Aviators blank Mountain Kings in decisive road win
HOOKSETT, N.H. – The Elmira Aviators (13-19-3-1) shutout the New Hampshire Mountain Kings (17-18-0-1) 4-0 at Tri-Town Ice Arena Friday night.
Elmira goaltender Ty Levy made his first career start and was outstanding, stopping all 40 New Hampshire shots on goal.
New Hampshire native Bryce Terry also had a great game with a pair of first period goals. Terry got the start for the Aviators Friday night and made the most getting in and around the blue paint to score his goals.
Sandwiched between Terry’s tallies was a snipe from an Aviator debutant. Luke Sakala, who joined Elmira from Johnstown, showed off a wicked wrister on the rush for an Aviator’s goal.
Four different Aviators made their debut in the purple and black Friday night.
Sakala and fellow forward Thomas Weekes came over from the Johnstown Tomahawks. Ryan Warner was picked up as a free agent. Finally, forward Charlie Vincent was acquired from the New Hampshire Mountain Kings.
Vincent made his presence felt with his physicality on the ice against his former team and it was needed. After the three-goal first period, the checking got tight and the goals were hard to come by.
The Mountain Kings had one last chance to get back in it with a power play late in the third. New Hampshire pulled the goalie to give the team a two-man advantage.
The Aviators buckled down and began killing the penalty. When the puck came to Curtiss Sturgeon’s stick, he wasted no time sending it down the length of the ice and into the empty net to make it 4-0.
The short-handed goal is Sturgeon’s 12th goal of the season to lead the Aviators.
After New Hampshire’s power play, it was all about preserving Levy’s shutout. The Elmira netminder had to make one more kick save, but after that, he was home free, Ty Levy’s first start would also be his first shutout.
The Aviators will look to carry the momentum and secure a series sweep in tomorrow afternoon’s duel with the Mountain Kings. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
The game can be streamed on NATV and listened to on Big Foot Country Legends.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him email [email protected].