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Impact Players: Sirota, Olivieri, Stubbs April 23, 2025 | ||
Posted by: Bob Howard Credit: Binghamton Hockey.net | ||
April 19, 2025 - by Taylor Welch - BinghamtonHockey.net He takes an absolute beating every game he plays, and no matter what, it never knocks him off his game, it never rattles him, and it never gets under his skin. Zac Sirota plays every inch of the ice; he is great at handling the puck, screening the goalie, and just keeping pressure on the opposing team. With only 40 seconds left in the 1st period, he would lay a big enough hit on Domenic Della Civita in the corner to get the puck away from him for Anthony Bernardo to collect and pass to Blake Tosto for a scoring opportunity. Shortly after that, Sirota would chase a rebound and take a hit that would make the crowd go up in arms, but as I stated in the beginning, he got up and skated on like nothing happened. He is one of the smaller guys we have on the team, but that doesn't stop him from laying big hits, making big plays, and just being a great asset to the team. I would not want to be the goalie that has to stop a slap shot from Don Olivieri. I would argue he has one of the hardest slap shots in the FPHL, and it doesn't matter if he's shooting from the top of the circle, the blue line, or even the red line he can slap a shot on net like no other. Olivieri, in my opinion, is not a flashy player; he doesn't get fancy with the puck. It's almost like the veteran doesn't have to try it just comes so naturally to him that his shots look effortless. Although he didn't have a point on the scoreboard tonight, he made his mark in other ways. Olivieri would take a shot on net 8:20 into the second but would hit the skate of Trevor Grasby, who shortly after would take a huge open ice hit from Olivieri. The collision of the game is the kind of momentum you want to have and keep up it's a way to keep the guys fired up. Olivieri is a two-way forward, meaning he can handle the defensive aspects of the game as well as the offensive aspects, and he is a great player to have during the playoffs. He takes many shots on goal and lays some pretty heavy hits. I mentioned last night that this player is a key player on any given night, but he is certainly making his mark in the playoffs. Just 40 seconds into the 2nd period, Domenic Della Civita would take a penalty for holding, sending the Black Bears on a power play. From the circle, Tyson Kirkby would pass the puck to Blake Tosto, who held the puck for a second before passing it to CJ Stubbs, who would shoot from the goal line and get the first goal of the game. Stubbs has had important goals in both games so far in the playoffs, with his shorthanded goal last night and his power-play goal tonight. His ability to read the ice while handling the puck makes him such a great player. Later in the 3rd period, Stubbs would take the puck around the net and through all 5 Wolves to get the puck to Kirkby, who would fire a shot and shelf it, giving Kirkby his first goal in the playoffs. Connor McAnanama also deserves a shout-out for the shutout; he is now 9-0 in the playoffs and for getting an assist on the empty net goal.
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