The 2002 Boston Icemen treated their Moms to an exciting Mother's Day weekend of hockey, winning the May Spring Fling at the New England Sports Center. The perennial favorites, Connecticut Yankees, and the Icemen battled in the opening game which was characterized by unbelievable goaltending and heavy hitting. Zack Robbins made some great saves and Aidan O'Leary scored on nifty one-timer in the 2-1 loss to the Yankees. The "fired up" Icemen took it to the Boston Selects in the 2nd game, 8-2, with Philip Resca, Will Cohen, and Devin O'Brien, Michael Martignetti, Joey D'Ortenzio and Nathan Eldredge all playing solid two way hockey. Nick Rheaume, Hayden Kirks, Alex Nazarian, Tyler Anastasi and Ian Moore all lit the lamp as the Icemen moved the puck well throughout the game. A tough New Jersey Renegades team took advantage of a weary Icemen squad later that day, 8-3, in a game where the Icemen found their legs in the 3rd period, which was too late, but a fine confidence builder heading to the playoffs.
The Icemen slept well, knowing they would meet the NJ opponent early the next morning, and there were plenty of emotions carried over from that loss on Saturday. Cory Hanneman and Johnathan Stasukelis were flying early, and they helped set up nifty goals by Ian Moore and Nick Rheaume. Zack Robbins recorded the first ever shutout for the 02 Icemen. The 3-0 win set up a championship game against the vaunted Yankees. The Icemen jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a wrister by Moore after a nice pass from O'Brien. Nick Rheaume continued his torrid scoring pace to put the Icemen up 2-0, as Anastasi and Nazarian executed a perfect give n' go to baffle the Yanks' defense. O'Leary broke through again on an unbelievable individual breakaway effort, and Will Cohen finished it off with a nifty backhander on a feed from Hannemann and Stasukelis to seal the win and the championship, 4-2.
The kids had great fun, and we look forward to the next tourney in late June.
