Danbury, CT- After a week’s worth of games at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota, the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks returned home for a two-game series against the defending Robertson Cup Champion New Jersey Titans. The Titans walked into the Danbury Ice Arena looking for their first win of the season and they accomplished that goal, with a 4-1 win over the Jr. Hat Tricks.
Both teams got a goal in the first period. When Reese Brednich took a boarding minor, the Hat Tricks went to the power play and almost immediately allowed a shorthanded breakaway by Brendan Dumas who scored his first goal of the season at the 17:33 mark of the period. On the same power play, less than a minute later, new arrival Evan West knocked in a frantic bouncing puck to tie the game at one apiece shortly before the intermission. Nash Jacobsma (’03) recorded the lone assist on the goal.
New Jersey exploded for three goals in a 4:13 long stretch just after the mid-point of the second period. Anthony Calafiore tipped in a point shot by Coleman Nee for a power-play goal. Brendan Dumas scored his second goal of the game and season, and Johnny McMahon capped the scoring with his second goal of the year.
Danbury outshot New Jersey 13-12 in the final period but couldn’t get a puck through Zackari Brice, who stopped 27 of 26 shots faced. Hat Trick goalie Adam Johnson (’02) stopped 39 of 43 shots faced. The Chicago, IL, native has faced the most shots of any goalie in the NAHL so far this season.
The Hat Tricks aim for a win on Saturday night against the Titans. Puck drops at 7PM at the Danbury Ice Arena.