JB MDL Hockey Team extinguishes Philadelphia Fire Dept

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Hockey Team's Air Force Staff Sgt. Cory Bressler scores the final point against the Philadelphia Fire Department’s goalie, Ted Damajanovic, March 6, 2014, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. JB MDL defeated PFD 4-3 during the special game meant to highlight the base’s hockey program resurgence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sean M. Crowe/Released)

JB MDL Hockey Team extinguishes Philadelphia Fire Dept

The Philadelphia Fire Department’s Steve Walls scores on the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Hockey Team for the first point of the game March 6, 2014, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. JB MDL defeated PFD 4-3 during the special game meant to highlight the base’s hockey program resurgence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sean M. Crowe/Released)

JB MDL Hockey Team extinguishes Philadelphia Fire Dept

Navy Capt. Christopher Fletcher, JB MDL deputy commander, drops a hockey puck with the Philadelphia Fire Department and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst hockey team captains, Devon Richio (left) and Air Force Staff Sgt. James Bevilacqua, March 6, 2014, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. JB MDL defeated PFD 4-3 during the special game meant to highlight the base’s hockey program resurgence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sean M. Crowe/Released)

JB MDL Hockey Team extinguishes Philadelphia Fire Dept

Published March 12, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Sean M. Crowe
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Hockey Team defeated the Philadelphia Fire Department Hockey Team 4-3 during the special non-season game March 6, 2014, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

The game's purpose was to highlight the revival of the JB MDL ice hockey program, which returned this year after a three-year hiatus.

Navy Capt. Christopher Fletcher, JB MDL deputy commander, initiated the three-period game with a ceremonial puck drop which included the PFD and JB MDL team captains, Devon Richio and Air Force Staff Sgt. James Bevilacqua.

Both teams fought to get the puck to their corresponding sides of the rink and assessed each others' weaknesses during the first period, which concluded without any goals.

Steve Walls, broke up the monotony of the slow-paced game when he scored the game's first goal with an assist from Richio, which PFD's Ed Murphy followed with another goal approximately twenty seconds later. PFD's Matt McCrory received the only penalty of the game for roughing JB MDL's Senior Airman Bryan La Jeunesse approximately halfway through the second period.

JB MDL's La Jeunesse fired into the third and final period scoring three points within a one-minute timeframe. PFD came back when Larry Rawle tied the score with an assist from Richio. JB MDL's Staff Sgt. Cory Bressler scored the final point of the game with just more than a minute left in the final period. Senior Master Sgt. Todd Larson, Staff Sgt. Reed Casper and Bressler assisted goals in the third period.

"We are a two-way team with a quick transition game that plays well to our top scoring line," said Bevilacqua, 305th MXS member. "Our goaltending is extremely strong and keeps us in all of the games."

The game was a successful rebound from years without a base hockey program and the team members hope it foreshadows a fruitful season for the base's team.

"I foresee us going back to the playoffs and making another strong run for the championship," said Bevilacqua.