Hat Tricks take down Aviators in Saturday night action

DANBURY, C.T. – The Elmira Aviators (12-19-3-1) dropped Game 2 of their two-game series with the Danbury Hat Tricks (15-18-2-0) by a score of 4-2 Saturday night.

The Aviators played a hard first period and outshot the Hat Tricks, but neither team could get on the board in the opening frame.

Elmira got its first goal in the second period with a power play. Clarence Beltz set up Gavin Duckworth in the low slot.

Duckworth made a dazzling forehand-backhand move before going bar down to even the score at one-a-piece in the second period.

Danbury would respond with two goals of its own to carry a 3-1 lead into the third period. Tensions rose intensely between the two sides in the second period and that intensity carried over to the third.

The Aviators had early power play opportunities in the final period, but the Hat Tricks did well to kill them off. Then Niko Tournas scored his third goal of the night to get Danbury’s lead up to 4-1.

The Aviators would respond with another power-play goal, this time from Jett Otwell. Charlie Fink slid the puck across to Otwell who finished the chance on the opposite faceoff circle.

Otwell has at least a point in nine of his last eleven games. He has six goals and four assists over that span.

The Aviators ultimately ran out of time for a comeback and lost the game 4-2.

Next weekend Elmira will travel to New Hampshire to take on the Mountain Kings. Game 1 is Friday, Jan. 17 at 7:20 p.m. Game 2 is Saturday, Jan. 18 at 4:30 p.m.

The games can be streamed on NATV and listened to on Big Foot Country Legends.

Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him email [email protected].