Voorhees, NJ - January 27, 2008

During the first home stand of the season, the Growl won two impressive opening night games, only to split on Sunday and leave a bad taste in their mouths. After a convincing pair of victories on Saturday against the 495ers, the Growl had the Stampede on the schedule on Sunday and were not forgetting their poor Sunday performance back in December.

Game one was another installment of D'Aloisio vs D'Aloisio. Bothers Joe (Growl) and Kyle (Stampede) were set to face each other, as each gaurded the opposing crease. This was the second time this season the two faced each other, in the first Joe recorded a shut out victory for the Growl.

Game one opened with a goal by Charlie Sgrillo less then two minutes in. Both goalies kept their teams in the game as they skated for almost 7 minutes of scoreless hockey until Sean Sullivan gave the Growl a 2-0 lead with just over 3 minutes to go. Seconds later, Gene Gsell scored again and the Growl took a 3-0 lead into the half. It was the Stampede who took advantage of their only power play of the game and scored to make it 3-1 with about 8 minutes to go in the second half. Dan Quartucio scored the games last goal and the Growl skated away with a 4-1 victory and Joe D'Aloisio claimed another victory in the battle of the Goalie Family.

Game two saw a much more determined Stampede team. Though Jim Redstreake scored just a minute into the Game, the story this game was Kyle D'Aloisio. The Growl sent everything they had at him, but could manage only one goal on him. The problem for the Stampede was that they could manage very little offense at all. They managed 9 shots on Growl goalie Manny Rayo, but most from long distance or back angles.

The second half was no different then the first. The Growl pounded away at Stampede goalie Kyle D'Aloisio and halfway through the period he finally started to give way to the Growl offense. Goals from Beauchamp, Redstreake, and Keating gave the Growl a 4-0 lead. With under 3 minutes to go, the Stampede came down 3 on 2 and unfortunitely defenseman Matt McKeon tripped and enabled Nick Abbetamarco of the Stampede to slip a pass across to a wide open Chris Havelock, ruining what would have been the first Pro shutout of Manny Rayo's career. Still the Growl completed an impressive day with a pair of 4-1 victories and an even more impressive weekend, improving their record to 12-2 and now in first place by three points in the Atlantic Division.