By Marinna Stopa
Coming off last year’s Thrasher Cup win, their fourth in club history, the Gators are ready to show they’re not willing to give up what’s rightfully theirs.
Beating the University of Georgia 5-4 and Florida State University 6-1 last year sent shock waves through the CHS, as UF was, by no means, expected to accomplish either.
This year, with the same opponents, expectations are much higher.
Friday at 8:30 PM against the Georgia Bulldogs
Like last year, the two-day tournament will begin against Georgia on Friday night at 8:30. It will certainly be a tough one, as the Bulldogs have won their last ten games, sitting on a 14-3-2 record, good enough for third in the CHS Division. Throughout their season, Georgia has outscored opponents 89-40.
However, in their 19 games against 12 different teams, only eight of their matches have been against opponents with winning records. In these games, they have 3-3-2, narrowly outscoring the opposition 21-20.
In their last ten, all but one of their games have been against teams with losing records.
The Bulldogs have some real offensive threats.
Three key players to watch are:
- #26 RW Josh Mesaros, who has 31 points (17 G, 14 A) in 18 games played.
- Leads the team in goals (17)
- Leads the team in hat tricks (3)
- Leads the team in power play goals (4)
- Tied for team lead in short handed goals (2)
- Points in his last 12
- #29 F Declan Conway, who has 29 points (11 G, 18 A) in 17 games played.
- Tied for team lead in assists (18)
- Tied for team lead in short handed assists (2)
- Second on the team in goals (11)
- Five game goal scoring streak with points in his last 11.
- #17 LW Matt Bigda, who has 28 points (10 G, 18 A) in 19 games played.
- Leads the team in power play assists (6)
- Leads the team in penalties in minutes (34)
- Tied for team lead in assists (18)
- Tied for team lead in power play goals (4)
- Third on the team in goals (10)
- One hat trick on the season
- Four game point streak