Hockey Wins Third Straight Empire Cup, Awaits Post-Season Fate

Brunswick topped Millbrook in the finals of the 20^th Empire Cup on Saturday, besting the Mustangs, 5-2, for its third-straight tournament title. The road win caps the regular season for the Bruins (16-9-5), as the team hopes to receive news of a post-season bid on Sunday.

Opening round post-season games in either the Elite-8 or the Large School tournament start on Wednesday, March 1.

 

Highlighting the win was co-captain Nick VanBelle notching his 100^th career point in the first period. Sitting on 98 total points entering the game, VanBelle opened the scoring at 8:18 of the first period, netting his 22^nd goal of the year and 48^th of his career.

 

Later in the first period, VanBelle reached the century mark in points, assisting on Jack Forrest’s power-play goal at 9:52. The assist was VanBelle’s 22^nd helper on the season and 52^nd for his career.

 

Trailing 2-0 in the second period, Millbrook made it a 2-1 game with a tally less than three minutes into the frame.

 

The Bruins countered with a goal by Aaron Aboodi roughly eight minutes later, rebuilding their two-goal cushion heading into the third period.  

 

In the waning minutes of the championship, the Mustangs, trailing 3-1, pulled their goalie for an extra skater.

 

The initial move paid off for the hosts, netting a 6-on-5 goal with just over two minutes left in the game to slice the Bruins’ lead to 3-2.

 

Brunswick goalie Strauss Mann, a night removed from a shootout win at Trinity-Pawling, collected an eye-popping 45 saves for the Bruins to secure the win. Mann wrapped up the regular season with a .940 save percentage, second best in New England prep hockey.

 

 

Brunswick       2 1 2 = 5          16-9-5

Millbrook        0 1 1 = 2          13-13-4

 

1st

(B) Nick VanBelle (Charles Shaffer) 8:18

(B) Jack Forrest (Nick VanBelle, Ryan Carmichael) 5X4 9:52

2nd

(M) Greg Koutsomitis (Jake Gagnon, Alex Sheehy) 2:26

(B) Aaron Aboodi (Jack Forrest, Wilson Stephenson) 10:45

3rd

(M) Gideon Cooper (Jake Gagnon, Zach Taylor) 6X5 15:50

(B) Charles Shaffer ENG 16:26

(B) Jack Forrest ENG 17:30

 

(M) Cam Fernandez (53:00) 23 saves, 3 GA

(B) Strauss Mann (54:00) 45 saves, 2 GA