Team Simmonds works 9-5 to beat Team Giroux

Chris Cozzan from Washington Township had a hat trick and Sam Amon from EEW added two goals as Team Simmonds defeated Team Giroux 9-5 in the Junior-Senior Showcase game played before a packed house at the Skate Zone in Voorhees last night. Despite out-shooting Team Simmonds by 48-35, Team Giroux could not overcome the five goal first period. Before we were settled in our seats it was 3-0 in the first two minutes. Cozzan, playing on a line with teammate Brandon Balsama, who assisted on all three Cozzan goals, got things going on their first shift, Scott Veneziale, from Black Horse deflected a shot by Shawnee’s Alex Churchill and the lead was 2-0.

RC Randall from HLV made it 3-0 seconds later just over two minutes into the game. Anthony Salvatore from Cherokee put Team Giroux on the board working with teammate Boomer Miller to cut the lead to 3-1 and Sam Belanger from HLV made it 3-2 and suddenly Team Giroux was back in the game. Amon however would score two goals late in the period to restore the three goal lead at 5-2 after one period. Only two goals were scored in the second period, both by Team Simmonds with Matt Smith from Kingsway converting a Justin Bryan from EEW pass and Cozzan and Balsama hooking up once again for a 7-2 lead.

Moorestown’s’ Chris DeRose gave Team Giroux some life early in the third period and when Collin Miller from Williamstown made it 7-4 with twelve minutes left, but five minutes later Cozzan completed his hat trick with Balsama and Amon assisting. Tristan Tilghman from Riverfront gave Team Giroux some life scoring seconds later but Churchill closed out the scoring with just under four minutes left.

Notes: Really nice turnout for the game and despite Coach Glick not being able to attend, the team was guided by Coach Busler, Coach Mento and Coach Cogbill. Just a side note, this was the second straight year that the team with the first pick in the draft, lost the game.

Written by Mike Costantino