Rinx Hockey 14U Gold – Prin and Peconic Wildcats 14U Gold – Pereira tied 3-3 on Saturday at The Rinx, a physical, fast-paced LIAHL 14U Gold opener. Cody Resseque scored twice for Rinx, and Logan Arnold’s goal early in the third period pulled the hosts level. Both clubs open the season at 0-0-1-0.
The early minutes showed some opening-day jitters, including a few offsides calls, before Resseque put Rinx ahead 1-0. He finished a one-timer in tight space early in the first period. Peconic answered shortly after when Robert Coiscou walked off the wall and scored through traffic to make it 1-1.
The pace picked up sharply in the second period, and Rinx controlled much of the play before Peconic went ahead. Carter Vernillo scored on the power play for a 2-1 Peconic lead, prompting Rinx to call a timeout. Anthony Esposito then made it 3-1 with a highlight-reel goal during a frantic offensive stretch.
Resseque responded late in the second with his second goal of the night, cutting the deficit to 3-2 entering the third. Early in the final period, Arnold took a pass from behind the net and drove it home to tie the game at 3-3. Resseque led Rinx with two goals, and Arnold paired his tying goal with steady work on faceoffs and in his own end.
Rinx outshot Peconic 31-20. Sean Mills made 28 saves for Peconic, and Dominic Graziano made 17 for Rinx. Mills stopped several breakaways and covered the puck with a diving effort during a critical penalty kill. He also made key saves against a late Rinx power play after Peconic called a timeout with 1:30 remaining to organize its penalty kill.
The crowd stayed loud through the final five minutes of regulation as both teams created late chances. Rinx’s last push ended on an offsides call, and the game finished level after a final faceoff with one second left. Both teams take one point from the opener and will look for their first win of the season next time out.
