LaSalle Vipers head coach Matt Beaudoin is brimming with pride as his team hosts St. Mary's Sunday afternoon in a winner takes all game 7. "I'm so proud of our guys for staying together and for all they've given to get to where we are today."
This is a series that should never have gotten to a deciding game. The Vipers have been ravaged by late season injuries and illness but somehow found a way to stay alive. Captain Nic Pavia is out with a broken fibula and tibula. Noah Morneau with a broken wrist. Ethan Hamelin has a broken fibula. Nick Granero has a broken finger or two. Patrick McManus was suspended earlier in the series. Tanner Winegard was sick for games 3 and 4. Wylie Birkett was suspended for the first three games of the series. The team filled the holes with AP players who have helped the Vipers come back.
"We believed in each other and that if we buy into a certain style of play we could come back." said Beaudoin.
Trailing 3-1 in the series LaSalle won game five 4-1 at home and avoided elimination on the road Friday night with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win thanks to Jack Greenwell.
Goaltender Matthew Sbrocca has been a saviour in this series for LaSalle. The 19-year old has a 1.33 GAA and a .965 save percentage. "Sbrocca has been the best player on the ice this series." said Beaudoin. "He is the backbone of our team and is playing at such an elite level he is giving us so much confidence."
Here are his save totals through six games: 47(l), 35(shutout win), 47(l), 26(l), 22(w), 42(w).
"He gives our team a chance to win every game even when we haven't been at our best. He's the MVP of this series". said Beaudoin.
Game 7 is at the Vollmer Complex Sunday afternoon. Puck drop is 2:30.