Newark, Del. — He’s back.
After scoring four of the Delaware Military Academy’s (3-0-0) eight goals in victory over Unionville on Friday (Nov. 16), senior Justin McGee finished what he started with the overtime game-winner in a 4-3 decision over Avon Grove (1-2-1) on Monday (Nov. 19) at the Patriot Ice Center.
McGee, who served as an effective successor to the graduated Markus Cook at the face-off dot for the Seahawks, gave his side the initial lead 3:19 into the game with a hard top-shelf wrist shot from the right circle off an Alex Maglio assist. Max Ruggerio then doubled DMA’s lead with a wrist shot from the right dot at 7:58 in the second period off a wobbling Lukas Cook backdoor pass.
Avon Grove, kept scoreless on 15 shots through the first two periods, battled back with a strong third period, fuelled largely by first-line left winger Ian Huver. With just under 10 minutes left in regulation, Huver fed the puck to defenceman Josh Sepela, whose top-zone slap shot bounced off DMA netminder Anthony Guerrieri before rolling over the goal line. While Aaron Catron responded 33 seconds later with a net-front takeaway that lifted the Seahawks to a 3-1 advantage, Huver’s looming presence near the Seahawks net proved the equaliser for the Devils. Huver chipped a Jordan Fabian rebound over a sprawled Guerrieri with 6:14 remaining to cut the deficit to a single goal, and then earned the game-tying tally — a net-front punch-in assisted by Chad Anderson and J.T. McDonald — on a power play with 3:30 to go.
In the second minute of the five-minute, three-on-three overtime, McGee and defenceman Aidan Danese generated a two-on-one attack into the Avon Grove zone, and McGee put back the rebound of his own shot to ice the win for DMA.
Guerrieri saved 22 of 25 shots faced in victory for the Seahawks, while J.D. D’Ambrosio recorded 23 saves on 27 shots in net for Avon Grove.
Downingtown West 6, Salesianum 3
Salesianum fell to Downingtown West 6-3 at Ice Line in West Chester, Pa.
Alec Connolly led the way for Downingtown West with a pair of goals, while Trevor Butch played a major supporting role with three assists. Jack Brady, Ethan Scharp and Chase Golden all scored for Salesianum while Cam Bergeman contributed two assists. Graham Burke saved 36 of 42 shots in defeat.
