Connor Ivers erupted for four goals and five points, including the game-winner with 5:18 remaining in the third period, as East Islip Developmental Black outlasted Kings Park Commack Developmental Gold 7-5 in a wild SCHSHL showdown Wednesday night. The explosive offensive display featured dueling hat tricks, with Owen Niedert matching Ivers‘ four-goal performance for Kings Park Commack in a losing effort.
The game lived up to the offensive fireworks these teams produced in their previous two meetings this season, with 12 total goals and constant lead changes. East Islip trailed 2-1 after the opening period but seized control with four goals in the second, including tallies from Nico Walton, Jack Illiano and Patrick Penny sandwiched around Niedert‘s second and third scores. Averi Walsh was the setup man all night for East Islip, finishing with three assists to help fuel the comeback.
The third period belonged to the star scorers, as Ivers and Niedert continued their personal duel. Niedert completed his hat trick just 46 seconds into the final frame, but Ivers answered at 14:15 for his third goal before netting the game-winner unassisted five minutes later. With East Islip leading 6-4, Niedert struck for his fourth goal with 2:03 remaining to make it a one-goal game, but Ivers sealed his monster night with an empty-netter in the final seconds.
The victory moved East Islip to 8-11 on the season and gave them the season series edge over Kings Park Commack (11-9), having now won two of three meetings. For Ivers, who entered the game with 28 goals in 19 games, the five-point explosion continued his torrid pace as one of the league’s most prolific scorers. Niedert, despite the loss, extended his own impressive campaign with the four-goal outburst, bringing his season total to 25 goals in just 14 games.