Last Tuesday evening at Porazzo was nothing short of outstanding. For the second week in a row Team Carlo Basile, had their work cut out for them, as they met Lightning Express in the EBMHL semifinals. The previous week, Team Basile battled to the very end vs. Market Café in the Quarterfinals and came away with the 2-1 win, which advanced them into the semi’s vs. the rested and playoff tested Lightning Express. To date this was the most exciting two way hockey game we have seen played in the EBMHL, with both squads going blow for blow all game long. The scoring was kicked off by David Collins for Lightning with a power play goal on a beautiful feed from Jeff Arinella, one of his three assists on the evening. Basile would answer right back on a fantastic individual effort from Nick Martino, to tie the game at 1. Shortly after, Dave Ivaska stepped in to make it a 2-1 Basile lead. A lead that lasted into the final minutes of the game. After an altercation resulting in a Lightning power play, Dom DiMarzo took full advantage of the extra man and buried the tying goal with under 3:00min left in regulation. Basile now in desperation mode, was sucked back into its defensive zone, thanks to stingy play at the blue line from Fernando Fernandez and Jeff Arinella, only to have Collins set up at the post to bury the eventual game winning goal catapulting Lightning Express into its 2nd straight championship series with the 3-2 victory. It was an incredible run for Team Carlo Basile as they were in it to the very end, but Lightning Express proved too much and advances to the Championship.
In the early game, we saw the regular season champ, East Boston Yacht Club squad vs. Ecco Restaurant, a team who battled numbers issues all year long, but was loaded and ready for a run at the title. There was no run to be had on this evening for Ecco, as EBYC came out of the gate hard and heavy. Ecco couldn’t contain the offense of Sebastiano Amara as he buried the hat trick, while Ryan Luongo, Charlie Bordonaro, and Nick Clewer notched solo tallies in the 6-2 drubbing of Ecco Restaurant. Jim Leger and Jeff Delpidio had a goal each for Ecco.
EBYC will take on Lightning Express in the EBMHL Championship Series, starting last night at the Porazzo Rink. The series is a Best 2 out of 3, winner walks with the cup. Please feel free to come on down to Porazzo and catch what is sure to be an exciting series, which continues next Tuesday at 8:00pm and then the following Tuesday also at 8:00pm (if necessary).