Public Enemy defeats Poison in Bantam Final!
Everyone knew the #1 seed Poison would have it’s hands full with the ever improving Public Enemy in the 2011 KOH Bantam Championship. Poison, based out of Western Mass, with a few locals, versus a group of players from everywhere; Poison, with it’s total team concept versus Public Enemy; purveyor of summer up and down hockey. Game on!
The pace was very intense, right from the start, each team getting chances. At the 10:53 mark of the first period, Kevin Canty struck gold with an end to end rush, sliding the puck under the five hole to give the Enemy a 1 – 0 lead. James Blanchfield was very sharp in net, protecting that lead well into the 2nd period. But at the period halfway mark, the Poison stuck quickly off a turn-over, with Lars Pennartz scoring from the slot, Evan Conlin and Chris Zaffanella with the assists. Three minutes later, off another giveaway, the Poison took the lead, 2- 1 with another quick shot from the slot, Andy Cella doing the damage, assisted by Jared Renzi. The top dog Poison were starting to roll. But a minute later, Devin Caples evened the score with a nice shot off a cross bar rebound, Andrew All and Andrew Barber with the assists. Period ends tied, 2 – 2.
The 3rd period starts with the Poison really pressuring Public Enemy. Blanchfield continued to backstop Public Enemy, calmly turning away everything, really on his game. With a little over 2 minutes left in the game, Billy Braungart scored with a wicked wrister from a tough angle. Forty seconds later Matt Russell scored an insurance goal with a beautiful break away snipe, giving Public Enemy a commanding 2 goal lead. Devin Caples scored an empty net goal with 27 seconds remaining to round out the scoring for Public Enemy. Final score, 5 – 2, Public Enemy 2011 Bantam KOH Champs!
