Brett Skibba propels Jr. Blues two-game sweep of Port Huron at home

Game 1 (Friday-Nelson Center) – Springfield 5, Port Huron 3

Game 2 (Saturday-Nelson Center) – Springfield 4, Port Huron 2

Springfield Junior Blues (3W, 7L, 2OTL -8 points: 7^th Place in North)

Port Huron Fighting Falcons (9W, 5L, 0OTL -18 Points: 1^st in North)

   

Friday Night: Jr. Blues 5, Port Huron Fighting Falcons 3

In the first meeting of the season between the North divisions’ first-place Fighting Falcons and its’ seventh (out of eight teams) place Springfield Junior Blues, it was a battle to say the least. During a feisty first period from both sides of the teams, Russell Jordan scored a goal for Springfield just six minutes into the game. Not even four minutes later though, Mitch Maloney of the Fighting Falcons scored one himself, evening the score at one each at the first intermission. In a game that the Jr. Blues outshot Port Huron 42-to-40, Brett Skibba tallied his first career hat-trick. He scored his first goal at five and a half minutes into the second-period, breaking a 1-1 tie to our advantage. Mitch Rogge added a goal of his own just four minutes later—and following forty-minutes of hockey, Springfield led 3-to-1. In the third period, Skibba started off the scoring at just over ten minutes in as he gave the Jr. Blues a commanding 4-1 lead with less than ten minutes to go. Port Huron sent a message though, just one minute later, following a Springfield penalty, Kody Polin netted home a powerplay goal that put the Fighting Falcons down just two. Less than three minutes later though, Zach Badalamenti found the back of the net as he made it a 4-3 score. The final minutes were intense with some misplayed opportunities by Port Huron, and with an empty net with thirty-three seconds left, Skibba put it in his for first ever three goal hat-trick. To say the least, if you weren’t at the Nelson Center for this game, you missed out on an excellent game.

Saturday Night: Jr. Blues 4, Port Huron Fighting Falcons 2

While many people had no clue what to expect from the Springfield Jr. Blues following there big weekend-opening win on Friday night against first-place Port Huron—but one thing is for sure—the coaching staff, as well as the players knew exactly what they had to do. Springfield sent a message early on and set the tempo of the game from the very beginning. The Jr. Blues out-shot Port Huron 52-to-32 overall, and despite having a 1-1 tie heading into the third and final period, it was only a matter of time before the team found the net with as many shots as they got on net. Brett Skibba found the net for his fourth time in the past two nights—and following a goal from the Falcons’ Brett DeAdnrea soon following the first, them two goals were all the scoring through the first forty minutes. In the first forty-one seconds of the third period, Skibba found the net again as it was assisted from both Nate Chasteen and Mike Fazio. Port Huron then tied it back up at the 6:33 mark following a Nicholas Sierra powerplay goal. With under eight minutes remaining though, Terry Leabo scored at the 12:58 mark to make it 3-to-2 before team captain Mike Fazio scored an empty netter with just twenty-seconds left in the game to ice it at 4-2. Ryan Kellenberger saved 30-of-32 shots on goal against him—while Alex Blankenburg saved 48-of-51 Jr. Blues shots, but did receive the loss.