Black Bears Reach Final of Spring Fling Tourney
Four different players scored a goal, and Jack Almon backstopped the Connecticut squad to a team title in the three-day tournament at the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memoral Rink.
The host Black Bears struck first when Hayden Bona set up Nolan Booth on the doorstep in the second minute of the game.
But that was all Almon allowed despite solid pressure from Northern Berkshire throughout the game and five power play chances for the Bears.
It took his offense less than a minute to erase the deficit.
It stayed 1-1 until the 19th minute, when Dylan Cyr brought the puck into the offensive zone up the right wing for Hartford and put a shot that slid through the crease for Braden Drapeau. Drapeau beat Connor McLeod to give the Wolfpack a 2-1 lead.
Northern Berkshire went to the penalty box three times in the second period but killed two late power-place chances to keep it a one-goal game going to the third.
In the third, Hartford converted a couple of power play opportunities with goals from Shane Aaron and Tyler Giangrave to put the game out of reach.
Northern Berkshire went 2-1-1 in its home tournament, a run highlighted by a 10-0 win over Amherst on Saturday.
The Spring Fling continues into a second weekend next week with games Friday through Saturday in the 8u, 10U and 18U age groups.
