When Opportunity Knocks...

"Pop Tom, I knew that you liked ICE more than SAND" quipped a smiling Kaylee Krok as the 'Hooter' walked into Sport-o-Rama upon his return from Florida. The Pearl River Pirates did not disappoint the wandering vagabond who had to get his hockey fix this past month at Lightning Games and with the ECHL's Florida Everblades rather than rooting for his favorite Squirt Team. Coach Kern's Band of Buccaneers appears to have hit its stride this past few weeks after having been eliminated from League playoff contention. The lads determined work ethic paid off in the second period against the Monclaire Blues when C.J. Greco converted a rebound off a Dillon Krok shot to open the scoring at the four minute mark. As the period drew to a close the opportunistic Greco forced a turn over on a penalty kill to end the period with the Pirates up 2-0 with a deft deke on his breakaway. Sammy Coughlin lost his shut out at the two and one-half minute mark of the the third period in a goal mouth scramble. With the Blues applying late third period pressure the fluid skating Ryan McLinskey had this 'Hooter' howling "this is 1957 vintage Bobby Orr" as #2 top-shelfed the insurance goal. The spunky Blues managed to draw within one with 38 seconds left when they pulled the goalie only to fall (3-2) to the gritty Pearl River bunch. Kudos all around to the dominating line of Griffin Welch, Ronan James and Kyle Javier. To the solid work from the sometimes under appreciated back liners Sean White, Liam McCormack; the versatility of Brian Quinn, Dylan McCavitt and Luke Myers and Dolan Ocasal. "They did us proud!" But will the New York Giants?!?