Monarchs Hand Kings First Loss

10.11.09 by Mike Klein

Foxboro, MA- Trent Ruffolo scored twice and Chris Eiserman made 44 saves as the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs gave the South Shore Kings their first loss of the season.

The Monarchs drew first blood in the opening period just 2:56 into the game. Trent Ruffolo dished the puck to Alex Gacek, who then shot from the low circle past goaltender Brad Barone.

South Shore got on the board 5:50 into the second period when Shane Walsh set up Brian Schultz. Schultz shot the puck at Eiserman, who made the save, but the rebound went right to Charlie Coyle, who put it in the net.

Five minutes later, David Carson picked up a loose puck in the Monarchs’ zone and fired it at Eiserman, who had lost his stick a few seconds earlier. Eiserman got his blocker on it, but the puck shot into the air and across the goal line.

The Monarchs tied the game up with 5:22 left in the second when a scrum broke out in front of the net and George Lotito poked the puck over the goal line. Brad Barone tried to swipe it out, but the puck had already crossed the line. Patrick Kiley and Cody Sharib received assists.

The Kings jumped back out in front early in the third with a power play goal. Chad Petersen hit Eric Czapka at the point, and Czapla sent a long pass to Brian Schultz, who shot the puck back door on Eiserman.

Trent Ruffolo responded with a power play goal of his own to even the game at 3-3. Alex Gacek gave Ruffolo a centering pass, which Ruffolo one-timed in the slot. Barone deflected the puck away, but Roffolo picked up his own rebound at the foot of the slot and banged it home.

Ruffolo put the Monarchs on top with 10:09 to play when he converted on a breakaway. Goaltender Chris Eiserman cleared the puck over to Aaron Kesselman, who flipped it into the neutral zone. Ruffolo gathered the puck and skated in and shot from the circle to net the eventual game-winner.

Gacek added an insurance goal with 4:29 remaining courtesy of Peter DeAngelo. Kings goaltender Barone made 42 saves in the loss, which was his team’s first of the season. Both teams return to action on Friday at the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs Showcase at the Tri-Town Ice Arena in Hooksett, NH.

-Mike Klein, 11 October 2009