Aces ’02 down Blues, 6-4.

WALPOLE – The U.S. Aces Hockey Club ’02 team’s stay at New England Pro-Am Hockey’s 2017 Jr. Chowder Cup started with a win on Thursday afternoon at Walpole’s Rodman Arena. The Aces rallying to score a 6-4 win over the Blues.

More than 14-minutes had elapsed before either team was able to make in imprint on the score sheet. Then seemingly within the blink of an eye, Blues forward Andrew Esposito had netted his team a 2-0 advantage on a pair of strikes that came 13-seconds apart at 14:37 and 14:50 of the first half.

Shortly thereafter, however, the Aces began to crawl back into it with Dominic Muffareh cutting the deficit in half at 15:42 and Anthony Dimetrievski drawing it even at 2-2 with a score at 19:52.

There the score remained through the half, after which the two sides traded a pair of goals each throughout the first 10 minutes of the frame to double the tie at 4-4. From there, however, it seemed to be the Aces’ day.

Muffareh came through with his second of the day to break the deadlock on an unassisted score at 12:42. Fellow Dominic, Dominic James, they netted the insurance score at 21:20 of the second half to seal the 6-4 win for the Aces.

The game’s final goal was James’ second of the game and the final of his game-high four points in the contest (2G, 2A). Esposito (2G), Frank Jenkins (1G, 1A) and Avery Hayes (2A) also all had multiple points in the win for the Aces.

Esposito (2G) and Jason Marsella (1G, 1A) each had a pair of points to there name to lead the Blues scoring attack.

Goaltender Adam Yost was credited with the win in net for the Aces.

###