The NJ Freeze Pee Wee B team competed in the Thanksgiving Hockey Classic at The Pond Arena in Delaware. The first game was held on Friday afternoon at the Gold Arena on the campus of the University of Delaware where they played the Toms River Blackhawks. The NJ Freeze was able to shut out the Blackhawks with a 4-0 victory. On Saturday, the game against Old Bridge Junior Knights at Gold Arena, was a bit more of a challenge, but NJ Freeze was able to overcome the Jr. Knights with a 4-2 victory. With these two victories, NJ Freeze PW B team was the first cede in the Division and played the fourth place team, Old Bridge Jr. Knights, again on Sunday morning at The Pond Arena. This game was probably the most exciting game of the entire tournament. The Freeze was down 3-2 in the third period when Connor Adams scored to tie the game with 56.4 seconds left. The team held strong through the remaining minute of the game to maintain the tie. The Freeze also worked hard to maintain a tie through the grueling 5 minute Over Time Period which lead to an unbelievable shoot out. The regulation shoot out called for a five man shoot out. Both teams remained scoreless through the first three shooters. Then, Jake Flood of the Freeze scored as our fourth shooter and Scott Kimiecik was able to make a save on Old Bridge. The Freeze players had a premature celebration as they thought that regulation shoot out was only three-man which would have been a victory at the fourth man. So after the Freeze players and fans composed themselves, on went the shoot out with the fifth and last regulation shooters. NJ Freeze did not score, but Old Bridge scored a goal bringing the game, yet again, to a tie. The game proceeded on with a sudden death shoot out. After going through 9 more rounds of shots and saves, Frankie Baccaro stepped up as our 15 shooter to put the puck in the net. Old Bridge had one shot to tie the game. After going through their entire bench, their number one shooter got on the ice to try and tie the game. Fortunately for the Freeze, Kimiecik was able to make one more save to give the NJ Freeze PW B a victory in the semi-final game. Later on that afternoon, the Freeze competed in the Finals to once again face the Toms River Blackhawks. The Blackhawks came at us with a vengeance after losing to the Freeze in the first game. At the end of the first period, the Freeze was down 2-0 and also lost Connor Adams to a concussion. Even down a player, the Freeze was able to keep the Blackhawks scoreless for the rest of the game but were unable to put beat the Blackhawks goalie. Despite the 2-0 loss in the Championship game, the Coaches and Parents say Congratulations to NJ Freeze PW B for bringing home the Silver!
Story by Kelly Kimiecik
