Katie Burt Shines During Weekend Exhibition Series between PWHPA and USPHL

Hockey was back in Hudson, New Hampshire as the Cyclones arena hosted two exhibition games between the USPHL’s NCDC conference and PWHPA New Hampshire Regional Hub Training Team. After dropping Game 1 on Friday night to the Junior Islanders, Team Hampshire suffered another loss in Game 2 of the weekend. This time Team New Hampshire fell by a score of  5-1 to the Boston Junior Bruins.

The star of the weekend was goaltender Katie Burt. Burt was outstanding for Team New Hampshire. As she did all summer long during the Elite Women’s Summer Hockey League, Burt gave the New Hampshire team a chance to win. During the PWHPA 5-0 loss on Friday night to the Islanders, Burt kept it 1-0 for the longest time before the Islanders scored several goals in the second half. Burt stopped 45 of 50 shots Friday night and added another 51 saves during Saturday’s game. For the weekend, Burt finished with 96 saves on the weekend. No matter who she is facing Katie Burt is the real deal. There were stretches in the first half with Team New Hampshire trailing 3-0, Burt came up with several big saves to lead to Team New Hampshire finally getting on the board.

Not to mention with the Bruins up 4-1 and looking to add more goals, Burt delivered some of her best stops of the hockey game. She robbed Junior Bruins players Domenic Garozzo and Frankie Ireland on a goalmouth scramble in front. Burt dove across the crease and put her glove out right before the puck crossed the line. Burt had the save of the weekend robbing Garozzo on a cross-ice feed. She earned respect from the Junior Bruins and the rest of the hockey world this weekend.

Just like on Friday night, the opposition opened the scoring when Sebastian Tamburro scored on Burt. The Bruins were able to transition nicely out of their zone after Team Hampshire had an opportunity to opener the scoring, but could not connect. Like always an opportunity missed on one end, leads to a goal on the other. The speed of the Junior Bruins was on display in Game 2 of the weekend during the PWHPA and USPHL exhibition series. It was a stark comparison to Friday nights game against the Junior Islanders.

The Junior Bruins were able to control the pace of play with their speed and pinned Team Hampshire in their own zone for stretches during the game, especially in the first half. Looking to add to their lead, the Junior Bruins were able to capitalize on Team New Hampshire turnovers. First, Matt Cormier made it 2-0 on a pass from Trey Croddick after the Bruins forced a turnover in the neutral zone to set up a 2-on-1 going the other way. About midway through the first half, Will Gilson caused another turnover and walked in on Burt and fired the puck passed her to make it 3-0 Bruins.

After being shutout in Game 1 Friday night, Team New Hampshire was not going to allow that happen again. Trailing 3-0 late in the first half, Alex Carpenter got the PWHPA on the board rifling a shot passed TJ Semptimphelter. Her goal was set up by the speed of Amanda Kessel coming through the neutral zone and a beautiful pass by Kali Flanagan. Junior Bruins made it 4-1 when Chris Delaney scored on a breakaway. Tamburro got his second goal of the game late in the second half to make it 5-1 Bruins.

While New Hampshire wanted better results after going 0-2 on the weekend, they played much better in Game 2 against the Bruins. In Game 1 on Friday, they did not look very cohesive. Considering the team just came together on Monday and only had one practice before two games on the weekend, Team Hampshire played well. During stretches of Game 2, Team New Hampshire controlled play especially in the second half. They had the Bruins pinned in their own zone, but only the play of Charlie Archer denied them of getting more goals.

As the schedule because less hectic look for Team New Hampshire to become even better as the season really gets underway.

This was the final game for September, stayed tuned to the PWHPA website and The Women’s Hockey Tribune for the latest schedule.