Exeter, NH – This past weekend on April 9-11, our three SPA teams competed in the USA Hockey Tier 1 New England Regional Tournament for a shot to advance to the National Championships.
Here is how SPA did in the Round Robin:
U14
vs Mid-Fairfield Rangers: 3 – 3 Tie
vs Mount St. Charles: 6 – 1 Loss
vs NH Avs: 4 – 1 W
U15
vs South Kent Academy: 5 – 4 Win
vs Mid-Fairfield Rangers: 9 – 1 Loss
vs Elite Hockey Academy: 4 – 3 Win
U16
vs Cyclones Academy: 8 – 0 Win
vs Elite Hockey Academy: 6 – 0 Win
vs Mount St Charles: 7 – 1 Loss
Due to an upset in another U14 game, the SPA U14 team did not advance to the semi – finals. The U16 team squared off against South Kent early Sunday morning and eventually lost 4-1. The U15’s took on Mount St. Charles and lost by the score of 6-2.
In our first year of having three teams it was great getting to see Seacoast Performance Academy represented so well across three age groups.
04/14/21
Exeter, NH – On April 13th, the U16 Seacoast Performance Academy was informed that they were awarded an at-large bid for the Tier 1 U16 National Championships in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The event, which was originally supposed to take place in Buffalo, NY but had to change due to Covid – 19 restrictions, will take place April 28th through May 3rd.
There is a 16 team field for this event. 12 teams are awarded automatic bids for winning their regional tournament. The last 4 spots are handed out to teams that have had an excellent record and season but may not have won their regional tournament.
The U16 Seacoast Performance Academy was a top 10 nationally ranked team the entire season. They picked up many key wins against top 10 teams during the season to help with the selection. There was a no bigger string of wins than when they played in the “Play Hockey Tournament” in Pittsburgh, PA. In this tournament they had a semi-final win vs the #2 ranked team in country and eventually took down the #5 team in the country in the finals.
The SPA U16 boys will head to the St. Louis suburb on April 27th and start pool play on the 28th. Follow the team while they are at nationals on all the social media platforms.
04/28/21
St. Louis, MO – The first game of the round robin round started off back and forth with both teams generating multiple chances but couldn’t find the net. SPA had two early power plays but couldn’t get anything going on them.
The New Jersey Rockets opened the scoring at 8:56 of the first period as #21 Nicholas Vantassell rushed up the right side avoiding the SPA defenseman and putting it short sided past goalie Brandon Golub. #97 Jason Gallucci picked up the lone helper on the goal.
New Jersey extended their lead to 2 after sustained pressure in the offensive zone. The Rockets dug it out of the corner and fed Rockets D-man #3 Edward Romano at the top of the right face off circle. Romano collected and snapped one home far side of the bar. #25 Stepan Kuznetsov and #5 Noah Jones each added an assist on the goal.
The Rockets made it 3-0 when defenseman Edward Romano broke out on a 2 on1 up the ice. Romano got to the bottom of the dot and snuck a pass over to forward #17 Zachary Wagner who put it in the net. #26 Ryan Schelling picked up the other assist on the goal. After 2 periods the score was 4-0 in favor of the Rockets.
Seacoast made it 4-1 4:40 into the third period. #12 Paul Tollet broke up the center of the ice and dropped it to #20 Kyle Smyth. Smyth skated up the left side and drove to the net. The Amesbury, Ma. native was able to roof a backhander over the shoulder of Rockets Goalie Joseph Cartigiano.
The New Jersey Rockets would end up adding a 5th goal by #11 Nicholas Delgaizo.
The Seacoast Performance Academy will get right back to it tomorrow as they take on the Sioux Falls Power at 11:30am est. Catch all the National Championship action on Hockey TV.
04/29/21
St. Louis, MO – In game 2 of the round robin, SPA took on the Sioux Falls Power. The Power were coming off a 3-2 Overtime win over Shattuck St. Mary’s and SPA was coming off a 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Rockets.
Sioux Falls started the scoring at 13:54 of the first period as #15 Jayden Perron blocked a shot at the right defensive point. Perron went on the breakaway and put the puck under the glove of SPA goaltender #30 Connor Mcdonough.
Seacoast tied the game at 12:10 of the second when #9 Kim Hilmersson collected an errand puck in the defensive zone and broke out in a 2 on 1. Hilmersson reached the tops of the circles in the offensive zone and sent the puck over to #27 Oliver Genest who buried it past Power goalie #30 Ryan Manzella.
4:20 into the third period, Sioux Falls took the lead When #10 Ryan Johnson’s shot got redirect out to the left face off dot where defenseman #3 Michael Karvelas was camped out. Karvelas was able to one time the puck past McDonough. #4 Adam Armijo picked up the secondary assist.
The Power would add two empty net goals from Defenseman #8 Landon Fandel and Forward #14 Bryce Laager.
For SPA, McDonough made 15 saves on 17 shots and Manzella for Sioux Falls stopped 29 shots.
SPA U16 is back in action tomorrow evening as they take on Shattuck St. Mary’s in the final game of round robin play. Puck drop will be at 6:00pm EST.
05/07/21
Exeter, NH – Today the Maine Nordiques of the North American Hockey League called up and added SPA U16 Defenseman Shaun McEwen to their roster.
The Maine Nordiques have 2 games left in the regular season this weekend and then will be competing in the Robertson Cup Playoffs.