Somerset, NJ – While the Protec Jr. Ducks collected points in the standings on Thursday and Friday against Team Maryland, the Jr. Ducks dropped both contests after regulation.
Head coach Terry Watt and company suffered a shootout loss on Thursday, and then an overtime loss Friday afternoon at the Protechockey Ice Ponds. Ironically, both outcomes ended in a 4-3 final.
After allowing two first-period goals on Thursday, Protec bounced back in the second frame with a pair of tallies. Ducks forward Samuel Sheppard netted his first power-play goal on the year and then Brody Selman followed suit on the man advantage late in the period.
(Jr. Ducks/Graphics & Digital Media)
Protec began the third period on a high note when Nick Newman wristed a goal over the glove of Maryland’s Bobby McCloskey from the left hashmark. Newman’s fourth tally on the year provided the Ducks with their first lead at the Pond, but Maryland’s Even Donnelly erased the lead on the man-advantage less than five minutes later.
Let’s not forget that Protec’s masked man in Tristan Fattedad not only started both contests but was impressive between the pipes all weekend. His clutch and timely saves kept the Jr. Ducks in contention and played a big role in the team’s comebacks.
Overtime and the shootout were nothing shy of entertaining, especially considering that Spencer Quinn converted on a “Nikita Kucherov-like" goal. However, McCloskey ended the contest when he robbed Jr. Ducks’ captain Brayden Patricia with a high blocker save.
(Jr. Ducks/Graphics & Digital Media)
On Friday, round two between the two rivals began in a similar fashion to Thursday’s contest. Team Maryland took a commanding 2-0 lead which left Protec scoreless entering the third period. A focused and motivated Jr. Ducks squad then rose to the occasion for the game’s final frame.
Less than three minutes into the period, Spencer Quinn sniped a shot after a face-off win from William Walsh. Quinn’s wrister from the top of the left circle on the power play marked his fourth goal this season.
It didn’t take long for Protec to erase Maryland’s lead, either.
Less than 20-seconds later, Parker King netted his second tally on the year, which led to a huge momentum swing for the Jr. Ducks. Braiden Sparkes then provided Protec a 3-2 lead, and also witnessed the Jr. Ducks net three goals in less than six minutes.
Still, Maryland wasted no time tying the contest.
Mike Kocsis beat Protec goaltender Tristan Fattedad, five-hole, and the score stayed the same until regulation ended. After an impressive start to overtime, it appeared Protec was on pace to earn two points in the standings. Yet, Maryland’s Drew Iannucci netted the game-winner on a breakaway in dramatic fashion.
The Junior A team resumes play on Monday, Oct. 26, back at the Pond against the Philadelphia Little Flyers for an 11:30 a.m. puck drop.
(The Protec Jr. Ducks can be followed on Twitter @ProtecJrDucks)
