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Bulls Buoyed By Opening Win

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY nmurray@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2008

BRANDON - Led by strong play in net by Jordan Kruger, the Bloomingdale Ice Bulls gave themselves an opening-day boost with a 2-1 win against Plant High in the Hillsborough High School Hockey League on Saturday.

Having lost to Plant in the preseason Hurricane Shootout, the Bulls got first-period goals from Jeremy White and Ricky Cassidy. With Kruger playing well in net, and being aided by a strong defensive corps, the Bulls then held the Panthers scoreless for the final two periods.
Kruger said he felt he was seeing the puck well when the Panthers did get through to challenge him.

"I just had great focus," Kruger said. "It was great to have that extra help there, I didn't have to hold the team together."

As pleased as the Bulls were with the win, the Panthers were disappointed. After a pair of strong performances at the Hurricane Shootout, Plant coach Larry Seavor said he was disappointed.

"I was hoping for a better outcome," Seavor said. "We just didn't get enough pucks on net."

Justin Bramm scored the only goal for the Panthers, oddly as they were killing a 5-on-3 in the first period, but the lack of shots on goal was Seavor's focus after the game. Forward Ryan Elliott concurred with his coach.

"They had a bunch of big guys that just wouldn't let us get shots," Elliott said.

Elliott added he thought the Panthers' win against Bloomingdale in the preseason may have left them complacent in the opener.

"It was disappointing," Elliott said. "We had big hopes, we had beaten this team in the preseason and I thought we could win it."

Newsome Blue got off to a flying start in the opening game, as it cruised past Wharton 10-0. Tom Kowalski and Scott Vargas each scored twice for the Wolves.

Kowalski said he hoped the Wolves would build on its win, something he didn't think the team did last season.

"We've got to build," he said. "Last year we started off this high and started scoring all these goals, guys might start getting cocky. We've got to take it one game at a time and not be overconfident for our games."
Wharton played gamely for two periods, and was ably backed by JP d'Ambrosio, but the Wildcats inexperience told in the third period as Newsome scored five goals.

With a young team in front of him, the season could be a tough one for d'Ambrosio, who was frustrated at points of the Wildcats' opener. Despite that, Wharton coach Tom Leechin said his goaltender understands what's ahead of the team this season, and is mentally ready for the challenge.

"I think JP is prepared mentally," Leechin said. "I think with his skill level, he's at or towards the top of his game. Can he get better, of course, but I think mentally he's prepared for a good season."

With the first game over, Leechin said he was already looking ahead.

"We have a very young team," he said. "I know where I need to put my emphasis, and what we need to work on."

HCU Tournament Growing In Stature

Hillsborough County United will host its fifth Columbus Day Classic this weekend, with a number of local teams participating in what has grown into a major fixture on the local soccer calendar.

Since its inception, the tournament has doubled in size as 205 teams will compete at the Ed Radice Sports Complex this year, with age-groups ranging from under-9 to under-19.

Tournament Director and HCU General Manager Eric Sims said part of the reason for the tournaments expansion is the relationships the club has developed with other clubs from around the state. Clubs like Tallahassee United, Jacksonville Fury and First Coast Soccer Club are returning.

"We have a great relationship with the Jacksonville Fury," Sims said. "They usually bring their entire club each year. It's really about the relationships you build, and the product that you put down as far as how the tournament is run and the quality of the field."

Sims added the tournament does give HCU's teams a little jolt each time it comes round, as the players are eager to win their home tournament.

"Our HCU teams definitely take some pride in our own tournament and trying to win it," he said. "And now with the tournament growing to be a lot more competitive, that's added even more to it."

GOLF: Steven Romeo of Tampa won the boys under-18 title at the Tampa Bay Junior Golf Association event at Falcon Watch, as he shot 71 to win by two strokes.

Terence McCarthy from St. Petersburg took second place with a 73, while Marc Doucette of New Port Richey finished a further shot back to take third.

TENNIS: Liam Gomez of Wesley Chapel upset No.1 seed Alex Hallenback of Tampa in the final of the Super Series Seminole Bash at the Seminole Lake Racquet Club, winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-0.

No.3-seed Gomez had defeated No.2-seed Alex Peckham from Lutz 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the final, before coming from a set down to win his first under-18 title of the year.

Yulin Liu of Bradenton also defeated a No.1 seed to win the boys under-16 division, as he beat Brian Kowalski of Tampa 6-2, 6-0.

Keyword: Youth Sports, for more youth sports news, notes and live-game stories. Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243.

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