Pride and joy.  Love and sorrow.

                                                                  Virginia Cosenza waves to the camera at the East Haven Game

 The Cosenza Family now boasts of grandson Paul playing on it as a freshman and contributing mightily to the team’s early season success. Ron and Virginia, however,  have something in common with way too many parents.  They lost a son, Paul, way before his time on this earth should have ended.

 Paul was a star in his own right in the Hamden Youth Hockey Association.  He dreamed one day of being a member of the Green Dragons but this dream and many others ceased for him at the tender young age of eleven.  His loss to the Cosenza Family still burns brightly in their hearts and souls.  It is a loss that no parent ever recovers from and one which certainly has marked their life like few others.

Every year Ron and Virginia attend the Hamden Youth Hockey Association Banquet.  Every year they give out an award to a player in the Hamden Youth Hockey Association in honor of their son Paul.  I still remember seeing them each and every year give out that award.  I think as a parent how difficult, yet how wonderful that is, for them to honor the memory of their son, in such a loving and special way.

 

Their son Paul wore Number 4.  Their grandson Paul wears the same number in memory and in honor of an uncle he never knew.  So how special do you think it was for the Cosenza and Amarone family to watch Paul score his first varsity goal last week in a game against East Haven?  It came on the 34th anniversary of Paul Cosenza’s death.  

Paul Amarone Celebrates Special Goal

If ever a goal was sent from above, that was it.   

 

So, while we travel through a season that has been magical to date, let’s keep our eye on the ball as to what really is important.  Let’s watch our kids, our players develop and strive to do the best they can and let’s cheer them on each and every day for tomorrow is promised to no one.

 

Congratulations to Ron and Virginia and the entire Cosenza and Amarone Families.

 

 

 

January 13, 2009

YOU WANT TO SEE THE BEST GOALIE IN THE STATE?  YOU HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE BEST GOALIES IN THIS STATE THIS YEAR.  JOHN PALMIERI FROM EAST HAVEN, RJ NEGRI FROM LYMAN HALL, SEAN LANGREGIER FROM HAND, MIKE FEDERICO FROM NOTRE DAME OF WEST HAVEN AND HAMDEN'S OWN ANTHONY AVITABLE.

 

BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ROSIE GLUCK YOU ARE MISSING A SHOW

 

ROSIE'S RAIDERS FROM WEST HARTFORD INVADE THE LOU ASTORINO ICE ARENA THIS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2009 AT 4:00 PM TO PLAY THE HAMDEN GREEN DRAGON GIRL'S VARSITY ICE HOCKEY TEAM

 

HAMDEN HAD OVER 70 SHOTS IN THEIR MEETING EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT RESULTED IN A 1-1 TIE!!!

 

GLUCK IS GLORIOUS

DON'T MISS THE SHOW

 

Jeanne, Doc & Trish get ready to enjoy NDFfld Game (see story below)

 

Reprint of February 7, 2008 Article

 

 

Hamden High School VARSITY Hockey Teams

HHS 3 West Hartford 3 Tie--Girls

HHS 4 Conard High School of West Hartford 3—Win

 

 

An incredible night was had by all the spectators fortunate enough to be present at the Lou Astorino Rink.  Over 800 in attendance saw the boys’ team celebrate the greatest last second win in Hamden history.  Pat MacGregor scored with two tenths of a second remaining to cap a three goal third period comeback win over State Powerhouse Conard of West Hartford.  

 

The boy’s game was almost matched by the girls Varsity squad who played also against a West Hartford squad.  The Hamden females battled to a 3-3 tie on goals by LeeAnn Esposito, Jessica Morgillo and Chelsea Gelman.  Assists went to Esposito, Morgillo and Karlyn Calamita.  The game was delayed at the start which ended up as a bonus because the crowd swelled with the boys’ game immediately after it.

 

By the time the horn sounded ending regulation all knotted up there were close to 800 people filling the rink’s stands.  They were in for an overtime delight.

 

The West Hartford goalie, Rosie Gluck, would finish the night making 62 saves on 65 shots.  The Hamden offense put together an astonishing 21 shots alone in overtime.  The girls peppered the net time and time again only to have Gluck turn away one potential game winner after another.

 

Spectator, Jim MacGregor commented after watching the eight minutes of overtime, “I had my hand raised in triumph at least ten times on shots that I thought would go in.  That girl was unbelievable,” referring to Gluck.

 

It was a spoiler for the home team but a game to remember by all the players and the fans who watched it.  The team just kept pounding away and the effort will pay dividends as the season enters into its’ last month for the girls’ powerful squad.

 

JANUARY 10, 2009

 

 VAKOS LEADS HAMDEN OVER NOTRE DAME OF FAIRFIELD 4-3

 

AVITABLE OUTSTANING IN NET

 

WALSH STAYS HOT WITH SPINNING GOAL

 

 

A storm was a brewing outside the fabled Lou Astorino Ice Arena Saturday as the Marty Rood led Notre Dame of Fairfield Team rode into town determined to get Coach Roos his 500th career victory.  Despite the frosty weather and snow and sleet falling all around, an overflow crowd filled the seats and the aisles.  Hamden stars from its glory days like Pete Reynolds and Kevin Regan were in attendance to watch the surprising Green Dragons play a team which has knocked them out of the State playoffs three times in the past several years.

PJ Vakos drives to the net 


Hamden came out strong in the first period as the line of Scott Walsh, Mike Pierne and Pat McGovern picked up where they left off Thursday night against East Haven.   Their intensity was matched by the Fairfield lancers who is one of the biggest, yet quickest skating team's in the state.  Walsh made a honey of a pass to Pierne early and the Co-Captain just missed burying the puck.  Walsh then got the puck back on the same shift with his patented back to the net deflection that hit the post.
 

                                                 &nb