THE MASS MAPLE LEAFS CLINCHED THEIR 5TH CONSECUTIVE BERTH
TO GO TO USA HOCKEY NATIONALS

The Mass Maple Leafs Junior Hockey Club rolled into the CHA Junior B playoffs
in Warwick, PA this past weekend as the 3rd seed of the 8 team tournament.
This 3rd seed spot in the tournament has been a very familiar spot the Leafs have been
in before as recent as last year when they ended up beating the #1 seed Metro Moose
in the finals.
The Leafs started their post season journey with their first game being versus
Buffalo Stars the 6th seed. The Leafs hadn’t seen the Stars play since they last
played them the 2nd week of September when they disposed of them by scores of 12-3
and 9-1 and a lot had changed since the last two had met. The Leafs would prove
to be too much for the upset seeking Stars and defeated them 8-2.
Up next bright and early for a 7am game was Frederick Freeze the #2 seed who the Leafs
were embarrassed by last month in Maryland by scores of 9-3 and 9-2. This time
it would be a much different story as both teams gave their hearts out through 60 minutes
of playing time with a tied score of 3-3. The teams battled tooth and nail and the Leafs
were finally able to overcome the pesky Freeze in overtime by a goal by Jarred Mitrano
his 2nd of the game to advance the Leafs into the winners bracket final versus the #1 seed
Metro Moose who had two cakewalks to get there with 8-1 and 15-3 wins.
The Leafs came back 2 hours later fresh off their thrilling OT winner versus the Freeze
to take on a very fresh Metro Moose. In similar fashion the Leafs were refusing to be denied
and through 60 minutes of action and some incredible saves by Leafs goalie Matt Cray
the score was tied 2-2. Unlike the Frederick game, the Leafs dominated much of the overtime
stanza but could not put one thru Moose goalie Steve Laris and game remained tied
after a 20 minute overtime. The game then had to be decided by a shootout which nobody
wanted to end such a great game this way but rules are rules and the Moose would prevail
in the shootout 1-0 and putting the Leafs in the dreaded losers bracket.
However, good news would follow that evening with the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs
knocking off the #2 seed of Frederick Freeze and the #5 seed Philadelphia Junior Blazers.
With that feat it would least guarantee the Leafs a shot at a play in game to get
into Nationals.
The Leafs would have to get up for a another early contest this time at 6am for
an out right berth to Nationals versus the upset minded Monarchs. The Narchs
started out fast and furious through the 1st 2 periods but the Leafs would used
their offensive attack which proved to be too much for the Monarchs and clinched
an automatic berth in the Junior Nationals as well as the CHA Junior B finals.
The Leafs teams have played in a league playoff final for the 9th time in 12 years.
The Leafs would then quickly forgetting about going to Nationals and quickly focus
with few hours to spare to go for the League championship versus the undefeated Moose.
The Leafs would dominate from the outset mixing in speed traps and smart play
and would outskate the Moose to a 5-1 win. The win would setup the grand finale that would
be the Leafs 3rd game in 14 hours and 6th game in 55 hours plus 36 minutes of overtime play
to be included.
The Leafs started out with a lot of firepower but the Moose only playing their
4th game of the tournament compared to the Leafs 6 + proved to be too much for the Leafs
to be able to handle and the Moose would go onto win the Championship by the score of 4-1.
The Leafs learned some valuable lessons this weekend that it took an entire league
and then some to be able to wrestle that league trophy away from them.
They also proved that when they want to play they can very well be one of
the best Junior B teams in the country. On March 26-30th in Marlboro at
the New England Sports Center they will have a shot to prove it.