Brick Earns Berth in Handchen Cup Final with Win Over Howell

In what many predicted to be the game of the year, the Brick Dragons defeated the Howell Rebels 5-1, clinching a Handchen Cup Final berth.

Facing the Rebels, the Green Dragons took on the very opponent that came 55 seconds away from snapping the now 18 game winning streak back on Jan. 25, the biggest threat Brick faced all season.

On the scoreboard the game was not very close, however, if not for Brick goalie Eddie Rafferty, it certainly would have been. Rafferty was magnificent, having turned away 24 of 25 shots, limiting the Rebels to one goal - which came early in the third period while holding a 5-0 lead.

"He's an outstanding goalie, made two or three really tough saves we thought we had tonight" said Howell head coach Bill Daley.

The standout goaltender was also supported by a defensive corps, led by Patrick Kearns, blocking shots and clogging passing lanes. Some of Howell's best chances did not get to the net by virtue of the defense.

Also strong for the Green Dragons was the penalty kill. The Brick penalty killing unit went 4-4, killing off three with the Rebels still in striking distance as Howell tried to answer Matt Gumina's first period tap in goal.

After Howell controlled play for most of the second period trailing 1-0, Brick struck quick and added to their lead.

Freshman Ryan Mooney followed up a shot after Howell goaltender Zack Peras made three saves from in close to extend the lead to 2-0. Fifteen seconds later, fellow freshman Andrew Reiss scored off a two-on-one, one timer. The contribution from the young Dragons turned the period around after Howell was outplaying them, just on the verge of cracking through with a 7-1 lead in shots.

Howell called timeout, regrouped, and presented a slight scare as Rebel freshman defensemen Trevor Heuser rang a shot off the post. Shortly later, Patrick Kearns fired a rocket from the point that beat a Peras glove side, top shelf, to solidify a Brick 4-0 lead which they would bring into the locker room.

About a minute into the third period, Brick added to the lead as Ryan Price scored off a tough angle shot to tally the final Brick goal on the night.

Greg Buckley would take a pass from Eddie Pyskaty to score Howell's lone goal early in the third.

"We performed very well tonight," said Dragons head coach Bob Auriemma. "The boys certainly rose to the occasion. (Howell) is a good team, we knew we could not afford to take them lightly. We came out ready to play today."

Brick will find out early Wednesday who they will face in the Finals, the winner of the Red Bank Catholic-Toms River South matchup.

"We played both, and they both are very good teams," said Auriemma. "We'll have to wait and see, but it's going to be a tough game either way."

The Dragons defeated the Toms River South Indians, 3-1, back on Jan. 11 and RBC twice, 7-5 at home and 4-3 at the Armory.