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Mite B’s douse Flames en route to Dual State
Championship
The Melrose Mite B team beat arch rival Manchester NH 3-2 on Saturday to
capture the Dual State League championship
The championship culminated a long season that saw the Mites playing their
best hockey at just the right time. The Mites had lost all 4 regular
season matchups to the Manchester Flames. The two teams
battled ferociously in the first period playing a very fast paced game.
Mark “Bulldog” Dewling saw a flurry of shots from the Manchester Flames,
stopping them all and setting the pace for the game. Dewling’s outstanding
play gave his teammates the confidence they needed as they battled through
the first period to a scoreless tie.
Manchester finally snuck one past Dewling with 10 minutes to go in the
second period on a nifty maneuver from the infamous number 8 Mark Engholm.
Shane “Rocketman” Correale countered 90 seconds later with assists from
Jillian Mercer and Rachel DiFraia. DiFraia hit the Rocketman racing down
the left boards with a crisp pass and Correale riffled a wrist shot into
the far corner knotting the game at 1. Manchester kept the pressure on but
the defensive tandem of Jeff Eaton and Tim Shields kept the Manchester
attack at bay. Melrose kept the heat on with Derek DiRaffaele, Matt
Campagna and Liam Crovo. The dynamic trio provided a relentless attack
with Campagna blistering two shots
and Crovo providing outstanding fore checking. DiRaffaele cut loose with7
minute to play in the period waltzing through the Manchester defense only
to be robbed by an outstanding Manchester goaltender.
Correale hit pay dirt again with 5:16 to go in second period on a
highlight reel pass from Mercer. DiFraia also assisted on the play.
The versatile Rowan Sullivan and defensive partner Aiden Crowley stymied
Manchester’s flow playing poised defense and dismantling a usually
unstoppable Manchester attack.
The line of Saoirse Connolly, Darwin Anderson and Colin Kiernan, who
provided the bulk of the offense in Melrose’s 6-1 victory in the semi-
finals controlled the play through the end of the second period.
Anderson’s great passing and Connolly’s nose for the net created many
opportunities but the stellar Manchester net minder was equal to the task.
The second period drew to a close with Melrose clinging to a
precious 2-1 lead.
That lead would last until the nine-minute mark of the third period when
the pesky “Number 8” scored an unassisted goal tying the game at two. Tess
Martin and Drew DiFraia would provide the sterling defense
preventing any further damage. Melrose’s own Tazmanian Devil Colin Kiernan
would light the lamp with the Championship winning goal with 7:26 left to
go in the game. Rachel DiFraia earned her third assist
of the game when she fed Kiernan a lead pass. Kiernan - known for his
relentless tenacity - saw the opening and drilled it home.
The rest was up to the tournament MVP Bulldog Dewling. Dewling’s best save
of the game came with 2 minutes to in the game when he made a remarkable
glove save robbing Manchester of the tying goal.
“These kids showed a character and poise beyond their years” said Coach
Kyle Blossom. “They played with an unselfishness and team first mentality
that you just can’t teach. This is a very special group of kids, I am
going to miss them”.
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