An effective forecheck and six unanswered goals–three in the second period and three more in the third–propelled the Newark/Tatnall combined team (6-0-1) to an 8-2 victory over the Middletown Cavaliers (4-2-0) on Saturday evening (Dec. 16) at the Fred Rust Arena in Newark, Del.
The Stingers (comprised of Newark’s Yellowjackets and Tatnall’s Hornets) lifted into a share of the lead in the Delaware High School Hockey League (DHSHL) standings with Appoquinimink (6-0-1). They found their momentum in earnest in the second period, taking their first lead of the game when Jason Roux stole the puck in the Middletown zone and broke a 1-1 tie with a shorthanded five-hole goal–his second of the night–just 50 seconds into the middle frame. After Nicky Bouchard earned the equaliser for the Cavaliers at the 5:14 mark with a power-play goal on a wrist shot from the left circle, Newark/Tatnall reeled off six straight tallies.
Drew Iannucci accounted for a pair (top-shelf blocker side; tap-in), as did Lain Singer, who leads the Stingers with 12 goals this season. Middletown goalie Colin Mettle sustained injury when Singer punched the Stingers’ eighth goal past at 3:55 in the third period, requiring the Cavaliers to play the final 12:05 with six skaters given the absence of a back-up goalie.
Newark/Tatnall converted on both power play opportunities availed them, while Middletown succeeded just once in five attempts. Dylan Hadley assumed the goaltending duties for Newark/Tatnall, and stopped 30 of 32 shots faced in victory.
The Stingers host the Harrington Havoc on Friday (Dec. 22), while Middletown host the Hodgson/Caravel Silver Bucs on Saturday (Dec. 23).
