Game of the Day


Wilson Crane of the Colorado Thunderbirds goes all out for a loose puck during opening round action at the USA Hockey Tier I 16 & Under division on Thursday. (Photo by Total Sports Imaging)

Quick Start Powers Thunderbirds To Opening Victory

PITTSBURGH – After making it to the final four in their last three trips to the USA Hockey National Championships, the Colorado Thunderbirds Head Coach Angelo Ricci knows it’s not how you start but how you finish that matters if you want to bring home the championship hardware.

Still, Ricci has to be happy with the way his team began its quest to take the final step up the podium after taking care of the Cape Cod Whalers, 6-3, in the first game of the Tier I 16 & Under tournament on Thursday.

“The start was huge and that’s what we stressed,” said Ricci after his team’s first game in three weeks. “We wanted to get a lead and we were fortunate to get three goals in the first period. That was definitely a lot more than we thought would happen.”

The Thunderbirds used a tenacious forecheck to jump on the Whalers blueline crew off the opening draw. Even before fans settled into their seats at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Center, the Thunderbirds were on the board as Ty Smilanic scored the first of his two first-period tallies just 15 seconds into the game.

Smilanic’s opening tally came about thanks to the hard work of his teammate Jackson Wozniak, who wrestled the puck away from a Cape Cod defender and managed to get a shot on net with Smilanic positioned to poke in the rebound.

The Thunderbirds added to the lead on goals from Smilanic and Dominic Sandoval scored 45 seconds apart.

Despite digging themselves an early hole, the Whalers began to claw their way back on second-period goals by PJ Garrett, Reilly Moran and Tristan Amonte. But every time they would get close the Thunderbirds had an answer to keep the game at arm’s length.

“That shows the character of this team. Every time they got close we found a way to get it back,” Ricci said.

Even with 10 new players on the roster, the Thunderbirds are poised to build on an impressive Nationals resume. They are coming off consecutive semifinal showings in their last two tournaments, and dropped a heartbreaking four-overtime loss in the finals in 2013.

Ricci feels he has the horses to carry him across the finish line this year. It comes down to focusing on the little things that will pay big dividends.

“It’s a matter of consistency and paying attention to detail,” he said. “When you get to big moments and big opportunities like this it’s all about sticking to your game plan, not doing anything out of the ordinary, believing and trusting in each other and doing what your coaches tell you to do.”

Other Action

Chicago Mission 5, Culver Academy Eagles 2

The Chicago Mission used a balanced offensive attack and stingy defense to score an impressive victory against a tough Culver Academy squad. Third-period goals from Brian Silver, Zachary Dubinsky and Matthew De St. Phalle broke a 2-2 deadlock as the Mission opened the tournament on the right foot. Jesse Lowell and John Johnson also scored for the Mission, and Nicholas Grabko turned aside shots in a winning effort. Noah Henry and Spencer Cox provided the offense for Culver.

Detroit-Honeybaked 5, Westchester Express/Apple Core 1

Ben Badalamenti had a goal and two assists, and Zach Borgiel turned aside 11 of 12 shots as Detroit-Honeybaked put the brakes on the Westchester Express/New York Apple Core. Third-period goals from Noah Carlin, Michael Mancinelli and Andrew Remer provided a comfortable cushion for Honeybaked. Jason Ruszkowski added the lone goal for the Express.

Compuware 7, Sioux Falls Jr. Stampede 0

Arthur Kaliyev scored a pair of goals and Chase Johnson turned aside all 13 shots he faced as Compuware scored an impressive opening victory. Brendan Dempsey primed the Compuware scoring machine with his first-period goal, and Ryan Lautenbach added a second-period marker to provide Johnson with all the support he would need. Xan Gurney, Chase McLane and Joe Mack added goals in the final frame.

Central Connecticut Capital Selects 3, Anaheim Jr. Ducks 1

Shane Pinto scored a pair of goals and Anthony Mastromonica added a goal and an assist to support the 23-save performance from Matt Stephen as the Central Connecticut Capital Selects rolled to victory. Cody Sherman provided the offense for the Jr. Ducks.

Shattuck-St. Mary’s 5, Tampa Scorpions 3

First-period goals from Griffin Streeter and Brendan Brisson staked Shattuck-St. Mary’s to an early lead before the Tampa Scorpions clawed back to take a brief lead on third-period power-play goals from Eric Thompson and Vinny Prospal. Ian Schumacher, Robert Mastrosimone and McKade Webster also scored for Shattuck, while Stephen Pokrony pitched in a goal for the Scorpions.

Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 1, North Jersey Avalanche 0

William Christie’s third-period goal provided all the offense that Penguins Elite goaltender Broderick Lineman would need to secure an opening victory for the hosts.

Omaha AAA 4, Dallas Stars Elite 1

Jordan Randall scored a pair of goals and Logan Will and Kirill Tarasov pitched in with a goal apiece to power Omaha to victory. Goaltender Jacob Sibell stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced to backstop the victory. Ryan Robinson provided all the offense the Stars Elite could muster.