Tampa Bay Juniors - USPHL

Utica, NY - The Tampa Bay Juniors Elite season came to and end this past Monday with a 3-1 loss to eventual National Champions, Northern Cyclones in the semifinals.
 After a scoreless first period the Cyclones would score 11 seconds into the second period to take a 1-0 lead.  The Cyclones would double their lead 6 minutes later to go into the 3rd period up 2-0.

TBJ would have a strong start to the third period and Richard Moskala answered with a goal assisted by Ari Blatt and Derek Aroyan to pull within one.  But at the 12:57 mark of the period Northern scored a power play goal that proved to put Northern up for good and send them into the Championship game vs Carolina.

How they got there

TBJ Elite started the nationals off by winning both of their seeding round games by beating in game one IHC 3-0 with Ethan Carlone making 20 saves for the shutout and Blatt, Max Ratliff and Moskala supplying the offense.  Game 2 TBJ would face Rockets Hockey Club and one again come out on top with another shutout 5-0.  Shane Passaro led the way with 27 saves with Dylan Hineman, Moskala, Ratliff all scoring in the first period.  Alex Wilkes would score 2 goals in the second period to give TBJ the comfortable lead.

Quarterfinals

Despite Tampa going 2 an 0 and having not give up a goal in the seeding round it was only good for the 3rd seed after tie breakers.  This meant Tampa would face the number 2 overall team had in the regular season, the Potomac Patriots.  Both teams came out playing very defensive as no one wanted to give up the first goal.  After a scoreless first period TBJ would strike first with a goal by Hineman to go into the third period up 1-0.  At the 9:33 mark of the 3rd Potomac would tie it but just 36 seconds later Aroyan would put TBJ back on top.  Ratliff scored an empty netter late and Carlone made 27 saves to send TBJ Elite to the Nationals semifinal game.

Season Ends

It was a great run for TBJ Elite.  Not only did they reach the semifinals but also won the Florida Division.  With both Elite and Premier teams combined 62 regular season wins, TBJ will host next season’s Florida Divisional Playoffs.

Next Up

With the 23-24 season coming to an end next season is right around the corner and starts with the 24-25 evaluation camp April 27 & 28 at AdventHealth Center Ice.  To register go to tampajr.com

”Horns Up”