November 18, 2006 - Hackensack, NJ: As the host team for the season opening Prudential United Spinal Tournament, the United Spinal Rangers had the toughest schedule and it took a toll as the Rangers were forced to play the strong ME Sled Hockey Pirates in the last game of the day at 7:30 p.m. after already having played earlier in the day against the Connecticut WolfPack and the New Hampshire Wildcats. "I can't imagine having to play 3 games in a single day at this point in the season," remarked Maine Captain Pete Grosso, "We're exhausted and we only had to play 2 games today." To add to New York's problem, they were missing 10 of the players on their roster including Paralympian Josh Wirt. Having a deep bench is one of the advantages that the Rangers usually enjoy by having the majority of the games played relatively close to their home area.

The action was largely in the Ranger's end of the ice in the first period with 2 goals coming from tricky angles that eluded the sure-handed veteran Dave White in goal for the Rangers. The Pirates used the same offensive orientation that they had employed against Connecticut earlier in the day and the Rangers were not ready for it initially but by the second period the Rangers had adjusted and came out strong pounding Pirate's goalie Jeff Labbe with 7 shots to Maine's 5. Maine caught NY pinched in offensively and successfully worked a breakout sending Pirates Garret Stephens and Alexi Salamone in to score the critical 3rd Maine goal.

To their great credit, the Rangers continued their barrage early in the 3rd but were stopped time and time again by one of the best performances of Labbe's sled hockey career until Bryan Genovese stuck one by Labbe on a 4 on 2 rush. But all of a sudden, the life seemed to come out of the Rangers when the Pirates scored a back-breaking 4th goal and the Pirates were able to score an additional 3 goals against the frustrated Rangers.

"I certainly wouldn't read too much into this early season score," said Maine Coach Craig Gray, "the Rangers are a good, experienced veteran team that knows how to win." " They play us hard every time and I expect that had it been later in the season when we are all in better shape and when they don't have to play three games in day things will be different," he added, "once they get their bench back and Josh back they will be fine." There is some speculation that the Rangers will look into adding another 2002 Paralympian and a 2006 Paralympian to their roster.
 

Final Score: Pirates 8, Rangers 1.

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Maine Sled Hockey Program
255 Pine Point Road, Scarborough, ME 04074
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www.mainesledhockey.org
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Fast Facts: Sled hockey is one of the fastest growing disabled sports in the world with new sled hockey programs and sled hockey teams showing up everywhere. There are about 50 adult sled hockey teams and junior sled hockey teams in the USA. Sled hockey is played in several countries. Sweden claims to have originated sled hockey. The US Sled Hockey Team won the gold medal in the 2002 Paralympics. The Prudential Northeast Sled Hockey League is the first organized adult sled hockey league in the USA. Sled hockey players are extremely committed to the sport of sled hockey and regularly teach sled hockey clinics and participate in sled hockey outreach events and sled hockey exhibitions. Anyone wishing to try sled hockey should have ample opportunities to play.