DANBURY, CT—The third round of NESHL action took place this past Sunday at the Danbury Ice Arena in Danbury Connecticut, and found the New York United Spinal Rangers bounce back from a disappointing October, in which they had to forfeit four games, with two wins, bringing them within four points of co-league leaders New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. The Rangers were the only team to come away without a defeat, as the New Hampshire NEP Wildcats, Pennsylvania Center-Pedes, and Connecticut Wolfpack all finished with an even record of one win and one loss.  Playing in only their 3^rd league game, newcomers the Vermont Sledcats showed that they were still a team in progress, losing both of their games. 

            The day began with a match-up of the league’s two top teams, the Wildcats and the Center-Pedes, and the game did not disappoint.  Behind the four-point performance of Pennsylvania’s Tim Jones, the Center-Pedes edged out New Hampshire and their explosive offense by the slimmest of margins, 5-4.  The Center-Pedes, however, followed up this huge win with a disappointing loss to the New York United Spinal Rangers, 7-3.  The Rangers’ Chris Meigel scored a remarkable four goals and Victor Calise contributed three assists in the victory.  Vermont at first seemed overmatched against the Rangers in the next game, but the feisty Sledcats managed to put two pucks in the net before eventually falling to the Rangers, 6-2.  Vermont showed heart but New York’s offense, led by Nick Teodoro’s 4 assists and Dan Santos’ hat trick, proved to be too much for the valiant but out-gunned Sledcats.  Connecticut and Vermont faced off next.  The Wolfpack’s Anthony Kuntz and Ryan Pelletier scored two goals apiece, and goalie Karen Smith was on her game, providing the day’s only shut-out, as Connecticut blanked the Sledcats, 5-0.  The day’s competition concluded with New Hampshire atoning for their earlier defeat by taking down Connecticut, 5-1.  The Wildcats’ Josh Moran added to his league-leading point-total by amassing three more in the victory, and fellow New Hampshire teammate and league standout Bryan Genovese garnered two points of his own.

            Some of the day’s other noteworthy performances included a six-point Sunday by the Center-Pedes’ Tim Jones and a four-point day for teammate Danny Devitt, a combined four goals for New Hampshire’s Kip St. Germaine, a total of four points for Connecticut’s Ryan Pelletier, and a four-point total in two games for the Rangers’ Josh Pauls.  Although they went winless, Vermont showed glimpses of [what could become] a promising team.  One such bright spot was goalie Patrick Standen, whose 18 saves against the Rangers was the day’s highest single-game total.

            When play resumes on January 10 in Danbury, the NESHL will find New Hampshire and Pennsylvania locked in a first-place tie and New York only four points behind.  This logjam at the top ensures that more exciting action is yet to come.