ECEL WINTER CLASSIC TOP PERFORMERS

January 18, 2019

U18

Forward – Kegan Vincent, New Hampshire Avalanche
            Vincent’s playmaking ability again proved key for New Hampshire in the three-win showcase, which allowed the Avalanche to even its season record at 6-6-0. Vincent scored once and set up three others in a rout of the Seacoast Spartans. He also assisted on the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over the Ontario Junior Reign and added two more assists in a dominating win over the 95 Giants for a 7-point weekend.

Defense – Ricards Landmanis, Hill Academy
            Landmanis helped Hill Academy vault into second place with a perfect 4-0-0 Winter Classic record, including posting three straight shutout victories to close the weekend. He scored his first goal of the season in a 6-0 rout of the Colorado Rampage and posted an assist during a 5-0 win over the Seacoast Spartans. Landmanis and the Hill defensive corps managed to limit their opponents to just single goal for the entire showcase.

Goaltender – Ryan Goodlife, Boston Advantage
            Goodlife backboned the Advantage to a three-win showcase with two shutout victories in his only starts. He turned aside 15 bids in a 3-0 win over the New Hampshire Avalanche before stopping 10 shots as the Advantage shut down the Seacoast Spartans, 6-0. With the back-to-back blankings, Goodlife lowered his goals-against average to 1.45 while raising his save percentage to .940 in six appearances.

U16

Forward – Anthony Galante, New Jersey Titans
            Galante posted 13 points in four contests during the Winter Classic with at least one point in each, helping the Titans go 3-1-0 on the weekend. He opened the showcase by setting up three goals in a 6-3 win over the guest Nashville Junior Predators before scoring once in a loss to Elite Hockey Program. Galante then notched a hat trick in 5-0 blanking of Mount Academy but saved his best for last with 2 goals and 4 assists in back-and-forth, 7-5 victory over Seacoast. Galante now leads New Jersey with 20 points this season.

Defense – Charlie Cocuzzo, Elite Hockey Program
            Cocuzzo’s dominant shutdown play on the blue line helped the now first-place Elite Hockey Program sweep its three league opponents during the Winter Classic, allowing just 6 goals against over the four games. He stood out in a 2-1 loss to powerful guest Bishop’s College School of Quebec before scoring at statement goal in an 8-2 win over New Jersey. Cocuzzo and crew later doubled up the Boston Advantage, 4-2, before he added three assists in a rout of the West Coast Renegades.

Goaltender – Nick Bevilacqua, Boston Advantage
            Bevilacqua won both his Winter Classic starts for the Advantage, surrendering just 1 goal against in the process. He recorded his second shutout of the season with a 13-save performance during a blowout the West Coast Renegades and allowed just a single goal on 26 shots in a 4-1 win against the potent Bishop’s College School offense. Bevilacqua lowered his season goals-against average to 1.20 in five starts while his save percentage spiked to .941.

U15

Forward – Logan Nickerson, Elite Hockey Program
            Nickerson recorded at least a point in all three showcase contests to help the Elite Hockey Program go unbeaten and take over first place in the standings. He assisted on 4 of 6 goals in a dominating win over the West Coast Renegades to open the Winter Classic before setting up the game’s only goal in a battle-for-first victory over New Jersey. Nickerson also scored during a 4-1 win over the Boston Advantage for this 13th point of the season, which sits him atop of the division’s scoring ranks.

Defense – Shane Carr, New Jersey Titans
            Carr played in just two Winter Classic contests for the Titans but definitely made his presence felt in both. He helped New Jersey limit the red-hot Elite offense, which had been averaging more than 6 goals a game in its last three outings, to a single goal before completely shutting down West Coast in 5-0 victory. Carr also chipped in with a pair of assists in the win over the Renegades.

Goaltender – Marino Lupo, New Jersey Titans
                Lupo remained undefeated against ECEL opponents with a pair of Winter Classic victories, which included his second shutout of the season. He turned aside 15 of 16 shots in a 4-1 win over the Boston Advantage before posting a 23-save shutout of the West Coast Renegades, which raised his overall record to 5-1-0. Lupo’s goals-against average dropped to 1.50 to go along with an impressive .937 save percentage.