Braves Readying for President's Cup Bid

The St. Regis Braves last three games included their first two losses of the season, and their head coach says they are now in a stretch of the regular season he feels will test their mettle in anticipation of the President's Cup.

"I was excited for us ... when we find out more about our 25 men ... what we've got to do, who we've got to tweak," Coach Chuck Brown said following their July 9 10-6 loss to the Capital Region Axemen, who he described as "one of the league's best."

The tail end of their 2016 season includes two games each against the Kahnawake Mohawks and Axemen in two weeks, followed by others against Vermont, Caughnawaga and Tyendinaga, which Brown says will be "a good litmus test."

"This segment of the schedule is intense. President's Cup is a battle of attrition," Brown said. "We've got to have six or seven games ... to endure it, we've got to hold up mentally and physically ... and learn how to use our personnel once we get up there."

The July 9 game started with three straight goals from the Axemen, first by Geoff McNulty 11 seconds into the bout, followed by two straight from Nick Sanseverino. The Braves' Danny Lazore interrupted their streak at 6:05 after taking a pass from Tyson Square. At 14:53 on a power play, Raj Wasson connected unassisted to return the Axemen to a three-goal lead. With 12 seconds to go in the opening frame while shorthanded, Jarrett Jacobs got control of the ball and punched in the second Braves goal, leaving them behind 4-2 going into the second period.

The Braves returned the game to an even keel within the first few minutes of the middle stanza, with back-to-back goals from Seth Oakes and Derek Hopps, respectively assisted by Jacobs and Square. The Axemen went on to hold the Braves offense silent for the next 12 minutes, meanwhile working back to a two-goal lead thanks to efforts from Newan Sullivan unassisted and Ryan Fournier assisted by Brandon Labelle. Square answered for St. Regis at 14:01, counterbalanced by a Capital marker from Curtis Singleton 40 seconds later. Hopps rounded out second-period scoring with just under two minutes on the clock, but it would be the last goal for the Braves. The Axemen managed two more in the final period, leaving the scoreboard after 60 minutes at 10-6 Capital Region.

Square and Jacobs led the Braves offense with a goal and two helpers each. Derek Hopps scored two goals. Seth Oakes and Danny Lazore scored single goals each.

On the Axemen side, Sanseverino tallied a game-high three goals and two assists. Fournier (two assists), McNulty (one assist), Wasson (one assist), Singleton, Sullivan and Fred Hartley all scored once. Mark Vrandenberg and Brandon LaBelle each recorded solo helpers.

Brown hailed goalie Tory Bigtree's effort.

"I like the work of Tory Bigtree in net. He was a little nervous in the beginning, went to the bench, sat down, went back and played a strong game," he said.

Brown also credited the locals for supporting the team.

"Big thank you to all the fans, and good luck to the juniors," he said. "I enjoyed the atmosphere in Massena for a Friday night."

In other recent matches, the Braves won 12-9 against Caughnawaga on July 3 and lost 17-2 to Kahnawake on July 1.

Against the Indians at Deseronto Community Center, the Braves pulled ahead 4-2 after the end of one period, were outscored 6-5 in the second and regained control in the final frame outscoring the competition 3-1.

Troy Lyons had three goals and four assists. Ky Tarbell had one goal and six assists. Derek Hopps had two goals and three helpers. Danny Lazore scored twice with one assist. Brandon Francis notched a pair of goals. Jarrett Jacobs scored once and assisted one play. Zach Hopps scored a single goal and Dwight Bero tallied a solo helper. Bigtree earned the win.

For Caughnawaga, Joe Hall and Alex Kedoh Hill each had two goals and three assists. Ben Green scored once and assisted four plays. Kyle Alyswoth, Haneh Brant and Isaac Maracle all scored one goal and one assist. Cain Brown and Greg Reilly each recorded two assists. Jamie Brant had one assist. Trey Adams was tagged with a loss.

Two nights earlier, the Braves were outscored 7-1 in the first period of the bout with the Mohawks and never regained their footing for a 17-2 final score.

Justin Oakes led the team in points with two assists. Seth Oakes and Jarrett Jacobs scored the goals. Derek Hopps assisted a play. Bigtree covered the net for 20 minutes, making 21 saves. Isaac Sharrow covered goalkeeper duties for 40 minutes, turning aside 22 shots.

On the Mohawks side, three players each finished with five points: Nick Angus (three goals, two assists), Mark Kirby (two goals, three assists) and Emmett Printup (three goals, two assists). Ky Horn scored three goals with one assist. Kaniat Deer scored two goals with a single helper. Peter Jacobs scored a goal and had an assist. Kyle Alfred had a goal and an assist, Angus Goodleaf two assists, Cody Kilcoyne two goals and Simon Winquist two assists. Kirby-Joe Diabo, Clay Kirby, Cole McComber and Kaheriios Montour each finished with one assist.