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The best hockey season in the brief history of the DePaul High School program won't include a cup trophy. The Spartans fell in the finals of the McMullen Cup, shut out by a Verona team that just seemed to want it more. It's a disappointment for a DePaul team that also lost out on a league title to the same Hillbillies squad. DePaul, now 18-5-1, still has the state ice hockey playoffs ahead of it. |
The game started with Verona showing the early spark. The Hillbillies killed off an early DePaul power play without allowing any great chances. Later in the period, on a scramble in front on the Verona net, the Spartans' Scott Steinel was given a 5 minute major penalty for spearing and disqualified from the game. The Spartans were left without one of their top offensive players and a huge uphill battle.
Verona took advantage as Nick Wujek scored 17 seconds into the major penalty. The Spartans were happy to go to the break only one goal down after killing off the rest of the major and another minor in the period.
The Spartans didn’t have anything to show in the second period, even after an early power play chance. Soon after, Verona’s captain, Brett Radosti stole a puck in the Spartans defensive zone and beat Matt Fantuzzi to go up 2-0. A minute later Verona’s David Altier scored on a nice rising shot giving his team a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 lead.
The Spartans tried to make it a game and cut into the lead to start the period as they went on a power play. They were awarded a second power play giving them a brief two-man advantage that didn’t yield any goals. Hillbillies goalie Mark Feuerstein frustrated the Spartans with several key saves and earned the shutout.
DePaul coach Frank Krause said, “We didn’t have the jump we usually have and the bounces went Verona’s way." He nonetheless expressed pride in his team's effort throughout the season, which included a championship in the Passaic County hockey tournament.
The Spartans will have to regroup rather quickly as they are scheduled to face St. Augustine tomorrow in the first leg of the state tournament. -- Emir Liguori for Jersey Sports Now
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