The shorthanded Rockville Centre/Malvern Cyclones Hockey Team defeated Manhasset 5-2 in the Liberty Division season opener on November 1st at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Arena in Bethpage. Starting the game with only 9 skaters versus the full roster of 16, Rockville Centre fell behind 0-2 by the end of the first period.
The second period was an entirely different story with Captain Sean Leavenworth throwing two strong body checks to put a charge into the Rockville Centre team. Jack Flatley scored the team’s first goal of the season from just outside the crease at 11:36 of the second period with the assist from Alternate Captain A.J Sandorfi. Less than two minutes later, Ryan Chelius scored his first of the season with assists from Harry Swett and Jack Flatley at 9:13. Chelius scored again with assists from Swett and Flatley at 3:04 to end the second period with Rockville Centre/Malvern leading 3-2.
The third period saw Chelius finish the rare natural hat trick with his third straight goal at 8:31. With Leavenworth and Cutrone applying heavy pressure to Manhasset’s forward line in the Rockville Centre/Malvern zone, the Manhasset center attempted a pass back to his defenseman. Chelius intercepted the pass and took off on a breakaway while fighting off several whacks from the Manhasset defense. While the defensive pressure applied by Rockville Centre/Malvern created the opportunity, the Chelius goal went into the books as unassisted. Manhasset scored with 3:19 left in the third, but Alternate Captain Andrew Cardi answered back with an empty net goal at 0:07 to end the game with a 5-3 victory.
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Goalie Jason Posner was strong in net with 20 saves. The forward line of Shane Manzi, James Surless, and Cardi and the flexibility of Luke Dougan who alternated between forward and defense were very effective in keeping Manhasset’s second and third lines under control.
Rockville Centre/Malvern’s next game is Tuesday November 3rd at 6:30 versus Syosset at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Arena in Bethpage at 1001 Stewart Avenue in Bethpage.