Monarchs Roll On

Hooksett, NH –The New Hampshire Junior Monarchs continued to collect much needed points this past weekend as they would win both games in a 2 game weekend. Both the Valley Junior Warriors and the New England Huskies would leave the Tri-Town Ice Arena empty handed by scores of 6-5 and 7-0 respectively.

On Friday, the Valley Junior Warriors made the half hour trek north to Hooksett to play the final game in the season series against the Monarchs. Despite getting out to a comfortable lead early, the Monarchs would struggle as the game wore on giving up 2 goals while on the powerplay, and allowing the Warriors to tie the game at 5 with just 1:20 remaining in the 3rd period. Everyone but Ryan Randall had begun to look towards an overtime frame with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation. It was at that time, with the puck on his stick at the Monarchs’ goal line, that Randall took the game into his own hands. He saw open ice, took it, and carried the puck all the way into the Warriors zone. After forward Kyle Mountain had driven the Warriors defense back deep into their zone, Randall cut 90 degrees laterally through the middle of the offensive zone, and pulled the trigger on a quick wristshot that would beat Warriors goaltender Jeff Wyer over his blocker with 20 seconds remaining in the game. The Monarchs would hold off any chances the Warriors tried to muster in the remaining seconds of the game and hold on for the victory and sweep of the season series.

Saturday the team would come out with a much more determined mindset and from the drop of the puck their dominance would be asserted as they would score 5 goals in the 1st period and never look back. When the final buzzer sounded, the Monarchs had amassed 7 goals and goaltender Brian Billett had earned his 1st shutout of the season.

The Monarchs have a busy week ahead as they play host to the Green Mountain Glades on Thursday and then the Syracuse Stars come into town for a pair of games on Saturday and Sunday to close out the regular season.