MASS MAPLE LEAFS CONTINUE THEIR SUCCESS NOW INTO THE SUMMER

The Mass Maple Leafs during its 13 year tenure has been no stranger to success during
the months of September to April. Well the Leafs have more recently been liking
the months of June and July as well. The Leafs for the past two summers have been using
summer tournaments as their tryouts for their upcoming fall season.

The Leafs have participated in 6 tournaments in the last two years and have made it
to the 3 playoff rounds. Last years Summer EJ tournament they had two teams advance to the quarterfinals.

The most recent playoff appearance came in this year Hub City Midget Major Tournament.
This particular team consisted of 21 players from 9 different states and Head Coach Tony DeSilva
had never met 15 of the 21 players prior to. Coach DeSilva stated “It was a challenge
just to get them to the right locker room to start the tournament ever mind to learn names.”
Most teams during the Summer have Leafs veterans skating for them to filter in however this team
only had 2 players ever to don the Leafs crest and that was defenseman Tyler Person (NJ)
who got hurt with a separated shoulder in 1st game and Sam Jenkins who wasn’t able to attend
the first two games of the tournament due to work commitments. Coach DeSilva went on to say.
“ We had no idea what to expect or how we would do but hope for the best and these kids were great to coach.”

The Leafs started out the tournament strong by beating the always tough entry Beantown Bullies 4-2.
Leafs goalie Ohio resident Sean Shriner came up with big saves to preserve the victory.
The Leafs next opponent was a Florida entry called THDHP. The Leafs speed and tenacious fore checking
was too much and the Leafs dispatched them for a 6-0 win. The Leafs last opponent was Americans
which won the tournament last year. The Leafs were 1 of 10 teams remaining for the 8 playoff spots
in the 22 team field. The game was a see saw and hard hitting affair. The Americans went ahead
and pulled ahead with a 6-3 lead with 6 minutes remaining. A goalie pull and a continued
even stronger fore checking effort and offensive onslaught pulled the Leafs within 1 down 6-5
with 13 seconds remaining but wasn’t enough. However those 6 minutes was the difference
for the Leafs advance to the playoffs as those 2 goals and a huge save by goalie Shane Benjamin
allowed the Sunday to be possible.

The Leafs took on #1 seed Palm Beach Hawks who had a plus 19 going to the playoff round.
The Leafs didn’t change their game plan and came out with their very strong fore checking effort
and constant speed throughout the lineup and came up with a 3-0 win in a dominating fashion.
The Leafs then advanced to the semifinals to take on Mass Attack. The Leafs rolled their 4 lines
and 6 defensemen at them and was way too much to handle and the Leafs won in convincing fashion 4-0
to advance to the finals. The Leafs took on Ohio Prospects who were the #7 seed who had beaten
#2 seed New England Nordiques 4-1 and #6 seed Jr Hockey Prospects in OT 5-4.

This final game consisted of the two lowest seeds with a team who two days prior didn’t even know each other
before the tournament versus an all star summer team from Ohio. The Leafs would continue
with what worked for them with tight defense solid goaltending and fast constant fore checking pressure.
The Leafs overcame a few penalties and almost capitalize on a few shorthanded bids.
The Leafs for the most part controlled the entire game but just couldn’t bury one home.
These two teams battled to a scoreless regulation this after the teams were playing
their 3rd game of the day.

The overtime period would be very short as the 1st shot on net from a bad angle
slipped by the Leafs goalie for a heart breaking defeat.

The roster for the Leafs in this tournament were goalies Sean Shriner (OH), Shane Benjamin (RI),
defensemen Tyler Person (NJ), Sam Jenkins (MA), Rick Loveless (MO), Zachary Protich (FL),
Dan Kreytak (MA), Nick Cambria (MA), Mike Grassi (MA) and Trevor Borman (MA).
The forwards Ryan Conery (MA), Nate Soter (MA), Evan Marek (CT), Kyle Levere (MA), Jamie Lukas (PA),
Brendan Cullen (NY), Tyson Araujo (MA), Brett Kaiser (NY) Dallas Szustak (NY), Jake Bichko (NY),
Frank Cambria (MA) and Connor Fitzpatrick (MA). The team was coached by Tony DeSilva.

The Leafs still have some open spots remaining for their last summer tournament
which they will have two teams in the Summer EJ tournament July 22-24 in Marlboro.
The Leafs have spots remaining for next season on their Junior and u18 team.
For more information on the Leafs programming please visit the Leafs site at www.massmapleleafs.com
or contact Tony DeSilva at hockbase@aol.com or 508-971-0808.