Marblehead Bantams Skate their way to Miracle Performance

The following was submitted by Stuart Woodrow:

The Marblehead Bantams took to the ice this holiday season to compete in Winthrop’s Miracle on Ice Tournament which commemorates the improbable victory of the 1980 US Men’s Olympic Hockey Team over The Russians at Lake Placid. Winthrop’s own Mike Eruzione scored the winning goal over the Russians which is considered by many to be the greatest upset in sports history.  Marblehead’s success at this tourney will not go down in the record books but will be long remembered by the participants and their families.

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Marblehead coasted to an easy victory over the Manchester Flames on Monday night as the team skated well over their Granite State opponents.  Garrett Keough got the team off to its first goal after he roofed a perfect pass from Danny Gienieczko at 6:44 of the opening frame.

Will Crowley followed suit with a coast to coast rush of the puck and snap shot which found the back of the Flames net.  Marblehead found themselves in the sin bin for much of the second period as a myriad of holding, roughing, elbowing and interference calls found the team shorthanded for close to 8 minutes of the 12 minute period.  Strong defense from Ridge Driscoll, Christian Hennigar, Will Crowley and Duncan Leggett kept pushing the Flames back to their own zone.   Marblehead settled down in the third period as Danny G hooked up with Garrett Keough again at 7:42 for the third goal.

Tim Kalinowski was “Back in Black” and chipped a perfect pass to set PJ Roy free for a breakaway goal to close the contest at 4-0.  Mark Scribner was not challenged in net but notched another of his many shutouts for Marblehead.

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Miracle game number two pitted Marblehead against tournament host Winthrop on Tuesday Night at the Larsen Rink.  A power outage in Winthrop caused a huge traffic jam and many of the players on both benches trickled in as the game progressed.

Marblehead started slow out of the gates but finished strong in this contest.  Both teams had opportunities in the first period but both goalies were on their game with Ethan Cash in net for Winthrop and Mark Scribner between the pipes for Marblehead. Marblehead finally found the Cash equation with two goals in twenty seconds to close the first period up 2-0. Charlie Sweeny ripped a one timer after a perfect tic-tac-toe pass from Danny Gienieczko and PJ Roy at 0:46. Then Danny G banked home his response at 0:27 on a perfect connection from Sweeney and Roy.

Solid fore checking  from James McCarthy, Jacob Woodrow, Duncan Leggett kept the puck in the Winthrop end of most of the second period and created numerous odd man rushes for the home team.  Garrett Keough provided the offensive punch for Marblehead in the second as he teamed up with Will Crowley at 11:03 and then netted an unassisted score at 5:19. Charlie Sweeney closed out the scoring with his second of the game following a breakout by Christian Hennigar and PJ Roy.

The team and crowd congratulated Mark Scribner on his second shutout in as many nights.

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In a preview of the finals, Marblehead matched up against the Wakefield Chiefs on Thursday Night.  The Chiefs gave Marblehead a physical battle with size and skill which had the home team on their heels for most of the game.  Both teams banged and chipped away but could not find the back of the net until the second period.  Marblehead drew first blood as Ridge Driscoll stepped in from the point and ripped a bullet over the right should of Wakefield’s Ben Yandell.

The relenting hustle of Danny Gienieczko and a pass from Conor Fallon set up the blast from the point.  Wakefield found their legs and put in a  wakeup call to Marblehead as they fired back for two goals and the lead at 1:50 of the second period. Danny G got his motor going and would not back down and evened the match with a goal  with just 17 seconds left on the clock.

It was a new game and 12 minutes that would decide the “Miracle” championship matchup on Friday afternoon. Both teams came firing out of the gates and both Scribner and Yandell were stingy in their respective nets.  Wakefield fought off two power plays to open the period and neither team to close on their opportunities.

Duncan Leggett and Ryan Jones along with Christian Hennigar and Ridge Driscoll dug into their trenches and sent Wakefield back to the stone ages on many occasions. Jacob Woodrow, Tim Kalinowski and James McCarthy took their stabs on the offensive front as did Charlie Sweeney and Will Crowley.  But it would be Conor Fallon who netted his own “Miracle goal” at 2:15 following a flurry in front by PJ Roy and Danny Gienieczko.

Fallon was in perfect position and slammed home the goal in what appeared to be the game winner.  However, a lapse in defense, caused a Wakefield breakaway, which ended up in a desperation tripping call and the all exciting penalty shot was signaled.

The crowd was on its feet as Wakefield’s Alex Kane broke the puck in through center ice.  Marblehead Goalie Mark Scribner came out to cut down the angle knowing that Kane was going to shoot rather than deke his way to the net.  Kane ripped his shot at Scribner and it just tricked through to the back of the net to tie the game at 3-3 with under two minutes to play.  Each team called a time out and readied their team for victory.

Off the faceoff, Marblehead punched the puck into the Wakefield end as time ran down.  It was Danny G that once again took control for Marblehead, and together with James McCarthy, found Garret Keough for a tough angle shot and the real winning Miracle goal with only 23 tocks remaining.

A huge gut check 4-3 victory for the Headers and an invitation to the championship round. Winthrop beat the Manchester Flames in the following game which set a rematch with the Wakefield Chiefs for Friday afternoon.

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The championship puck dropped at 3:10 p.m. and Marblehead was flying from the opening whistle.  The Headers pinned Wakefield deep in their end off the opening faceoff and riffled a salvo of shots to set the early tone in this game.  Wakefield rallied back and scored first after Zack Kane slotted a loose rebound after a skirmish in front of Marblehead’s Mark Scribner.

Once again,  the combination of Keough and Gienieczko lit the lamp and evened the score after Danny G centered his line mate for the one timer at 8:18.  PJ Roy dropped back on defense to fill in for Ryan Jones.  He was teamed with Duncan Leggett and together with Christian Hennigar and Ridge Driscoll, the pair provided a very strong defensive performance on the day.

The score remained one goal apiece as both teams jockeyed for the edge in the second frame. James McCarthy, Tim Kalinowski and Jacob Woodrow moved the puck well in the offensive zone and tested Chief goalie Ben Yandell on many occasions but were stopped on the door step.

At 3:21 of the second, Wakefield pushed the puck into the Marblehead net following a scrum down in the crease and were awarded the goal despite the protests of the players and fans in the stands.  Charlie Sweeney protested the loudest with a goal of his own a few minutes later after Danny G set him up for another one timer on the Wakefield goal line.

It was another new ball game as the third period opened up with a 2-2 tie.  12 minutes and the third would decide the victor.  However,  it would be two opening daggers by Wakefield which would set the tone in the opening half of third period.  

Wakefield put home a breakaway goal at 7:44 after an in opportune line change and puck bounce sent Zack Kane in alone for the score.  The fourth Wakefield goal was on an absolute bomb from the slot which sailed over Scribner’s shoulder at 4:54.  Coach Steve Roy took a time out to settle his troops and get the boys focused on the final five minutes of play. Most of his players have been in pressure situations in the past and no one on the bench was willing to accept defeat.

Tim Kalinowski was one of those players whose positive attitude lead his baseball team to a comeback victory in the Gallant baseball Tournament over the past summer. Today would be not different as he hit the ice and teamed up with line mate Conor Fallon for a huge goal a minute later to bring his team within one.  Tim’s goal electrified the team and the crowd and it carried over to the next shift when PJ Roy and  Danny G fed Garrett Keough for the equalizer and the chance to send this championship game into overtime.

Marblehead sent Kalinowski, Keough, Roy and Hennigar to the ice to start the 4 on 4 overtime period and they quickly had Wakefield on their heels. Four shot were ripped on the goal and Wakefield defender Dan Melanson was forced to hook Kalinowski to the ice which created a 4 on 3 situation. Marblehead moved the puck well in the open ice and it was not long before Christian Hennigar stepped up from his defensive point and ripped the miracle shot and sealed the victory for Marblehead. The team ripped off the bench and pig pile ensued. Coach Steve Roy grew up in Winthrop and couldn’t be prouder of his team’s effort in winning this tournament.

Both teams were awarded trophies and medals at center ice following the game as fans from both towns cheered on the competitors.  Two great games which could have gone either way.  Both games were cleanly played and good sportsmanship was shown on both benches.  Wakefield’s Coach Rich Tosi showed a lot of class as he came into the Marblehead locker room following the game and praised the kids on their comeback performance and their sportsmanship.

Danny Gienieczko was honored with the tournament MVP after tallying 9 points(2 goals and 7 assists) and leading his team to victory with his constant hustle and outstanding leadership.  Garrett Keough was close behind with 7 points and some very clutch goals.