Civil War Smith goal is the difference as Little B’s top AAA Bruins

Civil War
Smith goal is the difference as Little B’s top AAA Bruins in second meeting of the year

WORCESTER, MA- Halloween night 2003 had the two Bruins midget programs slated to do battle.  The AAA Bruins won the first meeting in the finals of the Junior Bruins Shootout.  The game took double overtime to decide a winner and it was a Matt Fitzgibbons that did the trick.

The first half of the game was totally dominated by the AAA Bruins.  They had breakaways, numerous odd man rushes, and several quality chances from close range.  All were turned away by Little B’s goalie Chris Rossi.  Rossi was the difference in the game and kept his team in it and gave them a chance to win.  Peter Cox was equal to the task in his own net during the first half stopping every Little B’s attempt and the teams went to their locker rooms with a scoreless first frame.

The second half it was the Little Bruins turn to dominate as the AAA Bruins reverted back to playing defensive zone hockey like mites.  They were running all over their own zone, out of position and were lucky to escape several stretches without being scored upon.   Nathan Kudla was in the pipes for the second=half and he stood tall.  The Little Bruins played with more “jam” and won every one-on-one battle.  The only goal of the game came off the stick of Little B’s leading scorer Ben Smith as he collected a Pat Brosnihan pass on a 2-1 and wasted no time snapping a shot beating Kudla five hole.

The game would end that way and the Little Bruins now sit alone in first place in the EMJHL and control their own destiny to, at the least, split the regular season title.  If they win out, or drop one game along the way, they will win their third straight EMJHL title.  The AAA Bruins need to beat the Little Bruins in the second league game against their split season brethren to have a chance at the league title.
The AAA’ers get a chance to redeem themselves Tuesday night when they meet again for their last regular season game at 7:00 PM at Lawrence Academy.