Speed, defense does trick for Bulldogs

Jeff Tully

LOS ANGELES -- Playing in a nonchecking boys’ ice hockey league, the

smaller Burbank High players realized they were not going to be able to

bully Burroughs to be successful.

Instead, the Bulldogs used speed -- along with some great defense --

to defeat the Indians, 4-3, Monday in a L.A. Kings High School Ice Hockey

League game at Staples Center.

“We are a lot smaller than Burroughs,” Burbank Coach Patrick Moise

said. “But we are very quick. So we tried to use that to our advantage

whenever we could.”

Despite leading for most of the game, the Bulldogs (5-4-1) came very

close to giving up the tying goal late in the third period.

Holding on to their one-goal lead, Burbank goalie Jacob Nagy had to

withstand a potent Burroughs barrage during the final minute. The Indian

offense had four shots on goal in the closing moments, but they were all

thwarted by Nagy.

“We came so close to a goal in the third,” Burroughs Coach Steve

Placial said. “We even hit a post.”

The Indians (5-7) were missing two of their best players, who had

study commitments.

The Burbank win avenged a 5-2 loss to Burroughs earlier in the season.

As for the rubber match? “We will play them again in the playoffs,”

Placial said. “We won the first one, Burbank won today and we are going

to win the next time we play.”

Led by defenders Danny Colasanto, Brad Scheffer and Blaine Rush, the

Bulldogs were able to hold the Indian scorers in check and cut off many

of their scoring opportunities.

The quickness of the Burbank players also payed off, as they often

beat the Indians in the corners digging out pucks.

“We moved some of our good offensive players back to defense to help,”

Moise said. “And that helped us a lot.”

Burroughs actually took the lead late in the first period, when Manny

Ibarra scored at 2:32 on an assist from Abraham Palezyan.

However, Burbank came back and took a 3-1 advantage on consecutive

goals by Colasanto, Drew Mersola and Robert McDonald.

Following a goal by Indian Stephen Placial, Burbank’s Shaun Moise

responded with the eventual winning goal on an assist from Evan Pollock.

Burroughs’ Ibarra added his second goal at 2:14 in the third period.

Burroughs outshot Burbank, 24-19.

For the players taking part, being able to compete at the Staples

Center was a memorable experience.

“It was just awesome out there,” Nagy said. “The ice was so nice and

smooth. It was just nice to play in a big arena like this.”