The Carolina Junior Hurricanes Elite opened their 2024 USPHL Southeast Showcase weekend with a 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Juniors at Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex Friday morning. Carolina improves to 2-1 on the season.
Anthony Trantas was stellar in net for Carolina as he stopped all 29 shots he faced. Dom Walton picked up the loss, stopping 18-of-19 shots he faced.
First Period
At 10:20 of the first period, after quite a bit of back-and-forth play, Tampa Bay had two big opportunities to take the lead. Tampa’s Paul Johnson received a pass as he was all alone in the middle of the net. He quickly fired a shot on net, but a moving Trantas was able to slide over and kick his left pad up to keep the puck out of the net. The puck ended up behind the net, but would be passed out in front to Christopher Hovan of Tampa. Hovan fired a slap shot that changed directions but was kept out by Trantas to keep it a scoreless game.
With 1:19 to go in the opening frame, the Jr. Hurricanes had their first big chance as Kester Stadler was left all alone on the right side of the net. The pass had just gotten away from him, and he whiffed on the shot in which he had a wide-open net.
With .2 seconds to go, the Jr. Hurricanes broke open the scoring. Cooper Thomas found the loose puck up near the blue line, and fire one on net that would deflect off a Tampa Bay defender and fool Walton as it changed directions to go far side on the netminder. Zachary Rich picked up the assist.
Tampa Bay held a 10-7 shot advantage in the period, but it was the Jr. Hurricanes who came away with the lone goal.
Second Period
Already up one, the Jr. Hurricanes would go on the powerplay after Owen Vachon was called for roughing at 4:03. Despite fantastic puck movement that created a few chances, the Jr. Hurricanes were unable to capitalize on the man advantage.
At 8:12, Tampa Bay had a tremendous chance to tie the game. A pass out front from Keegan Thurber from behind the net found Johnson on the backdoor. A quick shot was not enough as Trantas was able to move left to right quick enough to shut him down.
With 2:39 to go, Tampa Bay went on the powerplay as Abezu DelVecchia was called two minutes for high-sticking. On the ensuing powerplay, the Jr. Hurricanes were outstanding to begin the kill. It was backed by a clearance that led to zone time for them, and a big left-pad save by Trantas on Kelan Jamison.
After a very defensive-heavy battle, the second period ended how it started, with a 1-0 lead in favor of Carolina. Tampa again outshot Carolina, 9-8 for the period, and 19-15 through two periods of play.
Both sides were 0-for-1 on the man advantage.
Third Period
For most of the third period, both teams had long stretches in the offensive zone, but were not able to get anything to go. Tampa Bay had Carolina on their heels much longer, but Carolina was able to hang on, blocking shots any chance they had.
Still down by one with 36 seconds left, Tampa pulled it’s goalie for an extra attacker. With just one second left, Rich tallied his second point of the game when he iced the game with an empty net goal. Carolina’s captain, Gregory Harter, picked up the lone assist.
Like they did all game, Tampa outshot Carolina, 10-5 for the period. Carolina went 0-for-1 on the powerplay in the third.
