News
HITMEN REMAIN UNDEFEATED, BOLSTER D CORPS
Date: Feb 04, 2010
Wayne, NJ - The Jersey Hitmen remained undefeated in 2010 but snapped their 13 game win streak this past weekend at the Ice Vault. On Saturday night the Hitmen skated to a 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Revolution behind a Herculean effort from the DiMare-Swavely-Willows line. On the night, Dimare notched 4 assists, Willows scored twice and added two helpers and Jon Swavely continued to build on his gaudy point total lighting the lamp once and adding two assists. In the victory, Matt Morris kicked out 16 Philadelphia shots and lowered his goals against average to a miniscule 1.99, good for #1 in the EJHL.
In game two of the weekend set, the Hitmen came out firing on all cylinders, but could not solve EJHL defensive player of the week, Brad Frank. Frank made 24 saves in the first period to keep the score tied at zero, until just 2:12 into the second as veteran winger, Jimmy Day, would score his first of the season. Day's goal would be closely followed by a DiMare marker, shorthanded, at 3:31 and it looked as if the Hitmen were on their way, up 2-0 but Philadelphia would not die. At 13:44 Philadelphia would strike to cut the Hitmen lead but on cue, Jon Swavely, would once again put the Hitmen up by 2 at the 17 minute mark. Just when the Hitmen thought they were going to open things up and run away, the penalty bug hit, and the Revolution capitalized scoring once at 19:35, 5 on 3, then once again at 19:58, 5 on 4, to even the score at 3. After trading goals in the third period, the Hitmen would mount an attack in the overtime, but would not break through the stone wall that was Brad Frank. Frank ended the game making 55 saves, and earning the Revolution a hard fought point. Although unhappy with the result, the Hitmen continued their unbeaten streak earning points in their last 14 games.
Notes : With the trade deadline rapidly approaching the Jersey Hitmen have made some huge moves, literally, on the back end adding two USHL veterans to the team. On January 29th the Hitmen added ex-Tri City Storm defenseman, Doug Marshall. Marshall, a Garden Valley, PA native scored the game winning goal in the Hitmen's 6-2 victory over the Revolution on January 30th. Marshall was also a graduate of the Syracuse Stars program as he played with the Stars in 2007. Just 6 days later the Hitmen added ex-Indiana Ice defenseman, Justin Agosta. Agosta, a 2010 UNH recruit, comes to the Hitmen to bolster an already deadly core and will be a very valuable addition both on and off the ice.
-Courtesy of Jersey Hitmen
