Minnechaug’s boys hockey team started off their season with a bang at their home opener on December 12 at Olympia Ice Center against Taconic High School, ending in a 12-0 shutout.
Chaug’s top scorer was Jacob Moore with a hat trick, but three
other players, Nicholas Garib, Kelly Balog, and Brody Fanueff followed close behind, each racking up 2 goals. Brody started off the game with a strong goal less than 30 seconds into the first period, and Kelly scored one of his two goals on a powerplay.
The puck rarely made it near Minnechaug’s goal, but the few times it did the defensemen applied pressure on Taconic to regain possession of the puck, allowing Chaug’s forwards to accumulate a multitude of goals.
By the end of the first period, the team already had 8 goals from Brody Fanueff (x2), Jacob Moore (x2), Kelly Balog (x2), Nicholas Garib, and Enzo Hrycay. Taconic struggled to keep up with Minnechaug’s fast paced offense, but their goaltender made a few exceptional saves.
This game was a clear display of Minnechaug’s chemistry on the ice and a positive start to the season, hopefully setting the Falcons up for a future of many more blowout wins.
The team added another win on December 16 by earning a 5-2 victory against Ludlow. Coming off of Friday’s win against Taconic, the boys were confident and they demonstrated this throughout their game.
Chaug’s starting lineup consisted of Jameson Murray, Brody Fanueff, Cameron Fanueff, Kelly Balog, Dominic Fiorentino, and goaltender Chase Folli.
Ludlow’s first attempt at scoring was turned away by the referees. Once they managed to get on the board, Chaug came back with three goals within a minute of each other. These consecutive goals were secured by Kelly Balog, Brody Fanueff, and Jacob Moore. However, by the middle of the second period, Ludlow’s Tannar Severyn scored on a power play.
At that point, the score was 3-2 and it looked like a close game, but in the third period Moore and Balog racked up two more goals.
