Athletic Result: Boys Hockey

                                                            Norwood/Norfolk Game
                                                                   by Zach Stein

LAKE PLACID

The National Sports Academy boys’ hockey squad took home a win last week by beating Norwood/Norfolk high school in a 7-1 game on January 19^th, 2011.  NSA’s impact players of the game were senior captain Tyler Simmons, senior Alex Fukes, senior Joey Fuca, junior David Russell, and junior goaltender Mike Mcdaniels.

Fukes scored the first goal for the Mountaineers, opening up a 1-0 lead.  It was a great shot making the goal tender move back and forth, but Fukes made him look like a fool putting the puck right by him on the low stick side.

The Icemen responded right back with a late goal in the first, ending the period with a score of one to one.  The Icemen gained momentum, and things weren’t looking very good for the Mountaineers.

However, when the puck dropped for the second period, the Mountaineers looked like a whole new team, scoring three quick goals making the score 4-1.  The Mountaineers stole the momentum from the Icemen and kept beating them to every loose puck.  NSA also scored two more goals at the end of the period by Simmons.  Simmons showed some great steeze with his combination of moves, goal, and goal celebration.

David Russel bringing his A game.

Russell generated NSA’s offense by scoring the second goal of the game for his team.  Not only generating good offensive breaks, he also contributed to back checking every rush helping out his defense, goaltender, and his team. 

“He really brought his a game to both ends of the ice, separating every opponent from the puck and battling throughout the whole game” Coach Curly said.

After the game I interviewed some players from the Mountaineers to get their input on today’s game.  “We took the game lightly”, said Sam Bloom.  “As a team we were not focused, or prepared for this game.  In these types of slow paced game players tend to pick up bad habits”.  I asked Bloom to expand on this statement.   “Everyone tried to do it their selves, and not play as a team”. 

“Mike Mcdaniels had an outstanding game said Joey Fuca.” “ He really came up big at key moments, exspecially in the first period.  We were not ready to play, and Mcdaniels really stood on his head.  In the first period there were way too many odd man rushes but Mcdaniels was there to back us up.

I interviewed further and got the inside scoop why NSA came out a different team in the second period.  “During the ice cut, we realized that those high school benders thought they were just as good as us.  They think they can play at this level” Simmons said. 

NSA is on a three game winning streak and hope to continue their streak going into the Northwood Tournament in Lake Placid NY on January 21.  This is a tough tournament, but the Mountaineers have been excelling as a team, and they are confident to keep the streak alive.  

“I truly believe were a whole different team from before Christmas break, and were ready to take on the second half of our season” Coach Simmons said.