To view action photos of the game, visit the photo gallery at the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
By Scott Huff
Warwick – Any ice hockey interpreter – on any level – knows that discipline translates into victories.
“If we stay disciplined we win games,” said Neshaminy senior DJ Bell after his Redskins (5-6-5, 15) defeated Council Rock North (5-9-2, 12) – 5-3 – in a pivotal Suburban High School Hockey League National Division game played at the Warwick Ice Arena. “This was a very important game for us to win as a team, and for me to win as a senior on this team. There is no next year for me.”The victory leap-frogged the Skins into third place in the SHSHL National ahead of William Tennent (6-9-2, 14) and behind idle Pennsbury (9-6-1, 19).
“We talked before the game about how important it was for us to stay out of the penalty box,” said Neshaminy head coach Ray Sherno. “We lost too many points in the standings this year because we were on the wrong end of power plays.
“It was great to see us on the opposite side of that situation tonight,” added Sherno. “We were able to take advantage of a number of power plays.”
Three power play goals were to be scored to be exact – and Bell was the goal scorer on each one of them. Bell is the third leading scorer in the division with 27 goals.
“It was great for us to run our power play instead of being in the penalty box,” said Bell who also had an assist for the Skins for a four-point night. “When we move our feet, we can be very effective.”
The game – which began 34 minutes late as there was a problem with the ice – looked like it might be a game for Rock North at the outset.
North’s Michael Shander opened the scoring just 27 seconds into the game with an even strength goal. Bobby Dumont collected the assist.“I think after that goal, the kids thought the game was over,” said Council Rock head coach Eric Tye. “But the red team (Neshaminy) wanted to win more tonight than the white (CR North) team.”
Neshaminy scored before the close of the first period on a goal by Nick Verdi on assists from Bell and Justin Santoro to forge the 1-1 tie.
Bell scored the first goal of his hat trick in the second period on assists from Nick La Palombara and Jordan Ducko to give the Skins a 2-1 lead.
Rock North, however, created a 2-2 tie on a goal scored off the stick of Jim McKensie. Mark McDonald registered the assist.
“We were back into that tie thing again,” said Sherno in reference to his club’s five stalemates this season. “We really didn’t want, or need, still another tie.”
Bell scored his second power play goal before the close of the second period. La Palombara and Jake Kitchenman earned assists, as Neshaminy would take a 3-2 lead into the third period.
The potent Bell Power Play scored its third goal of the game at the outset of the third period to boost the Skin lead to 4-2. La Palombara – who finished the night with three assists – and Kitchenman assisted on the goal.The lead swelled to 5-2 on a goal by Neshaminy’s Eric Graham on an assist from Santoro.
Shander closed out the scoring for the Indians with a goal with just 29 seconds left in the game. Far too little and far too late.
“Both teams knew what was at stake tonight in terms of the playoffs,” said Tye. “They took advantage of it, and we just came out flat.”
“We want to get as many points as we can,” said Sherno. “We don’t really want to match up with either Council Rock South or Central Bucks East in the first round of the (SHSHL) playoffs.
“We are in a battle for sixth place in the playoffs,” added Sherno. “And a win like this does a lot for our confidence.”
And confidence also translates into victories.
Neshaminy 1 2 2 - 5
CR North 1 1 1 - 3
CRN: Michael Shander (Bobby Dumont)
N: Nick Verdi (DJ Bell & Justin Santoro)
N: Bell (Nick La Palombara & Jordan Ducko)
CRN: Jim McKensie (Mark McDonald)
N: Bell (La Palombara & Jake Kitcheman)
N: Bell (La Palombara & Kitchenman)
N: Eric Graham (Santoro)
CRN: Shander (Dumont & AJ Garboski)
Saves:
Neshaminy : Tyler Edwards – 23.
Council Rock North: Hayden Richards – 22.
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