During the Hat Tricks’ break in game action from December 16th until January 12th, we will recap the team’s early part of the season month by month. Next up: November and December.
DANBURY, CT — The Danbury Hat Tricks started off the month of November at home with their second weekend series against the New Jersey Titans.
Game one of the series took place on Friday November 3rd in Danbury. The Titans came out strong with the first two goals of the game in the first and second period. The Titans had a strong offense, taking 22 shots compared to the Hat Tricks 17. By the third period, the Hat Tricks had brushed off the first two periods and came out ready to play. They scored four unanswered goals throughout the period from Wyatt Stefan, Grant Dietz, Alexios Georgaklis, and Jacob Roberson. The Hat Tricks stellar performance in the third period landed them with a 4-2 win over the Titans on night one.
The following night, the Hat Tricks headed down to New Jersey for game two of the series. Grant Dietz of the Hat Tricks started the night off with a goal early in the first period. The Titans were ready to battle on night two and scored two back-to-back goals in the first period as well. Noah Ziskie answered back by tying the game 2-2 halfway through the first period, but the Titans were able to score two more goals ending the first period 4-2 Titans. The second period saw three more unanswered Titans goals giving them a 5 goal lead going into the third period. Joey Mallozzi started the scoring in the third period with a goal about halfway through the period. The Titans ended the game by scoring one more goal leaving the Hat Tricks with an 8-3 loss.
The following weekend, the Hat Tricks traveled to New Hampshire to face off against the Mountain Kings. In game 1, the Hat Tricks came out hot, scoring 3 goals in the first period compared to the Mountain Kings one. The second and third periods proved to be more of a challenge as the Mountain Kings started closing in on the Hat Tricks 3-1 lead. By the end of the second period the Hat Tricks only led 3-2. In the third period, it was the Mountain Kings who came out hot, scoring three unanswered goals. These unanswered goals left the Hat Tricks with a 5-3 loss.
Game two proved to be a tough battle for both teams. The first two goals were awarded to the Mountain Kings with a goal each in the first and second period. This left the Hat Tricks going into the third period with not only a 2 goal deficit but also a chip on their shoulder. They came out strong in the third period with two goals; one from Alexander Strempel and the second from Noah Ziskie late in the third to tie the game up. These performances from the Hat Tricks forced overtime, but Jack Costanzo of the Mountain Kings called game in the first few seconds of overtime with a quick goal. The Hat Tricks left New Hampshire with a 3-2 loss on their record.
The Hat Tricks were homebound to play against the Philadelphia Rebels on the 17th and 18th. Game one of the series had a back-and-forth start, with the Rebels scoring two goals and the Hat Tricks scoring one from Brock Behrend in the first period. The second period consisted of two Hat Tricks goals from Grant Dietz and Logan Nickerson and the Rebels scoring one. The two teams entered the third period all tied up at 3-3, but the Hat Tricks lit the ice up. They scored three goals in the third period from Alexios Georgaklis, Wyatt Stefan, and Jacob Roberson. The Rebels only scored one goal in the third period to leave the final score of the game as a win for the Hat Tricks, 6-4.
Game two the following night did not have a victorious outcome. The Rebels came to play, scoring two unanswered goals in the first period, and going on to score another four in the second period. The Hat Tricks were able to score two goals in the second period as well from Grant Dietz and Jacob Roberson. Going into the third period with a 6-2 deficit, Mason Lupo of the Hat Tricks made some big plays scoring two back-to-back goals. Charles Panchisin had the last say with a goal for the Rebels. The final score of the game came out as a 7-4 win for the Philadelphia Rebels. The standout player of the game was CJ Kier from net making a total of 41 saves on 48 shots.
The next weekend the Hat Tricks were on the road for a weekend series against the Maryland Black Bears. Game one of the series was a competitive matchup. The first goal of the game was scored by Alexios Georgaklis for the Hat Tricks in the first period of the game. The only other goal of the game was scored in the second period by Jesse Horacek of the Black Bears. With no goals in the third period, the end of regulation came to an end with a tied score of 1-1. As the two teams moved into overtime play, Emerson Molas decided to call it game with a goal for the Hat Tricks early in overtime. The Hat Tricks walked away with a well-earned 2-1 overtime win over the Black Bears.
Game two was just as competitive, with Emerson Molas starting off the scoring late in the first period. With no goals scored in the second period from either team, the Hat Tricks entered the third period with a 1-0 lead. Late into the third period Adam Schankula of the Black Bears scored, forcing the game into overtime. With no goals scored in overtime, the game was then forced into a shootout. Riley Ruh of the Black Bears scored the first goal, with no goals following until Josh Erickson of the Hat Tricks scored one of his own. It was a goal from Jesse Horacek of the Black Bears that ended the game for the Hat Tricks with a 2-1 loss.
The Danbury Hat Tricks started off December at home with a weekend series against the Northeast Generals. Game one of the series took place on Friday December 1st at Danbury Ice Arena. The two teams proved to be evenly matched with no scoring taking place in the first and second period from either team. The first goal of the game was scored by Andrew DellaDonna of the Northeast Generals early in the third period. The Hat Tricks fought hard to tie the game up, but ultimately fell short ending the game with a 1-0 loss. The standout players of the game were goaltenders Miles Roberts, making 20 saves on 21 shots and CJ Kier, making 6 saves on 6 shots.
Game two saw more scoring from both teams, with Grant Dietz of the Hat Tricks getting the ball rolling early in the first period. Shortly after, the Generals scored two back-to-back goals to end the first period with a 2-1 lead. The Generals started the second period with another goal that was answered by the Hat Tricks’ Noah Ziskie. The Hat Tricks entered the third period with a one-goal deficit. Emerson Molas changed the tide of the game early in third period as he scored the first of four unanswered goals for the Hat Tricks. The remaining three goals were scored by Grant Dietz, Wyatt Stefan, and Mason Lupo. With a stellar performance in the third period, the Hat Tricks were able to walk away from game 2 with a 6-3 win on their record.
The Hat Tricks were then left with a week-long break before traveling to Massachusetts to face off against the Generals again on Tuesday December 12th. Alexander Strempel started off the game with a goal early in the first period. This left the Hat Tricks with a 1-0 lead going into the second period. The Generals came out in the second period ready to play, scoring 4 unanswered goals in the second period, and 3 in the third period. The Hat Tricks left Massachusetts with a 7-1 loss.
The following Friday the Hat Tricks were on the road again, this time to New York to face off against the Rochester Jr. Americans. Brian Grant of the Americans got the ball rolling with the first goal of the game late in the first period. As the Hat Tricks entered the second period in a one-goal deficit, Emerson Molas tied the game up late in the period. With a second Hat Tricks goal and no goals scored in the third period, the Hat Tricks were able to walk away with a 2-1 win over the Americans on night 1.
Game two started out strong for the Hat Tricks with a goal from David Tolan early in the first period. The Hat Tricks’ lead did not last long, as the Americans scored two back-to-back goals to end the first period. The second and third period saw four more unanswered American goals, ending the game with a 6-1 loss for the Hat Tricks. The Hat Tricks were outshot with 23 shots compared to the Americans 30. CJ Kier made 24 saves on 30 shots.
The Hat Tricks now receive a monthlong break for the holiday season before they start games again on January 12th. They will be facing off against the Johnstown Tomahawks on January 12th and 13th at home at Danbury Ice Arena.