Soca Kings hold Nerve in Shootout Again at Championships
IslandStats.com
Bermuda's Sunken Harbor Soca Kings showed supreme composure in another tense shootout to edge out the Phoenixville Firebirds 3-2 and continue their charge at the National Ball Hockey League Championship in Marlton, New Jersey.
Having survived a 13-goal thriller and a shootout in their tournament opener, the Bermudian outfit once again proved unflappable when pushed beyond regulation time, with Jeremy Estey converting the decisive penalty shot to secure victory.
Following a cagey and scoreless opening period in which both defences remained resolute, the contest came alive midway through the second frame.
Phoenixville struck first at 6:06 when Colin Costello finished smartly following neat combination play from Jeremy Smith Jr and Evan Radomicki. However, the Soca Kings rallied before the intermission, drawing level with just eleven seconds left on the clock as Estey found the back of the net after fine setup work from Jake Fenske and Louis Sujir.
The Firebirds restored their advantage early in the third period. Smith Jr, having turned provider in the second, got on the scoresheet himself at 3:42 with assists credited to Dan Brady and John Carberry.
Bermuda responded with urgency, making their numerical advantage count on the power play just two minutes later. Estey turned creator, slipping a precise pass to Alexandre Larouche, who clinically finished at 5:48 to lock the scores at 2-2.
With neither side able to find a late winner in regulation, the contest was decided by penalty shots, where Estey stepped up to beat the goaltender and seal a gritty 3-2 win for the Soca Kings.
