Championship Series, Games 1-3

Apologies for the hiatus, it has been a busy few weeks.  

After the Newtown Golden Eagles swept the Six Nations Slash 3-0 in the semifinals, they moved on to meet the Onondaga Redhawks in the best of seven Championship Series.  Games one through three took place this past weekend.

Game one took place at the Gil Lay Memorial Arena at 8:30pm Friday evening.  The opening game set the tone for the series as it was fast paced, physical, and entertaining.  The teams struggled to gain any ground on eachother early as it went back and forth the first two periods.  Newtown managed to reach a 4 goal lead but it would be short lived as Onondaga scored 3 goals in less than one minute to pull within one.  The Redhawks tied the game up briefly when Newtown scored what they hoped to be the game winner on a quick stick from Rudi George.  As was the case with the rest of the game, the lead was short lived and Onondaga tied it up with 40 seconds left in regulation.  Newtown pulled goaltender Clint Jones, for the man advantage at the end of the game but failed to find the net and regulation ended in a 13-13 stalemate.  Overtime was much like the first three periods.  For those that don't know, CanAm overtimes are played out till the end, no golden goals here.  Onondaga scored the first goal of the period, followed quickly by an answer from Newtown, but it was the Redhawks who recorded the final tally and took the win.  Morgan Montour led all scorers with 4 goals.

Game two was the next night at 7:30pm on the blue floor of Tsha'hon nonyen' dakhwa, the Redhawks home arena.  Nothing different this time around as the game was intense and closely contested throughout.  The goal of the game came at the end of the second period  when the Redhawks pulled their goalie for the man advantage and the last shot.  An errant pass bounced the way of the NGE and defender Josh Kacprzak launched a full field shot from the defensive zone, hitting nothing but the back of the empty net with 0.3 seconds on the clock.  Many thought it lucky, but his teammates confirmed it is a shot he tries again and again during water breaks at practice.  The goal was a momentum builder that put the NGE up 4 at the end of the period and came out in the third knowing it would not be easy.  The veteran Redhawks came out firing and narrowed the lead to one goal before a defender incurred a 7 minute penalty that put the Golden Eagles at a man advantage for the remaining 5:45.  They quickly capitalized with a power play goal from Kori Halftown which boosted their lead to 2.  Still a man down, the Redhawks scored a quick short-handed goal in transition and the lead was back down to one.  The Golden Eagles spread the floor with their powerplay offense to chew some clock, but still had the 30-second clock to contend with.  After a loose ball in the corner LeRoy Halftown caught a pass in the middle of the arc and scored on a sidearm shot to put the NGE up by 2 with 21 seconds left.  The score would remain 11-9 Newtown and the series tied at 1 a piece. Newtown had 8 players with one goal each.

Game three continued the trend as the fans in attendance got their money's worth each game of this series' opening weekend.  The Sunday afternoon contest started off slowly as it was 2-2 for half of the period with the Redhawks adding two more tallies late to take a 4-2 lead into the first break.  Newtown won the battle of second period scoring 5 to the Redhawks three and making it a tie ballgame in the process.  The third period started with a bang for Onondaga and they led by 4 with an 11-7 score.  Newtown began to pull their goalie for the advantage and chipped away with two 6 on 5 goals but it would not be enough.  The Redhawks added an empty netter to make it 12-9 and ran the clock out for the win and the 2-1 series lead.

Game four of the series is set to faceoff at 8:30pm Friday night at Tsha'hon nonyen' dakhwa.  For those fans travelling to the game, your best bet is to skip exit 39 and stay on the 90 to exit 36.  Once on 81 South follow the signs for the detour to take 481 back to route 81 and the Nedrow exit where the arena is located.  

Onondaga, All-Stars, and Tonawanda Recap

The top two teams in the league met on the blue floor at Onondaga as the Golden Eagles took on the Redhawks in a Friday night faceoff.

Emotions ran high for both teams as a physical and fast paced contest picked up from the opening whistle.  Neither team would lead by more than one and back and forth scoring would be the story of the game.  Chancey Hill scored one of his two in the first and it remained 1-1 for some time.  Team leading scorer Preston Lay netted both of his goals in the first period and Drew Stevens scored in tight and the teams headed to the dressing rooms tied at 4 for the first intermission.

The second period would prove much like the first as the teams went goal for goal again.  Josh Becker scored both of his goals in the second period, followed up by a post-and-in goal from Rudi George to go along with his three assists.  The period ended 7-7 with each team 20 minutes away from victory or defeat.

The trend continued as Kori Halftown found the net for both of his goals in the third.  Chancey Hill scored what would be the eventual game winner on an assist from Halftown from behind the net.  Leading 10-9 in the final minutes the Golden Eagles knew trying to run the clock out was not an option as they tried to gain some insurance but came up short.  The one goal lead was preserved by goaltender Clint Jones and a defense who held their opponent to less than 10 goals for the 11th time this season. With the victory Newtown clinched first place for the regular season and home field advantage for the duration of the playoffs
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(Left to Right:) Clint Jones, Preston Lay, Jake Davis,
Linden Stevens, and Justin Gill

The Golden Eagles were proud to send forward Preston Lay, transition man Justin Gill, forward and faceoff man Linden Stevens, defender Jake Davis and goaltender Clint Jones up to Six Nations for the leagues annual All-Star game which was held at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena on the Saturday between the Onondaga and Tonawanda games. Congratulations on a great regular season.

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Clinching first place on Friday did not mean the Golden Eagles would take Sunday off as they welcomed the Tonawanda Braves to the Gil Lay turf for the final game of the regular season.

The first period got off to a slow start on the scoreboard but a fast pace on the floor as the teams were playing a running game but not finding the net.  The ice was broken when Bobby DeFreze picked up a rebound in the corner and sent a behind-the-back pass to a cutting Preston Lay who finished inside.  That first goal would stand alone for the majority of the first till the ball started finding the net in bunches.  The last few minutes saw two goals from Morgan Montour,  an outside score from Josh Becker, a breakaway goal from Josh Kacprzak, a goal from Rudi George, and a powerplay goal from veteran Trace White.  The flurry of scoring left the Golden Eagles up 7-2 at the break.

The second period led to more of the same as Lay opened the scoring again, Kori Halftown put one post-and-in on a sidearm shot, DeFreze put in two in a row, and Montour hit the third of his game-high four.  Corey Henry and the defense allowed a single goal and the game paused at 12-3 for the final break.

Halftown opened the third with a goal to cap off his two goal day.  After a couple penalties led to some powerplay goals for the Braves the NGE settled back in and finished strong.  Second year lefty Jonny Gill found the net, followed by Montour's fourth and Becker's second.  Standout rookie LeRoy Halftown closed out the game and regular season scoring as the Newtown Golden Eagles finished the game 17-6 and the season 15-1-0.  

Stay tuned for a regular season wrap-up and playoff preview!

Standings	Team Name	GP	W	L	T	GF	Avrg. GF	GA	Avrg. GA	PTS.	PIM
1st	Newtown	16	15	1	0	245	15.3	109	6.81	30	338

Six Nations and Rochester Recap

Newtown won a closely contested road game against the Six Nations slash this past Saturday as they hit the ILA turf for a 7pm faceoff.

The Golden Eagles trailed for much of the game but were able to pull off a one goal victory in the closing moments as defenseman Lyle Stevens caught an outlet from goalie Clint Jones on a breakaway but was checked from behind while shooting.  Leading scorer Preston Lay trailed the play and capped off his hat-trick by scooping up the rebound and finding the net.

Six Nations requested a measurement on Jones's pads, but when they were found within the legal limits, found themselves on the receiving end of the two minute penalty they hoped would be Newtown's.  The NGE finished the game man up and left with a 12-11 victory

Game Notes: Preston Lay continues to lead the way for the Golden Eagles with another hat-trick performance.  Kori Halftown  added a hat-trick of his own and Linden and Brian Stevens added two each.  Tyler Strassburg and Jonathan Gill each added one a piece. Josh Becker added four helpers. The team had 14 minutes in penalties.

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The NGE were back at home Sunday as they met the Rochester Greywolves at the Gil Lay Memorial Arena for a 3pm matinee.

It was all Newtown in this potential first-round playoff preview as the first place Golden Eagles controlled play from start to finish.  Bobby DeFreze notched an opening period hat-trick against his former team but was not the high scorer of the first as Preston Lay continued his hot-streak with four goals in the period and seven in the game.  Heading into the second with a score of 10-1, Rochester packed their zone defense in tight and Newtown took their foot off the gas.  The game would end 17-4.

Game Notes:  Faceoff man Linden Stevens dominated the draws and goaltender Cory Henry added a long outlet pass assist to his 4 goals allowed performance. Morgan Montour added two goals and four assists and Brian Stevens did not find the net but notched 6 assists to help his team to victory.  The team had 18 minutes in penalties, killing 2 out of 3 four minute penalties incurred.

Newtown vs. Pinewoods and Tonawanda Makeup Game

On Saturday night the Golden Eagles met the Pinewoods smoke on the Gil Lay Turf for their fourth matchup of the season dating back to the Kevin White Memorial.  The records go out the window as these longtime rivals always play a clean and hard fought game.

Donald Stevens (3,1) opened the scoring with a lefty goal from a tight angle.  Bobby DeFreze (2,2) followed closely with an unassisted goal off a bouncing loose ball in the middle of the offensive zone.  After a break in the scoring Tyler Strassburg (1,1) scored his goal towards the end of the first, closey followed by a goal from newcomer Josh Becker (3,1) and Donald Stevens again.  The period would end 5-0 as Cory Henry and the defense held fast.

Linden Stevens (1,4) opened the scoring for the NGE in the second period.  Kori Halftown (1,3) found the net to make it 7-1.  Leading scorer Preston Lay (2,5) added both of his goals back-to-back at the end of the second and the period would end 9-3.

Butch Jimerson Returns to the Lineup

Jake Davis (1,0) and Josh Kacprzak (0,1) ran a 2-on-1 break to perfection and Davis buried the shot to break the score into double digits for Newtown. Rudi George (1,1) added a goal a hard overhand shot. Becker and Stevens would go on to cap off their hat-tricks and DeFreze added his second of the game. Rookie LeRoy Halftown (1,1) topped off the scoring for the NGE with a low-to-high rip, making it 16-5 and sealing a well earned victory for the Golden Eagles.

Game Notes:  Cory Henry and the defense held the Smoke to just 5 goals, adding to their league leading Goals Against Average. Roy Isaac, Trace White, Levi Thomas, and Craig Stevens all contributed to another game under 6 goals.  Justin and Jonathan Gill each contributed one assist each.  Butch Jimerson played in his first game since the Kevin White Memorial after recovering from a broken hand. The team had 11 minutes in penalties.

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In a rare Wednesday night game under the lights of Logan Field, the Golden Eagles met the Tonawanda Braves on the turf to makeup a game cancelled earlier in the season.  With 29 players suited up for warmups, the NGE gave nine men the night off with a few pivotal games and playoffs right around the corner.  Clint Jones got the start but played limited minutes as Newtown opted to give their starter a rest and Cory Henry some more in-game experience.

Goals would be hard to come by this contest and the Golden Eagles did not break the ice until 10 minutes into the period.  Josh Becker (2,5) opened it up with an outside shot to make it 1-0.  Tracy White (1,2) found himself on powerplay duty for the night and capitalized with an outside shot of his own to make it 2-0 Newtown at the end of the first.

The Man-Down and Powerplay units would get their work in for both teams as penalties were called frequently, from both teams playing hard, not cheap.  Linden Stevens (3,1) added a powerplay goal off a rebound from the post.  Preston Lay (1,2) buried inside in traffic, faking and scoring while absorbing a check.  The period would end 4-1 in favor of Newtown.

The offense found the net five more times in the third to keep the Braves at bay.  Linden Stevens capped his hat-trick, Josh Becker put in one more and Tyler Strassburg (2,0) added two to make the final score 9-5 Newtown.

Game Notes:  The defense held a team to 5 goals for the second game in a row, bolstering their league leading Goals Against Average.  The Man-Down unit overcame 28 minutes in penalties.  Drew Stevens and Josh Kacprzak each added an assist. The goaltenders were excellent for both teams.

Newtown Suffers First Loss of the Season

The Golden Eagles undefeated effort was cut short this past Sunday as they met the Tuscarora Tomahawks in a makeup game at Smokin' Joe's Arena outdoor box.

After a weekend filled with rain it was hot and muggy for the contest that faced off at 5pm as the sun was shining brightly on the turf.  Newtown's offense struggled in the first and goals would be hard to come by for the unit all game.  The lone bright spot of the first period was the powerplay unit going 2 for 2, but these would be the only goals on the board as the period ended 4-2 in favor of the host team.

Trailing by as many as five, Newtown fought back but could not close the gap to less than 3 in the second.  The second period would end 9-6.  The NGE scored the opening goal of the third period to narrow the lead to two goals but that would be the closest they came.  Down 12 to 7 with six minutes on the clock Newtown began to pull goaltender Clint Jones for the extra man on offense.  Their first and second attempts were successful, scoring six on five twice in a row to cut the lead to 3.  It was too little, too late however, as the Tomahawks were content to spread the floor and run the clock out.  After two missed attempts at an empty netter the final score remained 12-9.

The Golden Eagles look to get back on the winning track this Saturday as they face their crosstown rival Pinewoods Smoke in a 7:00pm contest at the Gil Lay Arena.

Game Notes: Donald Stevens (4,1) led the way with four goals on the day. Linden Stevens (1,3), Bobby DeFreze (1,1), LeRoy Halftown (1,2), Drew Stevens (1,0) and Chancey Hill (1,2) all chipped in one a piece.  The team had 25 minutes in penalties.

Newtown vs. Allegany

This one was all Newtown from start to finish as the NGE took the win 30-6.  Nearly every player made their mark on the score sheet including goalie Neil Schindler (0,2) making his third start of the year and team captain Justin Gill (0,3) returning for his first regular season game after suffering a separated shoulder in the preseason. Starting goalie Clint Jones was in uniform but had the night off.

Preston Lay (5,2) added seven points to his league leading goal and assist totals as did Rudi George (4,3).  Rookie LeRoy Halftown (4,6) continues to play well on the left side as he led the team with a 10 point night.  Older brother Kori Halftown (3,2) and defender Jake Davis (3,3) each added a hat-trick to the effort.  

Bobby DeFreze (2,3) added two scores, as did transition man Lyle Stevens (2,2) and first-year forward Tyler Strassburg (2,1).  Roy Isaac (1,1), Levi Thomas (1,0), and Josh Kacprzak (1,2) tallied one a piece.  Donald Stevens (1,5) found the net once but added five assists and in similar fashion draw-man Linden Stevens (1,4) added one score and four helpers.

Ross John (0,1) and Morgan Montour (0,3) contributed with assists. Trace White and CJ Stevens contributed solid defensive work all night.  The last two periods were running time and the teams were shaking hands post-game by 9:30pm, making for one of the quickest contests of the year.  Allegany played hard and both teams played a clean game.

The Golden Eagles prepare this evening for a rare weeknight game tomorrow against the Tuscarora Tomahawks at Smokin' Joe's Arena in downtown Niagara Falls, NY.  The game will be played at 8:00pm in the outdoor rink, barring any weather issues.  The last time these two teams met the NGE had five players serving suspensions from the prior game but were able to pull out a 12-9 victory.  Should be another exciting match up!

Weekend Recap: at Buffalo Creek, at Rochester

In their third double-header weekend in five weeks, the Newtown Golden Eagles hit the road for a weekend of regular season away games, Friday night at the Cazenovia Ice Rink against the Buffalo Creek Thunder and a Sunday matinee at the Canandaigua Civic Center against the Rochester Greywolves.
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Friday night's contest was a chippy one from start to finish as is often the case when these two teams meet.  Newtown jumped out to an early lead as LeRoy Halftown (5,2) found the net twice to go along with a single goal from Brian Stevens (1,1) and a first period hat-trick from Preston Lay (4,2).  The NGE would hold a 6-2 lead at the end of the first.

The second period was more of the same.  Although the Golden Eagles found themselves man-down multiple times during the period they managed to keep finding the net as LeRoy Halftown scored three more and defender Ryan Maciaszek (3,2) added two transition goals. CJ Stevens (1,0) added his second of the season on an odd-man rush.  After dominating the draw circle for most of the game Linden Stevens (2,4) added two tallies and Preston Lay capped off his four goal night.  The period ended 15-6 NGE.

The third and final period showed Newtown's versatility as they had Kori Halftown (1,2), Chancey Hill (1,2), Rudi George (1,0), and Morgan Montour (1,1) all add one a piece.  Maciaszek ended the game with an empty netter in transition and the final read 20-10 Newtown.  The NGE then looked ahead to their next road contest in Rochester just 36 hours away.
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Sunday afternoon the Golden Eagles made their way down I-90 to Canandaigua, NY to take on the recently relocated Rochester Greywolves.  Newtown struggled to find the rhythm on offense for the first half of the period but managed to get running by the end.  LeRoy Halftown (2,2) opened the scoring, Linden Stevens (1,2) added one along with Donald Stevens (1,3) and Morgan Montour (4,2) put in his first of four.  The Golden eagles led 4-1 at the break.

Chancey Hill (1,2), Rudi George (1,1), Ryan Maciaszek (1,1) and Tyler Strassburg (1,2) all added their goals in the opening half of the second. Bobby DeFreze (3,0) found the net for his first of the game on a 2-on-1 setup by a draw win by Linden Stevens and an assist from LeRoy Halftown. Brian Stevens (1,4) added a powerplay goal from the point and Montour buried from the slot to end the period 11-4 Newtown.

Linden Stevens kept dominating the faceoff circle for the second game in a row and although Rochester was dropping extra guys in the defensive zone for draws, the Golden Eagles kept finding lanes to squeeze passes through and setup scorers on the crease.  LeRoy Halftown capped off his scoring as did DeFreze with two more inside finishes.  Montour finished a display of outside shooting with two more to end the game, the last one coming with just 12 seconds left on the clock.  The defensive unit tied it's lowest goals against of the season with solid contributions from Levi Thomas, Ross John, Darby Leroy, Craig Stevens, CJ Stevens, Josh Kacprzak, and Jake Davis.  The effort was anchored by goaltender Clint Jones who also added an assist. Newtown took the contest 16-2 to advance to 8-0 at the halfway point of the season.

The team looks forward to a single home game this weekend as they will take on the Allegany Arrows at the Gil Lay Arena, Saturday 7pm.

Newtown vs. Six Nations

After the cancellation of Friday night's away contest, the Golden Eagles only had one game to focus on for the weekend.  The Six Nations Slash crossed the border to meet the NGE on the Gil Lay turf at 7pm Saturday night.  

The first period opened with a few uneventful possessions by each team as both squads briefly struggled to find their rhythm on offense.  The Slash opened the scoring with a two on one breakaway but would not maintain the lead long.  Newtown found the net on two breakaways of their own as Jake Davis (1,0) and Linden Stevens (1,4) both capitalized on outlet passes starting in the defensive end.  New transfer Chancey Hill (3,2) added the first of his three, Tyler Strassburg (2,1) added one, and Ryan Maciaszek (1,1) capped off the period with a hidden ball trick goal that had the defense expecting a pass from goalie Neil Schindler (0,1) as the ball hit the net. The first ended 5-3 Newtown.

The Golden Eagles started the second period on the power play and made quick use of it as Drew Stevens (2,1) buried from in tight after some tic-tac-toe passing from the man up unit.  Brian Stevens (1,4) added a goal on an outside shot and Lyle Stevens (2,0) scored the first of his two breakaway goals. Kori Halftown (2,1) added one of his two to the total and Bobby DeFreze (3,3) found the net twice in the period, the second coming on a behind the back shot off a feed from Preston Lay (0,4). They led 13-8 at the final intermission.

In the third period Newtown would hold steady and allow only two goals.  Hill and DeFreze each capped off their hat tricks and defender Josh Kacprzak (1,2) added his second breakaway tally of the season while Lyle Stevens added his second of the game. In the final minutes the NGE controlled the tempo, satisfied with their 19-10 victory and no injuries or suspensions.

The Golden Eagles look ahead to a road double-header weekend as they will face Buffalo Creek at 8pm Friday and then travel east to meet Rochester at 3pm Sunday.                      

Newtown at Allegany

Newtown wrapped up their double-header weekend with a road trip to Salamanca to take on the Allegany Arrows at the ACC.  With only 15 runners it would be Newtown's second short-benched game in a row.

Starting goaltender Clint Jones was given a well-deserved day off and backup Neil Schindler stepped up for the start.  It was all Newtown from start to finish.  Faceoff man Linden Stevens (1,4) setup multiple odd-man rushes in the first, winning the draws to himself then finding an open teammate cutting to the net.  Bobby DeFreze (5,1) opened the scoring on an underhand skip shot from 10 yards out and would bury four of his five goals in the first.  Returning to his hometown arena for the first time this year, Rudi George (3,2) added two of his three and the period would end 11-1 in favor of the NGE.

Newtown opened the second with a quick goal by Tyler Strassburg (2,2) as Linden Stevens once again won the draw to himself and hit the open man.  It was then the defense's turn to get in on the scoring as Lyle Stevens (3,1), Jake Davis (2,2), and Levi Thomas (1,1) all found the net in the second. Kori Halftown (3,2) put one over the goalie's shoulder from an extreme angle catching and shooting from the goal line extended on one of eight assists from lefty Preston Lay (2,8).  LeRoy Halftown (2,2) scored both of his goals in the second, and the period ended 20-2 Newtown.

In the third the Golden Eagles took the foot off the gas as the running time made the period fly by.  Drew Stevens (1,7) added a goal to his assist total and DeFreze, K. Halftown, and George capped off their scoring with one a piece.  Ross John, Trace White, and Josh Kacprzak anchored the defense that gave up only 2 goals.  After a few merciful crease calls nullified Newtown goals, the NGE were content to just work the clock and leave with the win.  Final score: 25 to 2.  

This week Newtown prepares for another double-header weekend as they take on the Tonawanda Braves at Logan Field in Pembroke Friday night at 8pm and the Six Nations Slash Saturday at 7pm in a home contest at the Gil Lay Arena.

Tuscarora at Newtown

For the second Friday in a row the crowded Gil Lay Arena gave fans an exciting CanAm matchup as the Tuscarora Tomahawks met the Newtown Golden Eagles on the turf at 8pm.  A tough and physical 4 game playoff series in the 2012 assured that there is no love lost between these two teams.

After the late game incident against Onondaga last Friday, the NGE were missing 5 runners due to suspension.  Dressing 16 runners and 2 goalies, the short benched team came into the game knowing it wouldn't be easy against a team they played 6 times last year.  The quickly growing rivalry got off to a slow start as both teams struggled to find quality shots early.  The three Tuscarora goals in the first were answered one by one as Preston Lay (3,0) netted a first period hat-trick to tie the game for his team.

The second period saw more back and forth scoring as Rudi George (3,0) and Tyler Strassburg (1,3) found the net.  2012 Defender of the Year Josh Kacprzak (1,0) tallied a breakaway goal and Drew Stevens (2,1) added a short-handed goal to put Newtown up 9-7 at the final break. 

In the third period it was a tale of power plays and penalty kills as both teams would find themselves dealing with a little of each.  After trading goals, the NGE found themselves down a man for both two and four minutes almost back-to-back.  During this stretch the Penalty Kill allowed only 1 goal with netminder Clint Jones making clutch save after save as the Tomahawks threatened to tie.  The NGE appeared to take a 2 goal lead that was called back on a crease-violation.  A high hit after the play and following scrum resulted in the NGE on a 4-on-3 powerplay.  Bobby DeFreze (1,1) found the net on an overhand shot and Newtown would maintain the lead from there.  Rudi George sealed his hat-trick and the game, as the NGE finished with a 12-9 victory.

Brian Stevens added six assists as well as four from Donald Stevens. The Golden Eagles finished with 29 penalty minutes. 

Onondaga at Newtown

In a game that saw both teams combine for 142 penalty minutes, you would expect a slow pace full of stoppages.  This was anything but true as the Onondaga Redhawks clashed with the Newtown Golden Eagles for the first time this season.

The two perennial top teams met on the Gil Lay turf for a rare late-night Friday matchup that did not faceoff till around 8:50pm in front of the large crowd of CanAm fans.  Both teams honored the late, great Nelson "Bally" Huff prior to gametime.  The NGE dedicated the game and the remainder of the 2013 season to Bally Huff, a hall-of-fame lacrosse legend from Newtown who recently passed on.  (More on Mr. Huff following the recap)

The opening period was a battle right off the bat with both teams playing physical and fast.  It was clear from the starting whistle that every loose ball would be a battle as emotions and intensity ran high.  It was also clear that goals would come at a premium with an excellent goalie backing each of the stout defensive units.  Newtown came away from the first period with a narrow 3-2 lead.  One official commented that in just the second week of the season, both teams were playing in mid-year form.

The second period began with a bang for the Golden Eagles as Kori Halftown netted a breakaway goal right off the opening faceoff to stretch the lead to two.  The remainder of the period saw successful powerplays by each team and the back and forth scoring saw the NGE add 2 more goals to their lead and end the second 8-4.

Knowing that no lead is safe against the rival Redhawks, the NGE focused on taking care of the ball in the third period, trying to control the tempo and use the full 30 second shot clock on offense to allow their hard working D to catch their breath.  With 6 minutes left in the game, what started as a loose ball scrum ended in a pile of fired up lacrosse players.  Rookie forward LeRoy Halftown took a high check to the facemask and his teammates took exception, resulting in a 4 on 4 tussle that saw eight players hit the turf, with both officials joining them to sort it out.  The result of the incident was five Newtown players being sent off early, along with four Redhawks.  Down to thirteen runners, it made substitutions interesting for the home team.  Newtown used the shortened benches to their advantage as they sent their remaining stick handlers out of the front door to spread the floor and work the clock.  The final result was a hard-fought 10-6 victory for the NGE, and the promise of an exciting rematch July 5th.

Preston Lay led all scorers with 2 goals and 3 assists.  In his first game back this season Brian Stevens netted 2g, 2a, and 2012 Team MVP Linden Stevens added 4 points with a goal and 3 assists.  The Golden Eagles accumulated 68 pims which was second to the 74 pims by the Redhawks.

Nelson "Bally" Huff

The remainder of the 2013 season will be dedicated to Mr. Nelson "Bally" Huff.  It will be commemorated with a special decal worn by the players containing "BH" and "7", his initials and jersey #.  He was inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2005 and is regarded as one of the greatest offensive players of his era. Played Juniors with the Newtown Athletics in the late 30's and moved up to the men's team at the age of 16. One of the first box lacrosse players to pass and shoot right or left handed with equal accuracy and power. In 1943 Bally joined the US Navy to serve in WWII. NAMLA Scoring champ in '50, '51, '52, '53.  League MVP in '50 & '51. Served as a role model for many young players through his dedication and commitment to a lifestyle-culture that respects and honors lacrosse as a gift from the creator. He has carried this tradition as a player, coach, fan and supporter. We would like to extend our deepest condolences & sympathy to the family & friends Bally.  Your years of dedicated commitment to the NGE will be greatly missed.

Weekend Recap

The Newtown Golden Eagles started their 2013 campaign with two games on the CanAm's opening weekend.

Friday night's matchup was an "away game" for the NGE as they met the Pinewoods Smoke on the floor at the Gil Lay Arena.  The fans were out in full force as the two teams from Cattaraugus were set to battle it out for the 1-0 start.  

The opening period saw the Golden Eagles find the net early and often, scoring five unanswered goals to end the period 5-0.

The second period was all Pinewoods as the NGE offense stalled while the defense managed to halt a strong run from the Smoke.  Newtown managed to hold onto the lead and finish the period 8-7.

The final period started with Newtown netting two quick goals to gain a little breathing room.  The defense held Pinewoods to a single tally in the third and the score was 11-8 with time running down.  After Pinewoods got called for a hand-ball in the crease, Drew Stevens sealed the game with a penalty shot goal. 

He would finish the game with 2 goals and 4 assists.  The other top scorers were lefty Preston Lay with 3g,1a and newcomer Tyler Strassburg with 1g,4a.
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The second game of the weekend took place at the Cattaraugus Community Center as the Golden Eagles took on the Buffalo Creek Thunder (1-0) in a 3:00pm matinee game.

Shots were flying but goals were scarce as the NGE took a 2-1 lead in the first that would hold till the end of the period.  

After two quick goals by the Thunder in the second, the NGE found themselves trailing for the first time of the young season.  Head Coach Mike Stevens called a timeout and the Golden Eagles pulled it together after the break.  Second year defender CJ Stevens sparked the scoring with a breakaway goal.  Newtown finished the second period with 4 more unanswered and a 7-3 lead.

The third was controlled by Newtown as the defense, anchored by goaltender Clint Jones, held the Thunder to just one goal in the third and four in the game as the Golden Eagles took the 11-4 win.

Leading scorers for the NGE were Donald Stevens with 3 goals and 3 assists, Rudi George with 2g,2a,  Wes Jackson with 1g,4a, and Preston Lay added 3 helpers in the contest.

2013 Schedule

*****PLEASE NOTE ALL HOME GAMES WILL NOW BE PLAYED AT GIL LAY ARENA*****

Home
Away

Fri       4/26               Pinewoods              Gil Lay                         8:00pm

Sun     4/28               Buffalo Creek          CCC                            3:00pm

Fri       5/03               Onondoga               CCC                             8:30pm

Fri       5/10               Tuscarora                CCC                             8:00pm

Fri       5/12               Allegany                  ACC                             3:00pm

Wed    5/17               Tonawanda              Logan                           8:00pm

Thu     5/18               Six Nations              CCC                             7:00pm

Fri       5/24               Buffalo Creek          Riverside                     8:00pm

Sun     5/26               Rochester                Canandaigua                 3:00pm

Sat      6/01               Allegany                   Gil Lay                         7:00pm

Thu     6/06               Tuscarora                Smokin Joe’s                8:00pm

Sat      6/15               Pinewoods               CCC                             7:00pm

Sat      6/29               Six Nations               ILA                              7:00pm

Sun     6/30               Rochester                 CCC                            3:00pm

Fri       7/05               Onondoga                Tsha’                           8:00pm

Sun     7/07               Tonawanda               CCC                            3:00pm

All-Star Game – July 6^th

First Round Playoffs – Best of 3 – July 12-14

Second Round Playoffs – Best of 5 – July 19-27

Championship – Best of 7 – August 2-16

Meet the NGE: Trace White

20 Year Veteran
Tracy "Trace" White

#25 Trace White

Position: Defense

Shoots: Right

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 225

2012 Stats:
15 games - 3 goals - 10 assists - 10 pim - 13 points

When did you first start playing lacrosse?

I remember my first game when I was 6 years old. My grandfather, Grant Stevens, took me to the arena to play against Six Nations. But I know I had a stick in my hands before that.

What is your favorite lacrosse memory?

My favorite memory was winning the Presidents Cup in 2000 with my brother Kevin and all of my cousins. We had won the bronze and silver the two years before.

Who were your favorite players growing up and why?

My favorite players growing up were Marty, Tim, and Chuck Stevens because they're my uncles and I looked up to them.

What does it mean to you to play for Newtown?

It means everything to me to play for Newtown. This is where I grew up and I love to play for my family and community.

What is it like being a veteran leader for the Golden Eagles?

This is my 20th year on the men's team, so I've been a veteran for awhile, but it's ace. I remember some of the younger guys were the ballboys for the team and now I'm playing with them!

What are your thoughts on this year's team and the upcoming 2013 season?

We have a lot of talent and if we keep working hard we will be get back to where we want to be.

Kevin White Memorial Champs

The Third Annual Kevin White Memorial Tournament was a great weekend of lacrosse from start to finish.  The Newtown Golden Eagles came out on top after going 3-0 in pool play and winning both of their playoff games.

 Left to Right: Josh Kacprzak, Ryan Maciaszek, Preston Lay,
Jake Davis, Brian Stevens, Linden Stevens, Marty Stevens.
Front Row: Father and Son Drew and Koy Stevens

Friday night marked the start of the NGE's tournament run as they took on the Rawgus Boyz, a tournament team comprised of mostly Pinewoods Smoke players from the CanAm.  Prior to the opening whistle, Drew Stevens' son Koy was honored by some members of the Reading Rockets who play for the NGE.  Specifically older cousin Linden Stevens who presented Koy with the limited edition game jersey he wore on Autism Awareness Night for the Rockets a few months back.  Moments after the presentation of the jersey both teams were lined up for the opening draw.  After being locked in a 0-0 stalemate for almost 10 minutes, Newtown opened the scoring with a powerplay goal from Preston Lay.  Rawgus Boyz followed up with an inside finish and an outside shot to take the lead 2-1.  Their only lead of the game would be short-lived as Bobby DeFreze answered back with an outside shot of his own to tie the game up heading into the second period.  Newtown pulled to a 6-3 lead in the second with scores from Donald Stevens and Roy Isaac, hanging on for a four goal victory in a fast paced and physical matchup that ended 10-6. Scoring was led by a hat trick from Lay.

Saturday's schedule called for stormy weather as the Golden Eagles took on both the Buffalo Creek Thunder of the CanAm and the Ohiyo' Thunder tournament team.  In the day's first game the NGE Jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first.  The second period ended 8-2, with the NGE able to turn it back on in the third and finish the game 13-4.  The night game wasn't much different as the Golden Eagles controlled from the opening faceoff taking a 6-1 lead in the first period, expanding to 13-1 in the second, and putting 8 more up to finish 21-3.  Many players were in the scoring mix, leading the way were Wes Jackson with four tallies and Linden Stevens with 8 assists.

Championship Sunday rolled around with your NGE as the #1 seed in pool A, playing the #2 seed in pool B the Native Sons, a talented tournament team that draws from the CanAm and surrounding leagues.  Newtown opened the scoring with a quick stick from forward Rudi George, but the early lead would not last. The Golden Eagles offense stalled, and found themselves down by as many as four goals in the contest, with the second period ending 6-3 in favor of the Native Sons.  Down but not out, the Golden Eagles chipped away at the lead.  After a breakaway twister by transition man Justin Stevens, the NGE found themselves down 8-7 with 6 minutes left in regulation.  Forward Morgan Montour netted the game tying goal with 5 minutes left in the game.  As the clock ticked down and the defense held fast, it was Montour again on a nearly identical play, catching a feed from fellow righty Bobby DeFreze and burying it bottom left from 10 yards out.  The NGE won the closest game of the tournament 9-8 in thrilling fashion and were able to escape late game antics with cool heads and no suspensions.  Montour finished with four goals, and DeFreze added 6 assists in the nailbiter.

After beating Onondoga 6-3, the Rawgus Boyz met the Golden Eagles in the 2pm Championship Game, the latest edition in the longstanding lacrosse rivalry between Pinewoods and Newtown.  Emotions ran high for the NGE after the semi-final game, and they came out firing.  Controlling the rematch from the start and taking an early lead they would hold till the final buzzer.  Rawgus Boyz goaltender Beask Seneca had to leave the game in the early second period due to muscle cramps.  In a great showing of sportsmanship, he received applause from the NGE bench and fans as he went down the boards and tapped gloves with every player on Newtown.  In the final game it was the defense's turn to get on the score sheet as Ryan Maciaszek scored on an outside shot and Josh Kacprzak, Justin Gill, and Jake Davis all scored on breakaways for the Golden Eagles. Wes Jackson and Preston Lay added three more a piece.  The game got chippy when team captain Justin Gill left the game with an upper body injury after a questionable check.  Both Butch Jimerson and Justin Stevens hit the showers early after receiving two separate fighting majors just minutes apart.  Any animosity was left on the floor as the NGE took the victory 16-7.  Both teams shook hands and remained on the floor for the awards ceremony.  Rawgus Boyz captain Darren Brooks received the 2nd Place trophy and prize money with applause from both teams as did longtime Golden Eagle Trace White who received the championship trophy and prize money from the tournament held in his brother's honor.  


Team Notes:
Goaltenders Craig Seneca and Clint Jones split time and played stellar all weekend behind a stout defense that boasted a mere 5.6 goals against average for the tournament.  The offense finished with a 13.8 goals for average.  Preston Lay was the tournaments high scorer with 12 goals and 8 assists (in three pool play games.)  Linden Stevens won the MVP award.  The team is coached by Mike Stevens, Chad Stevens and Brian Stevens, all former standout players for the NGE.

  

Meet the NGE: Justin Stevens

Transition Player
Justin "Shub" Stevens

#16 Justin Stevens

Position: Transition

Shoots: Left

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 195

2012 Stats:
16 games - 21 goals - 17 assists - 16 pim - 38 points

When did you first start playing lacrosse?

I first started playing at age 3.

What is your favorite lacrosse memory?

My favorite lacrosse memory is playing with the Niagara-on-the-Lake Jr. B's for Darris Kilgour. A close second would have to be sitting in the locker room with Iroquois Ironmen for the season opener. Listening to Jim Veltman give a pre-game speech about what it takes to be a professional lacrosse player.

Who were your favorite players growing up and why?

Growing up I always looked up to the blue collar players, the defensive gladiator players that fight for a loosey in the corners and fight their way up the floor.  The Kilgours were the best role models growing up.

What does it mean to you to play for Newtown?

Playing for Newtown means a lot to me. Kind of brings me full-circle wearing my dads old jersey #16. I was ball boy growing up while my dad coached the men's team, so to be on the floor with some of the same vets my dad coached really is a privilege.

What is is like being a Transition man in a fast-paced league like the CanAm?

Being a transition player in the CanAm is a tough position to play. It takes a lot out of me, playing D then pushing the ball up the floor to play O. Playing CLax in Six Nations this past winter has really improved my offense. So I'm positive I'll be doing my part this season on our way to the cup.

What are your thoughts on this year's team and the upcoming 2013 season?

Our 2013 campaign is going to be our best yet. A lot of returning talent. Some players got a taste of professional lacrosse, eager to bring the style to Newtown. Players are working hard in practice ready to start this season off with a bang at the Kev White Tourney.

Congratulations and best wishes to Justin and Lacey on expecting a new addition to their family.  All the best!