Miracle on Ice: Canton team wins gold in Lake Placid

By Guest

(Front row, l-r) Kyle Wanless, Michael Mondillo, Lizzie Tassinari, Jayden Haggerty, Jack Albert, Nate MacDonald, Max Cohen; (back row, l-r) Griffin Hughes, AJ Thomas, Jack Digirolamo, Payton McDonough, Tommy Phaneuf, Michael Leonetti, Jacob Crugnale; (missing from photo) Billy DeLello

It’s only minutes to go before taking the ice. The Canton Pee Wee B hockey team sits quietly, lights off, thinking about the fact that they are about to play for the gold in Lake Placid. In locker room 6, where the 1980 Olympic athletes once sat, Canton is a heavy underdog, questionable to even be able to compete against an undefeated New Haven Warriors team who only the day prior beat Canton by a score of 5-1. Just outside of the locker room hangs a tribute plaque to Herb Brooks, the leader of the 1980 Olympic team that beat the Russians in one of the greatest sports moments in history, working to inspire the Bulldogs for their challenge ahead.

The Bulldogs take to the ice led by Jayden Haggerty, their star goalie who would face 33 tough shots on this day and make 30 unbelievable saves. With the first puck drop, defensive stalwarts Griffin Hughes and Kyle Wanless begin to apply the pressure and put down the Warriors’ attack. Nate MacDonald and Max Cohen are equally ready for the challenge and MacDonald takes his head-down approach to the first few Warrior drives, letting them know that things will not be the same today, while Cohen applies the same confidence to add to the impenetrable tone for the first period.

Taking first to the ice to face the menacing stare-downs of the over-sized Warriors is starting center Payton McDonough. Where the Warriors expected fear, they found determination and resolve in McDonough’s eyes. To Payton’s right is the agile Jack DiGirolamo, who immediately demonstrates his thunderous wrist-shots, which whiz past the goalie’s head only to crash off the boards, letting the Warriors know that the Bulldogs mean business. On the left wing is, pound-for-pound, the toughest skater in Lake Placid this weekend, Jack Albert. The Warriors try to goat Albert into penalties early on but he keeps his cool and doesn’t bite, although he makes it clear that it will be the undersized Bulldogs who will be controlling the physical aspect of the game today. It was toughness and determination of the McDonough line and the defensive stars that set the stage for the Bulldogs’ offensive onslaught.

Wanting to set the tone early, Tommy Phaneuf strikes first three minutes into the game on a wrist shot from the slot after beating the defensemen. Assisting Phanuef’s goal were Michael Leonetti and AJ Thomas. An up-and-down battle went on for the remainder of the first with Haggerty making many big saves and the period ended 1-0. Only 42 seconds into the second period, Thomas took matters into his own hands when he gained the offensive blue line on a hard drive and fired his shot five-hole for an unassisted goal. Hopes begin to be raised and the fans begin to sense a second “miracle on ice” could be possible. Not to be counted out, the Warriors strike back immediately with their first goal to bring the score to 2-1. Refusing to release any of the pressure being applied, Leonetti provides an answer that quells the celebration on the Warriors’ bench. A matter of seconds after the Warriors’ first goal, on an up-the-boards pass from Hughes, Leonetti makes his move past the Warriors’ defensemen and with a hard net drive fires a shot that sails top corner, restoring the two-goal advantage.

Heading into the third period, the Bulldogs know that they only need 12 minutes to expire without giving any ground and they will be taking home the gold. At 6:08 in the third period, the Warriors net a shorthanded goal, again pulling within one. However, the relentless energy and tenacity that the line of Michael Mondillo, Lizzie Tassinari, and Jacob Crugnale would apply proves fruitful only 19 seconds after the Warriors’ goal. Mondillo provides the next response with a heads-up pass from defenseman MacDonald that puts Mondillo’s speed to work with a breakaway drive and shot that screams past the Warriors’ goalie for Canton’s fourth goal of the game.

Not to go quietly, the struggling Warriors muster one final drive and net a third goal at the 3:28 mark of the third. For the fourth time in this gold medal game, the contest is within one goal. With only minutes needing to expire for Canton’s miracle, the Warriors begin to turn up the heat; however, before having the chance to pull the goalie, the Warriors come face to face with Tassinari and Crugnale. It’s the toughness of the Tassinari drive and Crugnale shot that puts the final nail in the coffin.

The final seconds of the game tick off before the Canton players clear the bench with an explosion of gloves, sticks and helmets flying into the air in celebration. Canton showed what Bulldog hockey is all about and brought the gold home for permanent display in the hearts and minds of each of the players, making the long ride home from Lake Placid that much sweeter. It was truly a team effort that allowed this great Bulldogs’ moment to be born from a great opportunity, inspiring the Pee Wee B White team to “play with, stay with and shut down” the mighty Warriors.

Submitted by John Leonetti

Share This Post

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=32291