Oswego, NY – The Step One Creative Peewee independent hockey team won the 2013 CNY Cup this past weekend in Clinton, New York. The Bucs defeated the host Clinton team in the championship game 7-2.
Step One Creative won 7-1 over Whitestown, tied 2-2 against Clinton, and won 8-0 over Rome in the preliminary games to earn the top seed in the championship game against Clinton.
Step One Creative Peewees 7 Whitestown 1
In the opening game of the tournament against Whitestown, the Step One Bucs got a strong offensive effort from Derek Morgia (hat trick) and Tyler Eckert (2 goals, 2 assists) to easily capture the 7-1 win.
Step One Creative outshot the Whitestown team 29-9.
Eckert scored off an assist by Dylan Reitz at 3:28 of the first to get the scoring started, and then Step One added three goals (Eckert 1, Morgia 1 and Jack Rice 1) in the second period, and another three tallies in the third (Gavin Neuland 1, and Morgia 2). Brandon Graham, Ryan Moshier, Eckert (2) and Reitz (2) picked up the assists.
Step One Creative goalie Tyler Wallace had 9 saves in the victory.
“The players came out really strong in the tournament against Whitestown and played well on both ends of the ice,” Head Coach Dave Morgia said.
Step One Creative Peewees 2 Clinton 2
Step One Creative’s next game against the undefeated Clinton Comets would prove to be the toughest contest of the weekend.
The Bucs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Drake Morgia found the net unassisted. Clinton would score two goals later in the first period to take the 2-1 lead. After a tough scoreless second period, Oswego’s Eckert flipped a shot over the Clinton goalie with just 1:57 left in the game, and then the Bucs were able to kill off a 5 on 3 penalty in the final minute to pick up the tie.
Wallace had 15 saves in net and made some strong saves throughout the matchup.
“Our kids came out a little sluggish after the morning matchup, but I was very proud of the way they battled in this game and fought for the tie,” Morgia said.
Step One Creative Peewees 8 Rome 0
In their third game of the weekend, Step One Creative had no problems with the Rome Grizzlies, scoring five goals in the first period and then coasting to an 8-0 lead.
Morgia exploded for five goals and an assist in the game, while Christian Talamo, Graham and Reitz picked up the other markers. Talamo added two assists, as well as Nick Burnett (1) and Eckert (1).
Wallace only saw 3 shots on goal in securing the shutout win. It was Wallace’s fourth shutout of the season.
The win secured Step One Creative’s spot in the championship and the rematch against Clinton.
Step One Creative 7 Clinton 2
In the championship game of the 2013 CNY Cup, Step One Creative once again faced off against Clinton, but it was the Bucs that took control of this penalty-filled game pressuring the Comets in their zone throughout the matchup to capture the 7-2 win.
There were 19 penalties called in the game, including 12 on the home team Comets.
After Morgia got the scoring started for Oswego, Spencer Stepien found the net for the Bucs off a feed from Monica Cahill to make it 2-0. Clinton would add their own score late in the first to make it 2-1 before Oswego scored three goals to Clinton’s one in the second period, to take a commanding 5-2 lead.
Rice and Eckert (2) picked up the goals in the second period off assists from Neuland and Eckert.
Step One Creative would add two more goals in the third, when Burnett and Rice each scored. Eckert added another assist.
“Our players were ready for this rematch and wanted this championship,” said Morgia. “This was a great team win and everyone contributed on our offense and defense. “The team continues to improve every game and every practice, and it’s been great to see them advance this early in the season.”
According to Morgia, the strong efforts of Bryson Bush, Isaiah Raby, Cahill, Graham and Reitz on defense, as well as the consistent play of Wallace in net were instrumental in the wins over the weekend.
Step One Creative improved to 9-2-2 on the season.
The Step One Creative Peewee coaching staff includes: Head Coach Dave Morgia, and Assistants Bill Cahill, Bob Graham, and Rob Raby.
missing or outdated ad config
