SWAMP RATS SPLIT WITH GLADIATORS

 GAME 1: KING WORKS OVERTIME FOR VICTORY, RATS 5-4

(Holbrook, MA  1/2/08) The Boston Swamp Rats hosted the Marple Gladiators for a Saturday night doubleheader at Holbrook Sports Center back on December 8, 2007 in a battle between 2 PIHA Northeast Division rivals.The Glads, although not new to the league, have undergone a roster overhaul this season and the home team was not quite sure what to expect from the visitors. But it was immediately apparent that this team possessed unlimited speed to go along with their talent and skill.

The Glads opened up the scoring in this one almost 4 minutes into the contest when Andrew Christiano (2a) set up Brian Ems (1g, 1a) to put the bad guys up by a goal. The Rats then answered back when Ryan Grant (3g) tied it up on a power play goal on a play started by Glen Squillacioti (1a). Grant would give his team the lead about 3 minutes later on a shot that would beat Glads' netminder Dan Hogan. Picking up an assist on the play was Tony King (1g, 1a). After a delay of game penalty to "Squid" with 3:28 remaining in the opening period gave the visitors the man advantage, the Glads Steve Klenk (1g) made them pay by scoring the equalizer from Tim Sarceni (1a). The "Taunton Connection" of Tom Halpin (1g) and Derek Bissonnette (1a) put the boys in red back out in front wit just over a minute to play in the 1st and that's how the half would end. Shots on goal were pretty much even with the Glads outshooting the Rats 13-12.

 The Gladiators struck 1st in the final half Jon Donohue (1g) tied the game at 3-3 with Brian Ems registering the assist. Midway through the half, Marple surprised everyone in the building by scoring a shorthanded goal to give them the lead.Supllying the go ahead goal while a man down was Vic Scotto (1g) on a feed from Christiano. The Glads then carried the play for the ensuing few minutes of play and things were not looking good for the home team until Ken Carney (1a) set up Grant for his 3rd goal of the contest with just 2:07 left to play. Grant's hatty knotted the game at 4-4 and sent this one to bonus hockey. At the end of regulation, the Gladiators held a 28-25 shots on goal advantage over Boston.

 After a short break, the teams took the floor and the puck was dropped for overtime. After the team's traded scoring opportunities, Swamp Rats netminder Pete Pennecke took a loose puck and fired it throught to center court where he found a streaking King. "TK" proceeded to skate around the Marple defender and as he was being molested by the Glads defenseman one handed the puck over Hogan's shoulder to give the Rats the win and send the 100 or so in attendance into a frenzy. Shots on goal in OT were 2 a piece.

 THREE STARS OF THE GAME;

 #1 Swamp Rats forward Ryan Grant. Ryan registered a hat trick in this game with none of them being any more important than his goal late in regulation that would send this game into overtime.

 #2 Boston forward Tony King. "TK" had another solid game for the Rats but it would be his highlight reel game winning goal in OT that earned him the star.

 #3 Gladiators defenseman Andrew Christiano. Andrew assisted on his teams 1st and last goals and was a force in this game whenever he was on the floor.

 GAME 2: GLADIATORS DROWN THE RATS, 8-4

(Holbrook, MA 1/2/08)  After a hard fought game 1, both teams returned to the floor at Holbrook Sports Center for a game 2 that promised to be another hi intensity matchup. However, it was the Gladiators who would come out fired up while at the other end of the floor, the Swamp Rats showed the signs of the battle that they had just gone through and looked a bit flat footed in the opening minutes of the game.

The Rats did light the lamp 1st at the 10:24 mark when Ryan Grant (1g, 2a) gave the rodents the early 1-0 advantage. Notching helpers on Grant's goal were Tony King (1g, 1a) anfd Brian Blanchette (2a). The Gladiators went on to score the next 3 goals and take control of the game. DJ Williams (2g,1a) finished a play manufactured by Lucas Pavlicek (2a) and Brian Ems (1a) to tie it at 1-1. Just over 2 minutes had passed when, while on the power play, Steve Klenk (2g,1a) took a Jon Donahue pass and buried it past Rats' netminder Jim McKay to put the visitors up by a goal.

Penalty trouble would haunt the home team in the opening 12 minutes and the Glads would make them pay. After Brian Moore's 2nd penalty in a span of just 5 minutes put Marple on the power play, Donahue and Tim Sarceni (1g, 2a) combined to put the visitors up by a pair and that's how the half would finish. After 1 half, the Glads had outshot the Rats to the tune of 20-17 as both goalies were very busy.

 Marple continued to apply the pressure in the opening moments of the 2nd half and Williams made their efforts pay off when he put one past McKay to stretch the lead to 3 goals less than a minute in. Picking up assists on Williams' goal were Dan Sangiorgio (1a) and Pavlicek.  The Rats did answer back less than a minute later when the "Taunton Connection" of Tom Halpin (1g) and Derek Bissonnette (1a) hooked up for a pretty goal to bring the deficit back to a pair. Unfortunately for the good guys, the Glads were the next to find the back of the net as Andrew Christiano (1g) took a Klenk feed and made it a 5-2 game.

The Rats then pulled McKay in favor of Pete Pennecke as the good guys were looking for something to give them a spark. That move did seem to work for a moment as Grant set up Co-Captain Michael Hunt (1g) for a power play tally to make it 5-3 but the Glads bounced right back with one of their own just :19 later when Donahue notched his 2nd of the game to make it 6-3 bad guys. Assisting on Donahue's goal were Saraceni and Donnie Marriotti (1a). The Glads then extended their lead to 4 goals as Klenk found the back of the net for his 2nd of the game on a play set up by Vic Scotto (1a). Marple then added an insurance goal when Saraceni lit the lamp on a goal assisted by Williams. The Rats did manage to tickle the twine one last time with just 8 ticks remaining in the game on a King goal set up by Grant and Blanchette. Oddly enough, the home team outshot the visitors in this one, 33-31 but Glads tender Dan Hogan was up to the task.

 THREE STARS OF THE GAME;

 #1 Gladiators forward Steve Klenk. Steve's number was all over the scoresheet in this one, finishing the night with 2 goals and an assist.

 #2 Marple forward Jon Donahue. Jon had a pair of goals and an assist and was instrumental in his team picking up the 2 points.

 #3 Glads defenseman DJ Williams. Not to be outdone by his teammates, DJ matched the output of Klenk and Donahue with 2 goals and an assist.