MASS MAPLE LEAFS WIN CHA JUNIOR B PLAYOFFS>
MASS MAPLE LEAFS WIN CHA JUNIOR B PLAYOFFS AND RETURN TO NATIONALS FOR THE 4TH
STRAIGHT YEAR
The Mass Maple Leafs Junior B Hockey Club has had a roller coaster ride season. It started
in July when they found there was an age restriction at the B level for the season of only being
able to play four in a game. The Leafs were faced in July with 11 1988s. The Leafs then started
the long road of replacing 1988s with younger players and finding homes for the 1988s. Most of
the 1988s were found homes either on other junior team rosters or placed at the collegiate level
except the six that remained with the club. The six 1988s that remained with the club were
Ronnie Paiva, William Dukeman, Greg Dawkins, Mike Rizzitano, Jeff Petersen and Graham
James.
The Leafs finished the regular season in 3rd place with a 24-10-2 record. This spot was a
little unfamiliar to the Leafs as it was the most league losses the team had suffered in the last 3
years combined. The Leafs had to travel to Bethlehem, PA to take on the sixth place Pittsburgh
Junior Penguins for a CHA play in series.
The Leafs won Game 1 of the play in series by a score of 5-1 behind the play of Matthew Cray
in net and a two goal performance by Mike Rizzitano and a two assist performance by Ronnie
Paiva. The Leafs then came back the next morning and took a 4-2 decision from the Pens
behind another great effort by Cray in net and Jeff Petersen’s two goal effort and another two
assist game by Paiva. With this series sweep the Leafs were off to Pittsburgh for the Final Four
the following weekend to join Springfield Junior Pics, Metro Moose (regular season champions)
and Apple Core Young Guns.
The most impressive part of the sweep of the Pens were the Leafs showing their great depth
as they were missing some key players that did not attend the trip for various reasons.
The Leafs opened up the final four with Springfield Pics who they were 1-3 in the regular
season. The Leafs started up with a natural hat trick by Paiva in the first period with Petersen
picking up two assists to stake a 3-0 lead. The Leafs then added to their lead by goals by Rob
Berg and Peter Hasenfuss to stake a 5-0 lead. The Pics were not to be denied as they scored
two goals to close out the 2nd period. The Pics would continue their onslaught as they threw
another 23 shots on net in the third period. The Pics were able to muster two more goals but it
was the Leafs who would do all the hollering this time around at the final buzzer. Cray came up
with 50 saves in the victory.
The Leafs would then face the regular season champion Metro Moose. The Moose scored
four power play goals as the Leafs could not gain much momentum as they were killing off
penalties. The Leafs were able to score two goals one by Paiva and one by Berg but wasn’t
enough as the Moose went onto win by a score of 7-2.
The Leafs and Springfield were now tied 1-1 going into the third game. A Springfield loss
combined by a Leafs win would send the Leafs back to Nationals and to the CHA Junior B
Championship game. The Leafs started out fast scoring the first 6 goals of the game only to see
Apple Core score the next three to end the second.
Then the word got out that the Leafs were on their way to Nationals in 20 minutes if the Leafs
could win the third period. The Moose beat the Pics with 5.5 seconds left in the game. The
locker room became real serious and the target was in sight. The Leafs then scored 3 more to
seal the deal with a 9-3 win. The Leafs had 15 different players contributed at least a point in
this victory.
The Leafs then entered the building for the championship game versus the Metro Moose with
a different feeling in the air. The Leafs were very relaxed and very confident a swagger that had
been missing from the Leafs all season. The Leafs would dominate the play on the Moose for
the 1st 8 minutes of the first period until an untimely penalty gave the Moose a 2-1 lead after the
first period.
The Leafs then went into the locker room to refocus and realize that we had no pressure and
it was on them. The Leafs then were able to score two goals one by Paiva on a power play goal
and one by Andrew Parent to stake a 3-2 lead after 2 periods. The Leafs were then 20 minutes
away from winning a championship that most people felt we wouldn’t even make playoffs... The
Leafs responded with a Mike O’Brien breakaway goal and sealed the championship on a power
play goal by Parent to win by the score of 5-2.
The Playoff MVP of the CHA was given to Ronnie Paiva who was tied for the lead for most
points in playoffs with line mate Petersen with 9 points. The Leafs veterans returning to the
Nationals are Paiva, Petersen, William Dukeman, Jason Alera, Nash Winters, Hasenfuss,
Rizzitano, and Zack Dupere. The vets will be joined by first timers Cray, Riley Hess, Graham
James, Andrew Desroisers (who went to C Nationals two years ago), O’Brien, Matt Keith, Matt
Vignali, Karl Poss, Cory Bruski (who went to B Nationals last year with Hampton Roads Whalers)
Berg, Parent, Greg Dawkins, Scott Stewardson, Derek Scott, Adam Lewis, and Tommi Hirvonen.
The Leafs are off to Nationals where all their 88s can play together on the ice at the same
time which is what the goal was right out of training camp. The road wasn’t a smooth one but it
was a road we will ride again if that’s what it takes.
STRAIGHT YEAR
The Mass Maple Leafs Junior B Hockey Club has had a roller coaster ride season. It started
in July when they found there was an age restriction at the B level for the season of only being
able to play four in a game. The Leafs were faced in July with 11 1988s. The Leafs then started
the long road of replacing 1988s with younger players and finding homes for the 1988s. Most of
the 1988s were found homes either on other junior team rosters or placed at the collegiate level
except the six that remained with the club. The six 1988s that remained with the club were
Ronnie Paiva, William Dukeman, Greg Dawkins, Mike Rizzitano, Jeff Petersen and Graham
James.
The Leafs finished the regular season in 3rd place with a 24-10-2 record. This spot was a
little unfamiliar to the Leafs as it was the most league losses the team had suffered in the last 3
years combined. The Leafs had to travel to Bethlehem, PA to take on the sixth place Pittsburgh
Junior Penguins for a CHA play in series.
The Leafs won Game 1 of the play in series by a score of 5-1 behind the play of Matthew Cray
in net and a two goal performance by Mike Rizzitano and a two assist performance by Ronnie
Paiva. The Leafs then came back the next morning and took a 4-2 decision from the Pens
behind another great effort by Cray in net and Jeff Petersen’s two goal effort and another two
assist game by Paiva. With this series sweep the Leafs were off to Pittsburgh for the Final Four
the following weekend to join Springfield Junior Pics, Metro Moose (regular season champions)
and Apple Core Young Guns.
The most impressive part of the sweep of the Pens were the Leafs showing their great depth
as they were missing some key players that did not attend the trip for various reasons.
The Leafs opened up the final four with Springfield Pics who they were 1-3 in the regular
season. The Leafs started up with a natural hat trick by Paiva in the first period with Petersen
picking up two assists to stake a 3-0 lead. The Leafs then added to their lead by goals by Rob
Berg and Peter Hasenfuss to stake a 5-0 lead. The Pics were not to be denied as they scored
two goals to close out the 2nd period. The Pics would continue their onslaught as they threw
another 23 shots on net in the third period. The Pics were able to muster two more goals but it
was the Leafs who would do all the hollering this time around at the final buzzer. Cray came up
with 50 saves in the victory.
The Leafs would then face the regular season champion Metro Moose. The Moose scored
four power play goals as the Leafs could not gain much momentum as they were killing off
penalties. The Leafs were able to score two goals one by Paiva and one by Berg but wasn’t
enough as the Moose went onto win by a score of 7-2.
The Leafs and Springfield were now tied 1-1 going into the third game. A Springfield loss
combined by a Leafs win would send the Leafs back to Nationals and to the CHA Junior B
Championship game. The Leafs started out fast scoring the first 6 goals of the game only to see
Apple Core score the next three to end the second.
Then the word got out that the Leafs were on their way to Nationals in 20 minutes if the Leafs
could win the third period. The Moose beat the Pics with 5.5 seconds left in the game. The
locker room became real serious and the target was in sight. The Leafs then scored 3 more to
seal the deal with a 9-3 win. The Leafs had 15 different players contributed at least a point in
this victory.
The Leafs then entered the building for the championship game versus the Metro Moose with
a different feeling in the air. The Leafs were very relaxed and very confident a swagger that had
been missing from the Leafs all season. The Leafs would dominate the play on the Moose for
the 1st 8 minutes of the first period until an untimely penalty gave the Moose a 2-1 lead after the
first period.
The Leafs then went into the locker room to refocus and realize that we had no pressure and
it was on them. The Leafs then were able to score two goals one by Paiva on a power play goal
and one by Andrew Parent to stake a 3-2 lead after 2 periods. The Leafs were then 20 minutes
away from winning a championship that most people felt we wouldn’t even make playoffs... The
Leafs responded with a Mike O’Brien breakaway goal and sealed the championship on a power
play goal by Parent to win by the score of 5-2.
The Playoff MVP of the CHA was given to Ronnie Paiva who was tied for the lead for most
points in playoffs with line mate Petersen with 9 points. The Leafs veterans returning to the
Nationals are Paiva, Petersen, William Dukeman, Jason Alera, Nash Winters, Hasenfuss,
Rizzitano, and Zack Dupere. The vets will be joined by first timers Cray, Riley Hess, Graham
James, Andrew Desroisers (who went to C Nationals two years ago), O’Brien, Matt Keith, Matt
Vignali, Karl Poss, Cory Bruski (who went to B Nationals last year with Hampton Roads Whalers)
Berg, Parent, Greg Dawkins, Scott Stewardson, Derek Scott, Adam Lewis, and Tommi Hirvonen.
The Leafs are off to Nationals where all their 88s can play together on the ice at the same
time which is what the goal was right out of training camp. The road wasn’t a smooth one but it
was a road we will ride again if that’s what it takes.
Massachusetts
Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs
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