Freeze Weekly Update 02/27-02/28
Midget
18U UA
They say that timing in life is everything. For the Freeze U-18's the timing of their first league loss could not have come at a worse time. The vaunted Freeze offense averaging nearly 4.5 goals per game dried up and they fell 4-0 to the Caps Academy in the first round of the CBHL playoffs. The game started well for the Freeze as they peppered the Caps with shots in a dominant first shift. They drew an early Power Play and the barrage continued. Some poor puck luck and stellar goaltending kept the Freeze off the scoreboard. Momentum changed as the Caps were able to score twice in the first period. No scoring occurred in the second and after an ice resurfacing the Freeze came out strong looking to score. It was not to be. The Caps added an insurance goal, played prevent defense the rest of the way and capped it off with an empty net goal. For many Freeze players this will be their final game as the head off to college or to jobs. It is not the ending they had hoped for, but one loss can not put a damper on a stellar season, 14-0-4!
16U LA
The 16U team went into the CHBL playoffs as the league champions and number one seed with a 13-0-1 record in league play.
On Saturday they faced the Bowie Bruins. They easily took the Bruins Winning 10-0 less than a minute into the 3rd period. Dominic Rosone got a hat trick.
On Sunday they faced the Ashburn Xtreme in the championship game. The Xtreme were the 2nd seed and the Freeze gave them their only losses. It was a tight game. The Xtreme led after the first period 1-0. No score in the second period. The Freeze tied it up halfway through the 3rd. It was tied 1-1 after regulation play. With 1:56 left in sudden death overtime, the Freeze received a penalty that led to a penalty shot. The shot went in and the game went to the Xtreme. The Freeze held their heads high and congratulated the Xtreme in a show of good sportsmanship.
There is no shame. These boys are the epitome of the word “Team.” They will finish out the season with a tournament in Philly in March.
Bantam
14U UA
This week/weekend the UA U14 team played four games. On Wednesday they faced off against their rival the Montgomery Blue Devils Blue team. We have not been able to beat them all year until this week. The boys played a great game. Freeze came out on top, 5 to 4. A well earned victory!
Saturday morning we played the Southern Maryland Sabres at home and lost 4 to 0. We traveled to Ice Gardens on Saturday evening to play the Montgomery Gold Team. Freeze won 7 to 0. Tristen Golden with a hat trick and Charles Forino with a well deserved Shutout.
Sunday we traveled in the pouring rain to Waldorf where the game ended 6 to 2.
14U LA
The boys of Bantam LA welcomed two opponents over the weekend for the very last home games of the regular season before heading off to the playoffs. For the past 27 weeks, the boys have spent invaluable time together on the ice, creating some of the best teamwork that some teams never have the privilege of experiencing. Looking back, it has been an incredible honor to have watched these boys skate together, develop their skill set, be disciplined when calls never seemed to go their way, having the desire to improve their play while respecting each other in such an incredible way.
These boys make up a true team! This was apparent during the final league game of the season on Sunday. After falling to the Delaware Ducks on Saturday, 5-7, the team took time that night to reflect on what they could have done better. The boys showed up to play Sunday against Piedmont in a huge way! The Freeze were a force to be reckoned with. Piedmont scored the first two goals, but the Freeze took control shortly after. Outshooting their opponent 41-11, the shots were all over the place. Special shout out to Vincent Campbell for his hat trick and Ty Yuhas for his playmaker. The victory was bittersweet and the Freeze secured the #3 seed heading off into the playoffs. Please wish them luck as they battle for the banner this weekend! Let’s go boys!
Pee Wee
12U LA
The Frederick Freeze hosted their last home game against the undefeated Ashburn Xtreme on Sunday. The Freeze started off the scoring with a nice breakaway, but the Xtreme scored 4 minutes later and again 6 minutes after that with the Freeze answering back to end the 1st period. The scoring started early in the second period with the Freeze getting 3 more on the board and Ashburn getting one. Heading into the 3rd, the PW team was ready to take it all. Two quick goals increased their lead by 4 but, the Xtreme weren't ready to give up and were able to score 2 more goals. The final score was 7-5 with the 12U taking away the opportunity for Ashburn to have UNDEFEATED t-shirts made.
The PW team will compete in their last regular season game on Thursday against Montgomery and then go to the CBHL playoffs on Saturday.
Squirt
10U LA
The Freeze Squirt LA had a busy weekend to close out their regular season with three league games with the hope of securing a playoff spot. On Saturday morning, the Freeze hosted the Capitals Academy. With a couple of unfortunate bounces and some bad puck luck, the Freeze started the game down 0-2. But the Freeze came back to get one goal in the first and another in the second, to get the scoreboard even at 2-2. The Freeze scored first in the 3rd to take the lead, but the Caps Academy came back each time to tie it up, and the game ultimately ended in a 5-5 tie. Nathaniel Nadelberg ended up with a hat trick for the game.
The Freeze then headed to Laurel on Saturday night to play the Montgomery Blue Devils in a mini-playoff game - the winner would be going to the playoffs. The Freeze got a few good looks in the beginning, but a couple of unfortunate bounces led to another 0-2 deficit. The Freeze stayed with it and came back to get one goal to pull within one. We clanged a couple of posts, but couldn't break through. Pulling the goalie for an extra attacker, the Freeze got a few high quality chances, but Montgomery eventually was able to get an empty net goal and ice the game. The kids were disappointed, but it was a valiant effort.
On Sunday morning, the Freeze hosted the Piedmont Predators who have been the team's toughest opponent in their division this season. The Freeze got off to a hot start and outshot the Predators in the first period. The Freeze got one goal, but rang a few off the post and the Predators goalie was able to keep the rest out. The Freeze was down 1-4 after a couple of late Piedmont goals ended the first period. The Freeze kept fighting, but the Predators speed wore the Freeze down and the team ended up losing 9-1.
Although the kids were disappointed in missing out on a spot in the playoffs, it was a good season! Despite COVID threatening to shut down the season, we were able to keep playing, and the team got a lot of good hockey in, including two tournament championships!
We wish the best of luck to the 2nd year Squirts moving up to PeeWee, and to the first year Squirts as they continue to build on their success next year. Go Freeze !
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