Shorthanded Fox Lane falls to New Rochelle, 9-2

Pictured clockwise from top, Fox Lane goalie Kevin Shiltz makes a save against New Rochelle. Hank Hearon makes a pass at center ice for the Foxes. Fox Lane’s Brendan Toole gains control of loose puck. Jim MacLean photos

By JIM MACLEAN 

One look at the bench and you knew it was going to be a tall task for Fox Lane as the Foxes hosted New Rochelle on Dec. 12, at the Brewster Ice Arena.

Fox Lane had just 14 players on skates, and two of them were goalies, so the Foxes were shorthanded against a good team running three lines against them with fresh legs and lots of energy. The numbers game took its toll on the Foxes, missing several key skaters, as New Rochelle jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 9-2 victory.

“We had about half our roster tonight, we have 24, but tonight we had a really short bench, a lot of injuries and sickness, the kids are battling through it, but when you’re down that many it has an impact,” said Fox Lane coach Tom McGinn. “When we have everybody out there ready to go we are definitely a different team. We’re confident in our lineup when we have our lineup, but for this game it was a tough one.”

New Rochelle came out flying and took a 3-0 lead in the first period as the Foxes spent most of the period in their own zone chasing after the Huguenots. Luckily for the Foxes, goalie Kevin Shiltz was up for the challenge as he came up big all night long. Shiltz finished with 42 saves in goal for Fox Lane.

“Kevin Shiltz, our goalie, is standing on his head for us every game and tonight he saw around 50 shots and it’s tough to stop them all,” McGinn said of Shiltz. “We spent a lot of time in our zone and he did everything he could to keep us in this game.”

The Huguenots kept it up to start the second period as New Rochelle scored at the 14:57 mark, and then added another goal just 20 seconds later to make it 5-0.

It was 7-0 when Fox Lane was able to break through as Hank Hearon scored an unassisted goal with 1:45 left in the period to make it 7-1 and break up the shut out.

New Rochelle scored a short handed goal in the third period to make it 8-1, but Fox Lane responded as Chris Wilkenloh scored a power play goal off an assist from Ryan Goldstein at 9:59 to make it 8-2.

It stayed that way until two minutes left in the third period when the Huguenots tallied another goal to make the final score 9-2. Despite the final score, McGinn felt the Foxes played better in the second and third periods despite being outnumbered and everyone logging extra minutes of ice time with the short bench.

“We went into the second and third period talking about playing for pride, battling every chance,” said McGinn. “First period we were very cautious, second and third we were better, playing more aggressive. Our numbers are good and we just have to get healthy. Hank Hearon is on a six-game, goal-scoring streak and off to a good start. Ryan Goldstein is another point leader for us. Once we get over the injuries and get everybody on the ice together we will be a much better hockey team.”

With the loss Fox Lane fell to 1-5 overall on the season.

The Foxes will be facing a busy schedule over the holiday break starting with a game Friday, Dec. 20, against Carmel at the Brewster Ice Arena. Fox Lane then faces Pearl River on Monday, Dec. 23, at Sport-o-Rama in Rockland County. The Foxes then face Carmel again on Friday, Jan. 3, and host Monroe-Woodbury on Monday, Jan. 5, at the Brewster Ice Arena to start the new year.