Garden City Recreation Hockey Stanley Cup Championship
Story by: Andrew Karen

November 17th, 2007

The GC rec. Hockey Senior Divison held their Stanley Cup Finals Saturday game 17th at the Community Park roller Hockey Rinks. In a highly anticipated game that saw the Colorado Avalanche coached by James Crafa going up agaisnt the Columbus Blue Jackets coached by Andew Karen. The Bule Jackets came out and would get the board first shot of the game. The teams would then go back and fourth but both goaltenders Alex DeMarchena of the Blue Jackets and Joseph Eigl would make save after save to keep the game at 1-0.

The score would remain 1-0 but chances were had by both teams as Scott LaRose, Billy Tranfaglia, & Brian LoRusso would get quality scoring chances for the Blue Jackets. But it was the solid defense of Frank Sikorski, Michael Lyons, & John Karikas of the Avalanche who kept all the shots to the outside and allowed Goaltender Joseph Eigl to make all the saves. On the other side the Avalanche would get quality chances from Joseph Giarputto, Ryan Ilardi, and Matt Trabold but the defense of Denis Blumin, Johnathan Warhurst, Henry Wykowski and Thomas Sullivan came up with some big time defensive plays.

After two periods of play the score remained 1-0 Blue Jackets. As the third period started, the Avalanche would come out flying and mid-way through the period they would tie the game on a backhand shot from Matt Trabold. And just like that we have a 1-1 hockey game with only a few minutes to play. The teams would the ngo back and fourth and with just under 3 minutes to play, Blue Jackets foward Daniel Combatti came flying in and took a wicked wrist shot that beat goaltender Joseph Eigl and gave the blue Jackets a 2-1 lead. As the final minutes ticked down the Avalanche would get many chances but goalie Alex DeMarchena came up big and the Blue Jackets won and celebrated the Stanley Cup Win.

Everyone at the rink on this brisk Saturday afternoon will agree it was a well played game, but more importantly each player has shown great improvement thanks to the GC Rec Hockey staff. Another season completed and everyone is already talking about the spring.