Monarchs Win EJHL Title

Tim Carr left the traditional goalie slide in front of the team picture to starter Brian Billett.



The New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs won the Dineen Cup, symbolic of the EJHL championship, today with a second consecutive 3-2 win over the Jersey Hitmen. Penn State recruit Tim Carr served as backup goalie (as he had all playoffs), so since I obviously can't comment on his play, I'll turn it over to the EJHL website.

Cody Sharib scored two goals, including the game-winner, to lead the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs over the Jersey Hitmen 3-2 on Sunday and give his team its second EJHL Dineen Cup Championship in as many years.

Ryan Tyson put the Monarchs on the board 3:24 into the game when he banged home Chris Cowles’ rebound from the slot. Billy Fitzgerald set up Cowles’ shot.

Sharib extended the lead to 2-0 with a power play goal with 7:14 on the clock when he took a pass from Trevor vanRiemsdyk just outside the slot and fired it past Hitmen goaltender John Nauta.

The Hitmen got on the board 3:40 into the second period when Matt Willows took a pass from Craig Kitto at the point and rifled it at the net. Monarchs goaltender Brian Billett made the save, but Connor Leen buried the rebound.

A power play goal by the Hitmen tied the game with 10:57 left in the second period. Max Novak sent the puck to Andy Latta, who took a shot. A defenseman deflected the puck to the circle and Matt Willows beat Billett with his shot.

Sharib put home his second of the game with 3:21 remaining in the frame when he scored on a point blank shot with assists from Cam Brown and Ryan Tyson.

Billett and Nauta held the teams scoreless in the third period. The Hitmen pulled Nauta with a minute remaining, but to no avail, and Sharib’s tally held as the game-winner. Nauta finished with 25 saves and Billett recorded 36.

The win gives the Monarchs their second consecutive EJHL Championship and their sixth overall. The Eastern Junior Hockey League would like to congratulate the Monarchs and the Hitmen on their outstanding seasons.

Carr, of course, was an integral part of the Monarchs' 38-4-2-1 record, and their Northern Division championship, which earned them a first-round bye and home ice until the final. He went 15-2-1 with a 2.40 goals against average, a 0.917 save percentage and three shutouts, and even chipped in an assist.

The other PSU recruit to date, Jake Friedman, exited the EJHL playoffs with his South Shore Kings two rounds ago, with Friedman collecting a goal and two assists in the Kings' four total playoff games, plus a 20:00 mini-game. During the 45-game regular season, he led the Kings in scoring and was tied for sixth in the league with 26 goals and 35 assists.