Rochester United edges Romeo in OAA-MAC Hockey Showcase
BY DAVID BOIKE
CORRESPONDENT
ROCHESTER — February in Michigan usually means the peak of winter sports activity, but this year’s mild winter has put a damper on some of our favorite pursuits.
Don’t tell that to anyone who attended the 2012 OAA vs. MAC Hockey Showcase at the Rochester Onyx. In its third year, thirty teams, three rinks, an over-flowing parking lot and spectators everywhere really made for a special day of high school hockey.
For Rochester United of the OAA, playing on its home rink, United was able to treat their fans to a 3-1 victory over the MAC representative Romeo.
Scoreless through two periods, United scored three times in the third period to come away with the win.
It seemed like it was going to be a matter of time before United would break through to take the lead. United had outshot Romeo, 26-11, through the first two periods.
Both goaltenders, Romeo’s Anthony Grifka and United’s Brody Blair, who actually assisted on the final goal, kept the game in check for the first 35 minutes.
It was not until an awkward bounce off the end boards presented United’s Brent Boudreau the opportunity he needed to stuff the puck into the open net for a 1-0 lead at the 16-minute mark of third period.
United went up 2-0 over the Bulldogs four minutes later of a back-hand drive from Evan Asuncion assisted by Marshall Bowery and Tony Nassar.
At that point it looked as if United would take advantage of its offensive zone puck possession to blow the game open. This was not the case, as Romeo responded to bring the score back to a one-goal game with a wrap-around effort from Jeremy Speer from Greg Balsam at the 11-minute mark.
The final goal of the game came on an empty net score by Kevin Kurzeja from the aforementioned Blair.
Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams
