By The TimesLedger
Senior Division
Pizza Chef 6-9, Sambucci Brothers 1-3. Pizza Chef met Sambucci Brothers in the championship for the Senior Division. The first contest saw Sambucci Brothers jump out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Marco Diasparra. Pizza Chef tied the game and after one period the score was tied a goal apiece. Both teams play strong defense, but Pizza Chef, behind the strong offense play of Marcus Britto, Stephen Whalen, Jonathan Kupferschmidt and Joe Monte, took a 3-1 lead into the third period. Sambucci Brothers start to take some chances in the third period and Pizza Chef capitalized and pulled away on goals by Matt Valinoti, Matt Lavanco and Jonathan Kupferschmidt. Rob Dimasi was great in goal, only allowing the first period tally and Anthony Juliano, Anthony DiFalco and Philip McGrory played strong defense. Good solid two-way hockey was played by David Cho and Tim Caffrey.
In Game 2, Pizza Chef defeated Sambucci Brothers 9-3 to earn the right to carry the DG Cup. Sambucci took an early 1-0 lead in the first period with a goal by Anthony Mainolfi. Pizza Chef answered with goals by Marcus Britto (five), Jonathan Kupferschmidt (two), Anthony DiFalco and Stephen Whelan. Additional scorers for Sambucci were Joe Mainolfi and Marco Diasparra.
Major Division
Corona Park Pork Store 4-10-5, Gary Mann Productions 2-12-4.Gary Mann Productions and Corona Park Pork Store, over the course of an extremely hot weekend, battled the temperature and the tension of two close games to emerge even at one game apiece. It was clear that the teams were evenly matched and that the series could go to either side. The first game was won by Corona Park, 4-2, the second by Gary Mann, 12-10. While Corona Park seemed in control in Game 1, they experienced a breakdown midway through Game 2, falling behind 12-4, but then recovered their drive and closed the gap, generating momentum that carried them into the final game.
In one of the most exciting games of the season, Corona Park once again jumped out to its trademark lead, 4-1, only to watch Gary Mann battle back to a 4-4 tie at the end of regulation. Led by the goaltending of Steven Mare, the inspired play and goal scoring of Anthony Yacovone (two), Patrick Brennan and Keith Lippert and the defensive brilliance of Danny Cochran, Douglas Glendenning, and Alex Doulaveris, Corona Park watched joyfully as Johnny Pagano put in the winning goal early in the overtime to give his team the victory.
The children on both teams contributed to the great game, playing together as a team, demonstrating discipline and character and energy and making this championship series unforgettable and inspiring. Congratulations Corona Park and Gary Mann.
Minor Division
Mass Electric 5-9 Jesse Halpern Skate Shop 4-6.
