Loblaws Street Hockey League - LSHL

Action-packed night at the LSHL!
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With another 8 games on Thursday night, there was action everywhere. Only 2 days into the season and we can already sense the tension between certain players. Rivalries are already starting and the season is only getting warmed up. Once again, the Reds picked up the most points this week with 7 points, followed by the Blacks with 6 points, and finally the Whites with 4 points.

Honorable Mentions of the Night:
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Once again, for team Black, their most dangerous player was Damiano Savoca, notching 6 goals and 3 assists by the end of the night. But this week, Giuseppe Frenda also deserves an honorable mention for his aggressive defensive plays all night. During the lone shootout of the night, Savoca and D. Bilotta both scored to give their team the win.

For team Red, the new duo consisting of Maddalena and Caruso proved to live up to expectations. Maddalena’s LSHL debut was a good one, picking up 5 goals in 3 games, with 4 of those 5 being assisted by Caruso. With chemistry like this, it’s no wonder Maddalena already picked up a hat trick in only his 3rd game. Also, Pat Altomare, who missed out on last week’s action scored 4 goals in 5 games for his debut.

Although team White is still struggling to find their way, Anthony Cardinale put up some decent numbers to help out his team. He finished the night with 3 goals and 3 assists. Also, Sammy Famularo seems to be getting back on track as he finished the night with 5 goals and 1 assist. New goalie Gianni Ariemma made a good first impression making multiple big saves to try and keep his team in each game.

Entertaining Night for Official Season Opener!
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     With 8 big games on Thursday night, we were treated to a very exciting season opener. From Hat Tricks to Shutouts and even Shootouts, the LSHL started off with a bang! After the first night, the Reds find themselves ahead of the pack with 9 points, followed by Team Black who put together a nice 3 game winning streak to bring themselves within 3 points of the Reds, and trailing with only 2 points are the Whites.

 
     Also, minutes before the first puck drop to launch the LSHL 08 Season, a trade was made between Team Red and Team White. Captains Caruso and Famularo accepted a deal sending defenseman Chris Pereira to the Whites in return for the young future prospect James Maddalena.

 
Honorable Mentions of the Night:
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     One player that stood out from the pack on Thursday night was Damiano Savoca for the Blacks who played an excellent offensive game taking part in 11 of his teams 12 goals. Being constant threat to the opposing defense, the Blacks' top scorer was the main reason for his team's 3-game winning streak to end off the night. Savoca finished the night with 9 goals and 2 assists, including a hat trick vs the Whites in game 6.

 
     Another big player was the Reds captain, Andrew Caruso, who was everywhere on Thursday night. From keeping Whites' star forward Famularo to 1 assist in 3 games, and scoring the first hat trick of the LSHL season, Caruso led his team to 1st place after Day 1. The Reds captain finished the night with 6 goals and 4 assists, including a dramatic game-winning goal with less than 30 seconds left in game 2 to complete the hat trick and secure the win.

 
Plays of the Night:
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     The first play of the night goes to Frankie Cirillo after robbing Daniel Bilotta in Game 2. D. Bilotta found himself alone in front of the net when a teammate made a perfect pass across the crease right onto his stick. He redirected the puck towards the empty net to the side of Cirillo, but to his surprise, the Reds goaltender had different plans for Bilotta and stuck out the glove to make the save and keep the game tied at 2.

 
     Only moments after Cirillo's big save, the Reds quickly tried to turn the momentum around. The game being tied at 2, and with less than a minute left on the clock, both teams were already thinking about shootouts. But not Andrew Caruso, who decided to take things into his own hands. After picking up a pass at center from Marchlewski, the Reds' captain deked his way through all 3 Black defenders and wristed a shot top corner past Moscato to enventually give his team the win.

 
     Our last play of the night goes to Damiano Savoca from the Blacks. In game 8 vs the Reds, Savoca's team was down 2-1, until the dangerous duo consisting of D. Bilotta and Savoca took action. Savoca worked his way around the Reds' forecheck and dropped the puck off to D. Bilotta who was down near the right of the net. The Blacks' captain quickly put the ball back in front of the net with a perfect saucer pass that Savoca buried into the net before it even touched the ground. This goal forced the first ever LSHL shootout, and was eventually won by the Blacks after a 5th Round goal by D. Bilotta.