Mad Dog "Winter Classic" was a Success!
Team “Mad”vs Team “Dog”
The Marshall Simonds Middle School Mad Dog hockey team ended their season last week with a “Winter Classic” game being played on Friday that rivaled the NHL’s own. It was
a friendly competition to showcase all the players on one sheet of ice. Programs were printed, skates sharpened and fans were present. The National Anthem was performed beautifully by Burlington 8th grader Gabrielle Corsino to
start the morning!
Team “Mad” wore the Navy Blue NY Rangers jerseys and Team “Dog” wore the Pittsburgh Penguin’s baby blue jerseys. To add to the professional atmosphere announcements and the scoreboard were taken care of by Joey Mestone and Sean Thomas, music by Nick Thomas.
The returning ninth graders ceremoniously dropped the puck at center ice. Between the pipes for Team “Mad “was Brian “Shoe” Wilshusen, and defending on the other
side was Raphy DeCarlucci who was in the net for Team “Dog”. Coach Pepicelli was on the bench for the Dog team assisted by Stephen O’Brien. Coaching the Mad team was Chris Marchese assisted by Billy Pepicelli.
Mad was the first to strike with Robbie Ramirez scoring assisted by Timmy Bridges and Max Hovasse,followed closely by an unassisted Dog goal by returning ninth grader Robbie McLean. The players went from end to end both teams trying their best efforts. Ramirez put another one in the net for his second of the day to make it 2 to 1,
assisted by Dylan MacKinnon and returning ninth grader Anthony Nikolopolous. While they were hot Team “Mad” added another to the tally with MacKinnon scoring assisted
by Logan D’Auria and Hovasse. Being up 3 to 1 team “Mad” was feeling pretty good at this point, and then to add to the excitement Jeff Russo added another assisted by Nikolopolous and Robbie Ryan. That made the score 4 to 1 at the end of the first period. Both goalies made some incredible saves.
Coach Pepicelli has won the last two Winter Classic games and rallied his team during the intermission. Team “Dog” came out and slowly chipped away at the deficit. Two
goals by Tommy Hanafin both assisted by Ryan O’Connor and one from Aiden Shea brought the scoreboard to read 4 : 4, we had a tie game! Then McLean had his second goal of the morning assisted by Hanafin. Team “Mad” added goals by Nick Dallasanta and Nikolopolous and one more from Hanafin.on Team “Dog” and the score was 6 to 6 at the end of the second period, the boys went to their locker rooms all even.
As the third period opened Team “Dog” came out rushing the puck and Hanafin added two more assisted by McClean and Jake Hanafin. D’Auria fought back and scored for Team “Mad” assisted by Nikolopolous and Ramirez but that would do it for Team “Mad”. There was still something left in Team “Dog”. O’Connor scored unassisted; another from Hanafin assisted by McClean and finally Sean Casey assisted by Frankie Bonano. Goalies Wilshusen and DeCarlucci both made phenomenal saves against the continuous offensive attacks!
Team “Dog” won for the third time coached by Bill Pepicelli to keep his streak alive. Final score Team “Dog” 11, Team “Mad” 7.
Coach Pepicelli and his assistant coaches put together a wonderful day for the middle school players. Thanks to you Coach Pepicelli, Coach Marchese, Coach O’Brien, Coach Pepicelli, Nick Thomas and the O’Brien Ice Rink.
Please visit the website: www.maddoghockey.net to see pictures of the “Winter Classic” and keep watch to sign up for next year.
