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Lyons roars past Fox Valley in preparation for Cougar Cup
Darien, IL - Sunday, February 24, 2013: Lyons' Charlie Maley (88) goes after a loose puck vs Fox Valley. | Steve Johnston~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 26, 2013 1:20PM
DARIEN — The rink was packed, tension in the air and it all pointed to one thing: playoffs.
The Lyons hockey club pummeled Fox Valley 8-1 Sunday in Darien and have the best-of-three finals of the 2013 ISHL Cougar Cup Finals on its mind.
“It was a big victory,” said Lyons assistant coach Morris Snitowsky. “We’ve played close games (with Fox Valley) and I am actually surprised we were able to manhandle them. I think it was the boys knowing we go to the playoffs if we win and they never let up.”
With 11:19 left in the first period, Lyons’ Nick Wink found the back of the net and it didn’t stop. Barely a minute later Charlie Malay answered with another shot between the pipes.
“We just played a good game,” Malay said. “We took control and just played better than they did. We skated harder and they just weren’t prepared.”
The horn continued to sound as shots from Samuel Brennan (2), Wink (2), Hugh Meehan (2) and Joseph Power all beat the Fox Valley goalie. Power’s goal was the dagger with two minutes left on a running clock.
Santino Salamone scored Fox Valley’s lone goal with 2:35 left in the second. Lyons goaltender Paolo Delfini still walked away with 19 saves and Fox Valley’s Jonathan Durrbeck gloved 25.
“That five-on-three,” Delfini said. “We were killing that five-on-three for about four minutes and that was a tough thing to do, it wears down your legs and I just couldn’t see the puck.
“The shots did not represent the score though,” he said. “Their goaltender is better than that.”
At the end of the day, it’s all about making it in the postseason.
“It’s going to be different,” said Delfini. “Some guys might have a hard time dealing with the pressure but the playoffs amp everybody’s game up. It makes everyone dig a little deeper.”
Lyons Township
G: Nick Wink (2), Samuel Brennan (2), Hugh Meehan (2), Joseph Power, Charlie Malay.
GK: Paolo Delfini (19 saves)
Fox Valley
G: Santino Salamone.
GK: Jonathan Durrbeck (25 saves)
