The local hockey community was expecting a great game between the RFA Black Knights and New Hartford Spartans at the Utica Aud today. The Division II East rivals didn't disappoint, as the Black Knights overcame a three goal deficit with just 2:42 remaining in regulation to send the Dunkin Donuts / Utica College Hockey Classic Championship game to overtime, as a stunned group of defending champs looked on wondering what had just hit them in the kisser.
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The Knights, who held a 1-0 lead on the Spartans after the first period, kept up the balanced attack and smart play that earned them a 6-2 victory over Clinton the night before.
The first period saw the kids in orange and black outshoot the older, deeper Spartans 9-7 in the first period. Black Knights goalie Anthony D'Urso, a transfer student from North Dakota, held the Spartans scoreless in the opening period, with some dazzling point blank saves.
Following the first intermission, it was the Spartans, however, who hit the ice flying and just :22 seconds into the second period, Jason Fitzgerald lit the lamp for the Spartans to tie things up at 1-1. Alex Fukes and younger brother Eric Fitzgerald assisted on the goal.
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(RFA goalie Anthony D'Urso (30) and New Hartford's Jason Fitzgerald (18), two names we're going to be hearing all winter, just miss a head on collision as D'Urso dives to clear a loose puck.)
As we've seen so many times over the past couple of seasons, New Hartford has a keen ability to score in bunches and today would be no different.
Less than two minutes later, Clayton Whittemore sliced through the RFA defense and beat D'Urso over his left shoulder to put the Spartans up 2-1 with 13:30 remaining in the second period. Whittemore would end up with a hat trick and tourney MVP honors before the night was done.
Eric Fitzgerald made the assist on this one, in what would be become a big night for number 7.
The scoring in bunches factor then kicked into familiar Spartans mode as Whittemore scored twice more in the second period and the defending Division II State Champs headed to the second intermission with a commanding 4-1 lead.
Not the position RFA head coach Greg Cuthbertson was looking for after 2 periods.
The third period started much like the second period, only this time it was the Black Knights who struck quickly, as T.J. Reilley whistled a shot over the glove shoulder of Spartans net minder Spencer Landry, for a power play goal, drawing RFA within striking distance at 4-2, with 11:50 to go in the third period. Game on!
(New Hartford's Tom Nitti (16) and RFA's Joey Rutkowski (27) battle for a loose puck in front of the RFA goal during 1st period action.)
Jason Fitzgerald answered the bell for New Hartford with his second goal of the game with 7:27 remaining, with assists going to Kris Martinelli and Alex Fukes, to put the Spartans back out in front 5-2.
As we've been saying since first seeing RFA yesterday, this Black Knights team is, well, different. They're much more disciplined and play a sharper brand of hockey than RFA clubs of recent years.
What we learned tonight at the Aud though, is that this Black Knights team has the collective heart of a lion.
Trailing 5-2 with 2:42 remaining and RFA on the power play, Garrett Reilley beat an outstretched Landry from point blank range to pull his Knights to within 5-3.
(Spartans goalie Spencer Landry (1) comes up with a big save on RFA's T.J. Reilley (22) late in the 2nd period.)
Just 1:16 later, Garrett Reilley took a centering pass from older brother T.J. and scored again to make it a one goal game with just 1:26 to go. An instant classic high school hockey game was unfolding in front of our eyes!
Then, with under a minute remaining, New Hartford's Clayton Whittemore took an ill-advised penalty for cross-checking RFA's Max Bartell, which put RFA on the power play again. With 38.2 seconds left in regulation, Bartell made the Spartans pay double when he let a blistering wrist shot go from the slot, beating Landry and tying this game up at 5-5!
Just when we thought we'd go right to overtime, New Hartford's Jason Fitzgerald raced the length of the ice with time winding down, only to be tripped from behind by RFA's Eric Joyce with 3 seconds to go. Despite a loud plea from the Spartans faithful for a penalty shot, none was awarded and overtime it was.
At the 3:32 mark of overtime and RFA just returning to full strength, it was Eric Fitzgerald who ripped a wrist shot from the point over D'Urso's blocker, giving the Spartans a thrilling 6-5 O.T. win over a very difficult RFA club. Something tells me the wings at Cavallo's are going to be on Eric Fitzgerald's teammates this Tuesday!
(Locked in all weekend... New Hartford's Clayton Whittemore had his eye on the biscuit all weekend. The Spartans senior scored 6 goals in two games. and was named tourney MVP.)
New Hartford, (2-1) was led by Clayton Whittemore, who tallied his second hat trick in as many days. Spencer Landry stopped 21 of 26 shots he faced.
RFA, which dropped to (1-1), was led again by T.J. and Garrett Reilley, who netted two goals a piece in the losing effort. Anthony D'Urso stopped 28 of 24 for the Romans.
New Hartford 6 RFA 5 OT
1 2 3 OT Total
New Hartford 0 4 1 1 6
Rome Free Academy 1 0 4 0 5
2009 UTICA COLLEGE-DUNKIN DONUTS HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY CLASSIC ALL TOURNEY TEAM!
MVP- CLAYTON WHITTEMORE-NEW HARTFORD
TJ REILEY-ROME FREE ACADEMY
JASON FITZGERALD-NEW HARTFORD
CHIRS LUKER-NEW HARTFORD
SPENCER LANDRY-NEW HARTFORD
MAX BARTELL-ROME FREE ACADEMY
