Rochester United Edges Stoney Creek for Kurt Scipione City Champ Cup

The following was submitted by David Boike and the Rochester United high school hockey team. 

Saturday night of the Thanksgiving Holiday week-end, a capacity crowd at the , meeting of cross town rivals … all the ingredients necessary to successfully open the 2011-2012 OAA Boys Hockey season for both schools, and in this setting both teams exceeded expectations with a tightly contested, overtime affair.  At the 2:04 mark in the overtime period, Rochester United sophomore forward Evan Asuncion batted in a rebound in a wild goal mouth scramble to defeat Stoney Creek 4-3.  Prior to Asuncion’s winning goal – the Stoney Creek number one line of seniors Matt and Dom Zuelch and Brian Gill carried the play to Rochester United during the overtime period.  United goalie, Brody Blair was called upon to make two key glove saves that could have ended the game in Stoney’s favor – it was just that close. 

United entered the third period up a goal at 2-1 when an early penalty shifted the momentum of play over to Stoney Creek.  Within less than two minutes into the third, Matt Zuelch converted a set of pinpoint passes from his line mates into the open side of the United net to tie the score.  Over the next several minutes, relying heavily on the Zuelch brothers/Gill line, Stoney effectively moved the puck repeatedly into the United zone and hit cross bars and posts, and a determined goalie in Blair.  Ultimately under the sustained pressure, Stoney’s Cameron O’Shea put them ahead with six minutes left in the game to the thrill of at least half the crowd.  Yet another momentum swing was still in store – with four minutes left in the game United went on the power play.  Winning puck possession deep in the Stoney defensive zone, senior United forward Adam Boike found Matt Bowery left open at the point who was able to unleash a low drive that found an open corner and knotted the score at three.  The crowd roar was now with the other half of the packed house. 

From there, Stoney Creek responded by carrying the play for the remaining time in regulation.  With seven seconds left in the game, the ever dangerous Matt Zuelch, who had moved through the United defensive zone at will for most of the game, gained the zone again in full flight intent on breaking in on the United goal.  United’s Tony Nassar recently moved to defense had other ideas.  Nassar, playing a strong game all night from the defensive position – stayed step-for-step with Zuelch and separated him from the puck with a clean hip check to thwart the threat and move the game into overtime.

There were four lead changes in the game with Stoney opening the scoring at 12:11 in the first period on a hard wrist shot from Drew Stanbury with an assist from O’Shea.  Eight minutes later United’s Dylan Oppenheiser tied the score on a back-hander from Joe Marino. United then took its first lead at twelve minute mark in the second period with a beautiful short-handed, unassisted goal from Brent Boudreau.

With the victory – Rochester United – became the inaugural winner of the Kurt Scipione City Championship Cup (see photo).  The trophy is in honor of Kurt, a highly regarded hockey prospect who graduated from Stoney Creek High School in 2010, and lost a 20 month battle with a rare form of cancer in June, 2010.  It is a memorial cup, which is given to the winner of the Rochester United vs Stoney Creek Varsity Men's Ice Hockey winner.