...it's how you finish.

"No, I am EGO-maniac!" retorted the 'Hooter' to a coterie of disgruntled Maine Maniac parents and fans who had watched their team absorb an unexpected and unrelenting counter attack by the Pearl River Pirates in the opening game of the New England Championship for Squirt Tier III teams. The Bucs had fallen behind two nothing after one period to the team from Lewiston Me. The Pirate opening salvo during the first three minutes of action was for naught. Six minutes into the contest Maine got on the board first as a result of a turn over in the defensive zone. Before the period ended Sean Gordon was beaten for a second goal on a deflection from the point. Honeymoon over! The Bucs knotted the score at two at the end of the second period on the strength of goals by CJ Greco and Dolan Ocasal. The transition game that had been so effective for the Maniacs was rendered moot by the revivified and relentless forecheck of the Pirates. Dillon Krok ripped a wrister from the right circle past a stunned Maniac net minder four minutes into to the third period. A neat conversion by Ocasal opened a two goal lead. The coup de gras was CJ Greco scoring unassisted while the Bucs were down a man with four minutes remaining. As the 'Hooter' retreated to the friendly confines of the Pirate fan base from the despirited group from the Pine Tree State, Greco completed his hat trick. The 'geriatric grampa' was heard taunting the fans from 'down east' as they exited the Smithfield Arena, "(6-2), and your two senators stink too!"