Mar 14, 2010

KINGS DETHRONE HITMEN, LOCK UP NATIONALS BID

Worcester, MA- Chris Rettig scored his first goal of the playoffs, and only his fourth of the season, late in the third period to cap off a rally by the South Shore Kings and defeat two-time defending champion Jersey Hitmen, sending the Kings to a meeting with the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs in the EJHL Dineen Cup Championship. 

The first period started out with both teams flying and goaltenders Steve Racine and Brad Barone making save after save to keep the teams off the board for much of the frame. Will Frederick, however, solved Barone with 2:25 remaining in the opening period when he jammed the puck in from the goal line to give the Hitmen the lead. 

The Kings tied the game 2:39 into the second period when Terry O'Neill fired a shot from the point and Jake Friedman swatted it out of the air and into the net. 

Frederick scored his second goal of the game with 6:53 to play in the period. Nick Jones had the puck at the point and passed to Luke Hannon on the goal line, just to the left of the net. With a group of Kings buzzing around him, Hannon threaded a pass to Frederick in the slot and Frederick banged it home to regain the lead. 

With 7:53 to play, Charlie Coyle took a feed from Rob Florentino in the corner and skated toward the net. Rather than shoot, Coyle passed to Brian Schultz, who fired the puck past Steve Racine. 

Rettig scored the game-winner with just over four minutes to play when he caught a pass from Chad Petersen at the top of the crease and jammed it past Racine. 

A late power play allowed the Hitmen many opportunities to force a deadlock, but Brad Barone stood tall and the game-tying goal never materialized. Racine was pulled for the extra attacker with 46 seconds left, but the Hitmen could not net the equalizer. 

Barone played exceptionally in net, turning away 43 shots in the win. Racine made 22 saves for the Hitmen.

The win sets up a meeting with the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs for the EJHL Dineen Cup Championship and gives the South Shore Kings their first-ever bid to USA Hockey Tier III Junior A Nationals.

-Mike Klein, 14 March 2010