March 4, 2007 - Danbury, CT:  The Maine Sled Hockey Pirates and United Spinal Rangers faced off in their final match in the 2006-2007 Prudential Northeast Sled Hockey League regular season today and Maine’s 3 to 1 one victory guaranteed that they would finish the regular season in first place and win the Prudential Dryden cup.

In a hard fought match that typifies play between the two teams, the Rangers drew first blood on a goal by Chris Miegel that was setup by Mike Szymcznk. Maine,  sensing that New York was eager to make up for the devastating loss to Maine on the final Game Day of the 2005-2006 season that dropped  them from first place to third place in league play last year, turned on the gas but couldn't drive the equalizer home. Despite out shooting New York 5-2 the first period, the Rangers held a 1 to nothing lead at the end of the first.

In second period Maine’s offence started clicking. Bill Smith netted the Maine's first goal assisted by Kip St. Germaine and Andy Moore. Pirate veteran Dan Sousa put Maine ahead for good on a shoot that threaded the needle after being set up on an excellent pass out of the corner by Maine Captain Peter Grosso. Kip and Dan teamed up on Maine’s final goal in the third with Kip’s goal taking the remaining wind out of the Ranger’s sails. The game featured excellent goal tending on both ends by Jeff Labbe for Maine and Dave White for the Rangers. Maine team leader Kip St. Germaine commented after the game, “Tinker Bill Smith played a good game and that I’m glad that his wife allowed him to make the trip.”

The two teams are scheduled to clash again in the Prudential Northeast Sled Hockey League Lobster Pot on March 24 at the Family Ice center in Falmouth Maine where the slate will be wiped clean and all of the very competitive teams in PNESHL have a shot at winning the tournament that will cap of the 2006-2007 season.

Final Score: Pirates 3, Rangers 1.

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Maine Sled Hockey Program
255 Pine Point Road, Scarborough, ME 04074
207-883-0420    207-885-5593 Fax
www.mainesledhockey.org
MaineSledHockey@maine.rr.com
Copyright © 2005, Maine Sled Hockey Program

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.