Flyers Hockey Keeps Searching for End to Winless Streak

When you’re smack dab in the middle of a streak in sports, it can be difficult to see the beginnings and nigh impossible to predict its end. It’s easy when that streak is a winning one; downright depressing when you’re on the downward trajectory.

“We needed those 2 points,” varsity hockey coach Frank Bendl said, shoving his hands into his jacket Monday night in Flushing. “We needed 2 points against them.”

Them being Msgr. Farrell, whom Chaminade leads only by two points in the standings ahead of St. Joseph by the Sea which is tied with Msgr. Farrell for fourth behind St. Anthony’s, Iona Prep and the Flyers

Chaminade has fallen on hard times recently, slipping to third place after against and allowing an empty-net goal to Iona this past Friday night, bringing the winless streak to four straight.

Against Msgr. Farrell on Monday it started to look like more of the same as the Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead from Sean Gargin. Chaminade would have to wait almost a full 13 minutes to get on the board when Michael Minarczyk was able to score on a powerplay, pushing the puck past a pile of Farrell players in the crease.

An interference call on Michael Ferris with 20 seconds left in the opening frame led to an unassisted powerplay goal from Rocco Papapietro to give farrel a 3-2 edge in the second.

The Flyer defender would get the score back however, getting a slapshot into the net with just under 3 minutes left. Lineman John Oddo would put Chaminade ahead with 4:34 left to play and the Flyers were busy counting down the seconds until Farrell forced in the puck with 3.8 seconds left on the clock to tie it at four.

“It’s like going on a pre-fed defense, you’ve got to get the puck and go,” Bendl said. “Don’t be afraid to go, we’re not looking to kill time, we’re looking to go down the other end; they got an open net.”

The coach also added choice words directed towards the referee for not blowing the whistle when the Chaminade net was moved out of place on the final score or for a pair of penalties called against Joseph Anile for cross-checking and boarding.

With only a handful of games left in the regular season, the Flyers will have to right their ship quickly in order to maintain a playoff position.

“That’s what we’ve got to figure out; that’s what we have practice for,” assistant coach Kevin Bendl said when asked if any changes need to be made. “We’re trying new lines, we’re trying to put new guys together, make something happen but at the end of the day I don’t know what the answer is; Maybe we’ll find the answer, maybe we won’t.”