Walpole, Mass. — Defense took center stage Thursday as Vantage Zone Elite Black made a single first-period power-play goal stand up in a 1-0 win over JD Hockey Club.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
The game’s only goal came at 11:19 of the opening period after JD Hockey Club was assessed a tripping penalty. Vincent Baldari (#40) converted on the power play to put Vantage Zone Elite Black in front, and the score remained unchanged for the rest of the contest.
JD Hockey Club pushed for the equalizer over the final two periods, outshooting Vantage Zone Elite Black 18-13 in the second and finishing with 27 shots overall. Vantage Zone Elite Black weathered the pressure, keeping JD Hockey Club off the scoreboard to preserve the one-goal advantage.
Goaltending played a key role throughout the game. Micah Laird (#30) stopped all nine shots he faced before Triton Franczak (#89) turned aside all 18 attempts after entering the game to complete the shutout. At the other end, Patrick Jamison (#31) and Joey Fisher (#1) combined for 22 saves in a strong effort for JD Hockey Club.
