Monarchs Off to a Stellar Start in ‘09

Hooksett, NH –With every new year comes a time for making resolutions, and it would seem that the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs have resolved to continue playing as well as they were before their hard-earned holiday break.

The team is 16-1-1 in their last 18, with their only loss coming in a hard fought 4-1 loss to their perennial rival, the Jr. Bruins. In their last 3 games the Monarchs have outscored their opponents 30- 10, and in their post-New Year rematch with the Bruins, the Monarchs exacted revenge with a 3-2 overtime win. The team’s last game was perhaps the most exciting of the season, as the boys fought back in the 3rd period this past Sunday against the Falcons to win the game on a Kyle Mountain goal with just 1 second remaining on the clock.

The new year has seemed to energize the team, in particular players like Kyle Beattie, and Adam Shemansky have taken their games to another level each averaging over 2 points a game since the break, with Beattie scoring 14 points in 6 games, and Shemansky notching 12 points in 5 games. In fact, all of the Monarchs players have stepped up their play early in this second half. Pat Doherty, Jamie Ferullo, and Pat Kiley all notched hat tricks in the Monarchs recent win over the Jr. Shamrocks, and George Lotito added a pair of goals. Mike Cornell may have set a team record for points in a game by a defenseman in that contest as well.

The Monarchs will look to continue their winning ways as the regular season winds down over the next month and a half. The road will not be an easy one though, as the team will not only be facing squads fighting for playoff spots, but they will also have quite a hectic schedule due to the fact that there are quite a few makeup games to be played. The team is back in action this Thursday with one of those makeup games, as they face off against Northern Division rivals, the New England Huskies. The puck drops at 1 pm at Tri Town Ice Arena.