WPCNR PENALTY BOX. November 27, 2005: Tim Conroy's roundhouse one-handed sweep shot after an end-to-end ice, curled around Harvey's goaltender to make the score 4-0, his  second goal of the evening to start the second period proved the game winning goal, as the White Plains Ice Tigers Mach One speed, furious forechecking, backchecking and superior conditioning overwhelmed Harvey School in the semi-final of the Tigers own Invitational Tournament Saturday evening. Mahopac defeated Harrison-Rye to meet White Plains in Sunday evenings Tournament Final. Stepinac defeated Horace Greeley.

First Goal! Matt Altieri, in white jersey, (6), has just skated between Calvaliers' goaltender Jason O'Brien and Kyle Miller(6) off a faceoff in the near circle to score the first Tiger goal at 8:19 of the First Period, Ethan Bruno's stickwork behind the goal knocked the puck in front and Matt jammed it home.  (14) is  Charlie Pavarini.Photo, WPCNR Sports.

BREAKAWAY! 23 seconds later, (looking like Jean Beliveau), Tigers' Tim Conroy corralled a loose puck at the red line outskated Dane Rasmussen (17) breaking in on the Harvey goal, his jersey flying and poked it between the goal tender's legs to make it 2-0 at  7:56 of the First Period. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Lucas Cornfield poked in a rebound on a shot by Ethan Bruno to stretch the Tiger lead to 3-0 at the close of the opening stanza. The Tigers outshot the Cavs, 14-4 in the first period, intercepting clearing passes at the boards, forechecking like demons, and when the Cavs were able to skate the puck into the Tiger end, the Tigers beat them back into the defense zone, with thundering board work, checks that could be heard in Katonah, and pesky poke checks, the Cavs could not get anything going.

Conroy took a cross rink pass from Matt Goldstein at the start of the second period and carried it into the Cav end, angling to the side boards around a defender and with one hand on his stick swept the puck around the goalie for a 4-0 lead 1 minute into the second period.

Rasmusson fired a 20 footer from the top of the circle on a power play to put Harvey on the board at 4-1, at 9:06,  but Ethan Bruno flicked in a rebound with 3 minutes to go to put the game in the safety zone, 5-1.

Then came the deluge: Chris Flynn scored at  1:57;  andJeff Sommer at 55 seconds to make it 7-1. Harvey scored to make it 7-2 after two periods.  Alex Longfield notched the final Tiger goal in the third period. The Tigers outshot Harvey 33-19.

Like the Montreal Canadians of the 1950s

The Tigers at ice level were awesome tonight. They have great skate speed, forwards and backwards and in the two games in this tournament they clearly outskated the opposition. They are lean and tough playing music on the sideboards using opposition bodies as "keys." Stickwork is deft, clever and highly athletic. They stay on their blades and their work around the enemy net is dedicated, annoying, and pesky. They never give up on a puck and there is no easy clear against these guys. Defensemen stationed at the bluelines pinch in and have great reactions when a defender clears around the boards. You have to carry it out against White Plains. They keep it in your end for a long time.

In their own defensive zone, they have not been caught out of position and usually have five skaters in front of the attackers.

The matchup with Mahopac should be an interesting contest. Faceoff is at 6:15 P.M. Sunday.

Hockey Night in White Plains at Ebersole Rink. Photo, WPCNR Sports