WLC U16 returns to Frank Black Cup Championship
The Washington Little Capitals U16 American team’s mission was set in stone before the current players were even selected. Be the defending champions of the NJPHL and hoist up the Frank Black Cup in the 15’-16’ season, just as The U16 team did in the 14’-15’ season.Heading into Rochester (NY) for the NJPHL playoffs, the team set out on this mission and the key to this was: hard work, making simple plays, and playing together as a team.
NJPHL Quarterfinals: WLC U16A (5) – Chicago Hawks (1) It was a playoff type of atmosphere when the Little Capitals hit the ice against the Chicago Hawks on January 30th, and the team rose to the occasion as they raised their intensity while also sticking to the script (hard work, keep it simple, teamwork). Washington found its first lead of the game only three minutes and sixteen seconds into the game when Xander Barnes (#10) found the back of the net as he grabbed a rebound shot of his own. As the game continued, Washington dominated the game-flow by sticking to their strategy and motto. Many of the early opportunities generated by the Little Capitals were thwarted away by Hawks goalie, Robert Martin (#37), and kept the game close until Jacob Lechner (#47) buried a three on one opportunity with 8:51 left in the second. This stretched the Washington lead to two and the team never looked back.
Anish Deena (#74), Jason Kleinhans (#63), and Scott Strauss (#18) also contributed goals on the offensive side. Defensively, the star of the game was goaltender Ben Gruber (#40). Gruber saved 27 of 28 shots, and came up big for his teammates on several point-blank and breakaway Hawks opportunities.
NJPHL Semifinals: WLC U16A (2) – Pittsburgh Vengeance (1) Coming off of a morning win vs. the Chicago Hawks, the last team standing in the way of the Little Caps and a return trip to the Frank Black Cup Championship series was the Pittsburgh Vengeance. The last time these two teams met, the result was a 3-2 Vengeance shootout win in Pittsburgh. It was a tight contest throughout, with all goals being scored in the third period and the game winning goal in the final minute of regulation. Coaches Brad Surdam and Kyle Langdon would credit the Vengeance defense in being very stringent in their own end and kept the pressure in the offensive zone by holding the blue line to keep the puck in. Stick to the Script’ is the motto of the NHL’s Washington Capitals and also is what the Little Capitals team did during this game. Even though the Vengeance controlled much of the game early, the coaches would credit the WLC players in never wavering. Keeping things simple, hard work, and playing together as a team would prove to be the keyBen Pazulski (#23) started the scoring as he was able to find himself alone in front of the net and on the receiving end of a passing play between Jake Smith (#6) and Xander Barnes (#10). This goal came at 4:45 of the third, leaving a full 12 minutes between the Capitals and being victorious.A goal by Pittsburgh with six minutes left in regulation created an exciting finish to the game as Jason Kleinhans (#63) pressured a Vengeance defenseman on a neutral zone forecheck and forced a key turnover. Kleinhans found the puck on his stick just inside the offensive blue line with nobody between him and the goalie, and made sure he capitalized on this breakaway with a deke that left him with a wide empty net. With only 53.7 seconds remaining in the game and a face-off at center ice, Washington would hold onto its 2-1 lead and not allow for any sustained pressure by their opponent.
Once again, Washington’s goalies would prove to be vital to success as Luc Bonvouloir would earn the star of the game for his 38 saves on 39 shots.
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Looking ahead, Washington will play Jimmy John’s at 5:40 pm on January 30th for the first game of the best of three series.
Good luck to the team in their quest to accomplish their goal and mission for back to back NJPHL titles through hard work, simple plays, and team work.