RHS BOYS’ HOCKEY: Hat Trick for McGovern as Garnets Freeze Out Rival

By Paul Deen

The Rye Garnets gained some revenge February 12 in their first rematch against John Jay Cross River since the Indians ended Rye’s season last February in the Section 1, D2 championship game at the same Brewster Ice Arena location. The Garnets defeated first-place John Jay in a huge underdog 5-4 win in the final game of the regular season for both teams.

It was a complete, consistent team effort with the team playing fast, desperate, and most importantly – finding a way to win. Rye scored first, never trailed in the game, and every time the Indians scored the Garnets rallied back to regain the momentum and score.

Rye was outshot 39-17 by the Indians, but they had a strong defensive and goaltending effort to hold John Jay to four goals (the Indians have averaged over five goals a game in their last four outings).

Connor McGovern had a hat trick before the mid-way point of the second period. Skating with speed and determination, crashing into the net, he would not be denied. In the first period, one minute after John Jay scored to tie the game 1-1, McGovern went end-to-end unassisted and scored to take back the lead for Rye. He scored twice in the second period, again responding after a goal by the Indians.

Connor Hatch was also a force and scored twice. His first goal gave the Garnets a 1-0 lead, and he had the game-winning goal in the third period. In fact, this is the second game in a row that Hatch has scored unassisted in the third period.

Rye went 1-for-3 on the Power Play and the Indians went 2-for-3 (thanks to Shawn Smith’s laser blast slap shot). McGovern scored Rye’s only PP goal with a nice deflection in the second period.

The Garnets went on to defeat Henrick Hudson 5-2 in the opening round of the sectionals. The team faced Pearl River on Wednesday, post-press time.

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