When we last checked in with the Whitesboro Warriors hockey team (4-4), they had just completed a 2-0 shutout victory over north country power Ogdensburg for their third straight victory. This, after starting their season 0-4. On a frigid night at the Whitestown Recreation Center, behind a spectacular effort by junior goalie Ryan "Rhino" Smith, those same Warriors defeated the RFA Black Knights (5-3-1) by a score of 3-1 in a key Division II East matchup for both clubs.
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RFA, which entered tonight with a perfect (4-0) league mark and tied with New Hartford for the DII East lead, was hoping for a repeat of the 6-1 win they had over the Warriors in Rome, back on December 1st.
(RFA's Joey Rutkowski (27) right, and Garrett Reilley (10) left, badger Whitesboro's Mike Towne (16) center as he looks to start into the RFA zone.)
The streaking Warriors had other plans and junior forward Matt Senior hammered that point home just 1:03 into the opening period, beating RFA goalie Anthony D'Urso and giving the home club a 1-0 lead. Mike Towne and Dan Russo assisted on the goal.
Down 1-0 early and with their bus legs clearly worked out, the Black Knights went about their business and applied relentless pressure in the Whitesboro end for the remainder of the first period.
With 9:51 remaning in the first, Whitesboro's John O'Dell was called for hitting from behind, which resulted in a seven and a half minute major penalty and a minute and a half minor, which was served by teammate Dylan Crawford, resulting in a 5-3 power play for RFA.
(Whitesboro's Korey Henderson (10) lays a lick on RFA's Seth McCormick (16) late in the contest.)
The Black Knights peppered Whitesboro's Dylan Smith with six point blank shots during the two man advantage and the one they call "Rhino" was up to the task, making save after save to preserve the slim lead for his Warriors.
Smith and Whitesboro killed off a total of five penalties in the first period to head to the intermission with a 1-0 lead. RFA outshot Whitesboro 16-6 in the opening stanza.
With a fresh sheet of ice, the Black Knights continued their barrage on the Whitesboro net, reeling off the first five shots on goal of the second period. Time and time again, Smith frustrated RFA shooters with a lightning fast catch glove.
(Whitesboro goalie Ryan "Rhino" Smith (1) makes a big third period save as RFA's Mike Pekarski (11) tangles with Warriors defenseman Rocco Militano do battle in front.)
After spending the majority of the second in their own end, Whitesboro's Chad Martin found himself alone in front of the RFA goal and stuffed a loose puck past an outstretched D'urso, with just :42 seconds remaining in the middle frame, giving Whitesboro a 2-0 lead and sending the huge blue crowd into a frenzy.
With time winding down in the second period, Whitesboro's Nick Foresti received a marginal call for interference at the Warriors blue line, to give RFA a man advantage. With just :13.9 seconds remaining, RFA's Matt DeMatteo finally solved the brick wall that was Ryan Smith, punching home a power play goal to pull the Knights to within 2-1.
T.J. Reilley and Robbie Waller assisted on the RFA tally. The Black Knights went to the second intermission with a 26-12 advantage in shots on goal.
The third period became an inspired battle of wills, as the Warriors stepped their pressure in the RFA end as they looked to gain a huge league victory.
(Whitesboro winger Dan Russo (27) moves the puck into the neutral zone.)
RFA responded with a relentless attack of their own and with 7:38 remaining in the game, T.J. Reilley found himself all alone in front of the Whitesboro net, where he whistled a wrist shot to Ryan Smith's glove side. Smith's reflexes were dead on again, as the second year starter snatched the puck out of thin air for the biggest save of the night.
Mike Towne added an empty net goal with :44 seconds to go in regulation, to seal the deal for Whitesboro and when the final buzzer sounded, the entire tribe of Warriors swarmed "Rhino" in front of the Whitesboro goal, celebrating a huge 3-1 league victory.
"We knew we were playing better the past few games and that RFA was going to be a huge test to see how far we've come", an exhausted Ryan Smith said following the game.
(Chad Martin (17) stuffs the puck under RFA goalie Anthony D'Urso (30) for what turned out to be the game winner.)
Smith, who stopped 37 of the 38 shots fired at him, went on to explain that the Warriors four game winning streak is a result of a lot of hard work in practice and belief in their ability. "We have been working really hard in practice, just trying to improve after starting out so badly. The coaches keep telling us that we are capable of better and tonight we proved that we are. This win feels really great".
The Warriors are now off for a week, as they will host Hamilton on January 6th.
RFA will look to regain a piece of first place in the DII East on Saturday, when they hit the road again to face New Hartford at the Rec Center.
The Spartans, who entered today ranked #1 in the State poll, dropped their first Division II game in more than a year today, a 3-2 tilt with Glens Falls.
Box Score
1 2 3 Final
RFA 0 1 0 1
Whitesboro 1 1 1 3
