BY: Casey Bryant, Danbury Hat Tricks
Danbury, CT – The Danbury Hat Tricks thoroughly dismantled the Battle Creek Rumble Bees 10-2 on Saturday night at the Danbury Ice Arena, posting double-digit goals for the first time in franchise history.
Adam Howey stroke just 29 seconds into the contest on Tricks’ goaltender, Tom McGuckin. The Hat Tricks answered back just over two minutes later off the stick of Jonny Ruiz. Gordy Bonnel gave Danbury their first lead of the night, but that lead lasted just shy of five minutes as a shorthanded goal would be buried by Toni Lampo of the Rumble Bees at 7:26.
At 15:25 Phil Bronner would give the Hat Tricks the lead for good, as the Hat Tricks rattled off eight straight unanswered goals. Bronner and Nicola Levesque continued their red-hot scoring streak, Steve Mele found the back of the net, Ruiz would tack on his second of the game as Bonnel, Vlad Gavrik would tally two of his own and Brett Menton would net his first with the team.
Fists would also fly multiple times throughout the game, as several bouts of fisticuffs ignited the arena.
McGuckin made 21 saves en route to his first professional victory.
“It’s an emotional game, and I’m glad we kept that fire going,” head coach Billy McCreary commented. “We stuck up for teammates, we battled hard and played the full 60 minutes. We don’t let up, and I’m glad we played hard and played smart.”
The Hat Tricks will be on the road next week, visiting the Elmira Enforcers for a three-game set.
