Back for more, the New Hartford Spartans hockey team showed that they deserved to be seated at the head table winning a second New York State Division II title, skating past another quality opponent in Queensbury 5-2. The win wrapped up another dream season and cements a permanent place in the hearts of New Hartford Spartans hockey fans for this hard working team.
With this bunch of Spartans it is a pick your poison menu that opposing teams and coaches got to choose from.
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Four different Spartans scored and five different players assisted on goals to fuel the flames that burned bright, when the scoreboard lights at the Aud in Utica read 5-2 New Hartford, when the final horn sounded.
Add another great defensive effort led by rock solid goaltending by sophomore netminder Spencer Landry, who stopped 32 Queensbury shots and you have the receipt for success that led to another DII Championship trophy being hoisted high above the ice by the back to back champs.
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(Familiar sight...Spartans student section shows their colors!)
A huge crowd was on hand at the Aud today to cheer on the Spartans X 2. The New Hartford Spartans (21-4-1) ranked #1 in the New York State polls, in one corner and the Queensbury Spartans from Section II ( 17-8-2) ranked #2 in New York State polls in the other corner.
Both teams brought heavyweight contingents of fans with them to see who could yell the loudest and see which team would end up with the ultimate bragging rights.
The scene was set for a great day at the old Aud, as the building continued to celebrate its 50th anniversary in style. Red, white and blue on one side, royal blue and gold, on the other.
Fans were not disappointed when players picked up all the sticks and gloves the victorious Spartans tossed into the air after three fast and furious periods of hard fought high school hockey.
(New Hartford's Clayton Whittemore (21), The New York State Division II Hockey Player of the Year, lets a slapshot fly during second period action.)
Speaking of fast and furious, this one started out that way and as soon as the puck was dropped and the clock starting ticking, the action was hot and heavy. So hot that Jason Fitzgerald had a chance to score from in close with just :16 seconds off the clock.
Fitzgerald, who went on to have a great game, scored a goal and dished out 3 assists, was all amped up and fired one wide right just past goalie Travis Hafner who was peppered with 34 shots on the day.
Trying to land the first shot to the solar plexus, New Hartford kept the relentless pressure on until Alex Fukes broke the ice scoring just :30 seconds later to give New Hartford a 1-0 lead at :49 seconds of the first period.
Junior, defensemen, Nick Decrisci, who really came on toward the end of the season, picked up an assist on the Fukes goal. Fukes would find the range twice on the day.
(All Hands on Deck...New Hartford's Eric Fitzgerald (7) and Spencer Landry (1) dive across the crease to stop a shot from Queensbury's Brian Frederick (7) early in second period action. )
As if things weren't bad enough for the other Spartans, sophomore forward Brad Willows picked up a penalty and left his team a man down with 13:23 left in the first. New Hartford was happy as they skated for 1:30 with a 5 on 4 advantage.
The advantage turned into a disadvantage just seconds later, 16 seconds to be exact, as Brian DeSimone took a feed off an intercepted New Hartford pass and sped up ice in high gear toward Spencer Landry.
DeSimone was hit in stride by teammate John Countryman and DeSimone made the best of the bad situation scoring a shorthanded goal to even things up 1-1 at the 1:54 mark of the opening period. Countryman and Anthony Saprano picked up assists on the play.
New Hartford seemed irritated that someone had scored on them and started to get physical, taking the body whenever they could. The rough and tumble play, along the boards and in the corners, seemed to unnerve the visitors from Section II.
(Spartans hoist the hardware in celebration of big win!)
The pace was a quick one for the rest of the first as both Spartans squads traded chances but came up empty thanks to good play in net by Landry and Hafner.
Joe Betar had a great chance to send one home on a break away with 5:40 left in the first, only to be stoned on a nice glove save by Hafner.
Jason Fitzgerald missed, wide right, just about a minute later. Mike Critelli, did not miss as he closed out the first in style scoring with 56.6 seconds left. Now 2-1 New Hartford skated off the ice with the lead and all the momentum in the world. Jason Fitzgerald and Tim Knaul assisted on the Critelli tally.
Momentum was still sitting on New Hartford's bench as period two got underway. Sensing a chance to seize control, Clayton Whittemore rattled one off the left goal pipe, just ten seconds in, only to skate away empty handed.
Eric Fitzgerald thought he had helped seal the deal, sliding one in on a well timed backhander with 9:54 left in the frame. A quick thinking Queensbury defender yanked the net off its mooring and the goal was waved off, much to the dismay of Fitzgerald and New Hartford fans.
(2010 NYS DII CHAMPS-NEW HARTFORD SPARTANS)
Never fear, because just four minutes and change later Alex Fukes and friends celebrated, as Fukes took a beautiful drop pass from Clayton Whittemore to make it 3-1 at the 10:08 mark. Whittemore and J Fitz earned assists.
This one really hurt one bunch of Spartans, from Queensbury, and really pumped up the other Spartans who were starting to sense that this one was well in hand.
Clayton Whittemore showed fans at the Aud why he was the Section III DII East Player of the Year as he broke away from the Queensbury defense and sped in all alone. Kevin Valenti had no other choice than to drag Whittemore to the ice.
Valenti went to the box having been called for a trip and as fate would have it Whittemore scored a power play goal at the 14:03 mark to put a lid on this one. Jason Fitzgerald and Alex Fukes assisted on the goal.
Most of period three was all about New Hartford protecting its big lead and getting ready to celebrate another DII Championship.
Desperate to make one last run, Coach Dean Williams called his goalie to the bench to add another attacker with 2:45 left. The empty net was too hard for Jason Fitzgerald to resist and he poked home the,celebration starting, fifth goal. At 5-1, this one was done. Tim Knaul and Clayton Whittemore earned assists.
Lucas Hay scored as the clock wound down inside :30 seconds to make the final score 5-2 New Hartford.
(All Tourney Team: R to L: Chris Luker, Spencer Landry, Anthony Soprano, Clayton Whittemore, Jason Fitzgerald, Alex Fukes.)
Five New Hartford players made the All-Tourney team, goalie Spencer Landry, defensmen Chris Luker along with forwards, Clayton Whittemore and Jason Fitzgerald. The fifth was the tourney's MVP, Alex Fukes.
It was also announced following the game that Clayton Whittemore was honored by the New York State High School Hockey Coaches Association as the state’s Division II Player of the Year.
Whittemore had a sensational season scoring 47 goals and dishing out 26 assists to amass an astounding 73 points.
Congratulations to Coach John Cunnigham and the New Hartford Spartans on a fantastic season and thanks for allowing MHTS to come along for the ride.
New Hartford 5 Queensbury 2
1 2 3 Total
Queensbury 1 0 1 2
New Hartford 2 2 1 5
Scoring Leaders:
Queensbury:
Brian DeSimone- 1 goal
Lucas Hay-1 goal
Anthony Saprano- assist
John Countryman- 1 assist
New Hartford
Jason Fitzgerald- 1 goal-3 assists
Alex Fukes- 2 goals-1 assist
Clayton Whittemore- 1 goal-2 assists
Spencer Landry- 32 saves
Penalties: New Hartford 13 Queensbury 16
