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McCormick Punches Patriots Ticket To The Playoffs

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Jack McCormick scored the shorthanded, game winner en route to a natural hat-trick as the Ward Ward Melville Patriots (6-12-1-1) punched their ticket to the post-season in a 6-2 victory over the Kings Park Commack Knights on Senior Night. Michael Sittler made his 11th start of the season for the Ward Melville Patriots. Colin Caputo made his 7th start of the season for the Kings Park Commack Knights, but was later pulled in favor of Jayson Krauthammer

Just 30 seconds into the opening frame, Tyler Granelli opened the scoring to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. Jesse Lemza entered the zone, made a pass that was deflected and Granelli redirected the bouncing puck past Sittler. The Knights captain, Stefan Hludzinski, scored with 11:30 remaining to extend the lead to two. Hludzinski forced a turnover at the Knights defensive zone blue line, entered the Patriots zone 2 on 1 before rifling one that went off the shoulder of Sittler and into the back of the net. Anthony Cerulli cut the Knights lead to 2-1 with 2:40 remaining. Lucas Scolaro entered the knights zone before making a quick feed to Cerulli who scored on a backhand shot from an off angle that slipped past Caputo. The Patriots trailed 2-1 after the first fifteen thanks to the stellar play of Sittler. 

Matt Dann tied the game 24 seconds into the second stanza. Luke Richard fired a shot from the point before Dann buried the rebound from right in front. The Knights had an opportunity to answer back on the power play with 10:54 remaining, however just over two minutes later the Patriots led 4-2. Jack McCormick scored the shorthanded, eventual game winner with 9:44 left in the 2nd period. McCormick forced a turnover beneath the right wing hash mark, settled the puck and beat the netminder short side. It took all of 51 seconds for Jack McCormick to extend the Patriots lead to 4-2. McCormick forced a turnover in his own zone before coming in on a partial breakaway. McCormick shielded the puck as he boxed out the defender before beating Caputo five hole just one second after the Knights power play expired. Jayson Krauthammer entered the game with 8:53 remaining in the 2nd period, but it was the Patriots who picked up the pace after the goaltending change.

Jack McCormick completed the natural hat-trick to give the Patriots a 5-2 lead 51 seconds into the 3rd period. McCormick forced a turnover in his own zone and galloped up ice before one-handing it past a defender. McCormick proceeded to move the puck from his backhand to his forehand as he went top shelf. The Knights called timeout before pulling Krauthammer with over three minutes remaining in regulation. Lucas Scolaro scored an empty net goal to seal the deal for the Patriots with under a minute remaining.  

Scoring Summary

PeriodTimeGoal ScorerAssistsTeamGoal Type
1st14:30Tyler Granelli (14)Jesse Lemza (20)Kings Park Commack Knights
1st11:30Stefan Hludzinski (10)UnassistedKings Park Commack Knights
1st02:40Anthony Cerulli (7)Lucas Scolaro (7)Ward Melville Patriots
2nd14:36Matthew Dann (9)Luke Richard (1)Ward Melville Patriots
2nd09:44John McCormick (13)UnassistedWard Melville PatriotsSH, GWG
2nd08:53John McCormick (14)UnassistedWard Melville Patriots
3rd14:09John McCormick (15)UnassistedWard Melville Patriots
3rd00:41Lucas Scolaro (10)Daniel Breslin (4)Ward Melville PatriotsEN

Penalties by Period

PeriodTimePlayerPenalty TypeTeam
2nd10:54Matthew AndersonTripping – MinorWard Melville Patriots
2nd03:30Stefan HludzinskiRoughing – MinorKings Park Commack Knights
3rd13:45Anthony CerulliTripping – MinorWard Melville Patriots
3rd01:37Jack SalvaCross-CheckingKings Park Commack Knights
3rd01:37John McCormickRoughing – MinorWard Melville Patriots

Three Stars of the Game

StarPlayer NameStat LinePerformance Summary
1stJack McCormickNaturall Hat-Trick, Shorthanded Game WinnerMcCormick the shorthanded game winner en route to the natural hatty
2ndMichael SittlerWin, 2GASittler was a brick wall down the stretch in a must-win game
3rdLuke RichardOne AssistRichard played fast and physical in another strong two-way performance in which he added an assist for good measure

Senior Night

Congratulations to the Ward Melville Patriots senior class of Matt Anderson, Matt Dann, Peter Dykeman, Bobby Huhne, Jake Mangano, Jack McCormick, Luke Richard, Michael Sittler and Lucas Scolaro. We wish them the best of luck moving forward on and off the ice.

Congratulations to the Kings Park Commack Knights senior class of Colin Caputo, Connor Cohen, Tyler Granelli, Stefan Hludzinski, Christian McGrane, Sean Richardson and Nick Siegler. We wish them the best of luck moving forward on and off the ice.

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