DESALES SHOCKS ROCKS!

CHC Game 3: Home Opener
The Dublin Coffman Rocks (3-3-1-0, 3-0-0-0) arrived at the Chiller North arena thinking that just showing up was enough to capture two CHC points from the St. Francis Desales Stallions. The Rocks soon found themselves in a knock down, drag out, overtime hockey game.

History
This is the second time in DeSales varsity hockey history that the two teams have met. The first meeting was at the end of last year's CHC play, where the Rocks under the leadership of Head Coach Perry Pooley dominated the Stallions 10 - 0.

Present
Looking to rebound from a loss against their hockey rival (St. Charles Cardinals) the St. Francis Desales Stallions (1-5-0-0, 0-2-0-0) under first year head coach Tom Maxwell came out with guns blazing. They were looking to show the CHC's first place team that the Stallions were not to be taken lightly.

Rookie Gets On the Board First, Again
Forward Dominic Locilento (junior) shocked the Rocks early with his second unassisted goal of the weekend and the first time the Stallions had scored against Dublin Coffman.

Rocks Recover
Coffman scored the next two goals to make it a 2-1 game going into the third period. As was the case all game long, the Stallions were not going away. Just past the mid-point of the third period, forward Josh Stemen (junior) pulled the Stallions even at 2 with a backhand goal past Rocks' Goalie Alex Rodgers."

An Eight Minute Game
The teams would trade shots looking to end things in the allotted time but it was not to be as the first overtime game of the young Capital Hockey Conference season was needed. This would be an eight minute, 5-on-5, sudden death battle between the CHC powerhouse Dublin Coffman Rocks and the upstart St. Francis Desales Stallions.

A Two Minute Game - with a man down
DeSales defenseman Jake Vasbinder was sent to the penalty box for pulling down a Coffman forward streaking towards the Desales net with just over 2 minutes left in the overtime period.

The Dreaded PK
The Penalty Kill plagued DeSales all weekend long. Coffman pressured the Desales penalty killers and eventually the man advantage was to much as Coffman scored to end the game at 3-2.

Great Goaltending
DeSales goaltender Joe Salerno (sophomore) played an outstanding game, saving 56 of 59 shots. Assistant and dedicated Goalie Coach Jon Edwards had this to say about his netminder "I'm so proud of Joe. This is my second year working with him and the maturity and skill level he plays at is amazing. Most coaches are surprised to find out how young he is. They think he's a senior with how strong and technically sound he is in net."

New Season + New Attitude = Results
When asked how surprising this showing is against the top team in the league; first year Head Coach Tom Maxwell had this to say, "This was not unexpected. We've been working hard since last season and fully expect to be in the thick of the conference this season."

"Now Here This!"
The St. Francis Desales Stallions lost the game but took the first CHC point away from Dublin Coffman and served notice to the rest of the CHC that the previous year where teams walked away with easy victories was merely an aberration; a first year team getting its legs. Last year was the exception, this year is the rule.

Up Next
The St. Francis Desales Stallions will participate in the Landon Ramirez Tournament next weekend at Chiller North. Their first game is Friday, December 7 at 10:00PM against Thomas Worthington.