Double Hat-Trick Propels Hilltoppers to UCT Championship

The Game: The boys hockey team came on strong in the second period to overwhelm Governor Livingston 12-2 in the semi-final game of the Union County Hockey Tournament at Warinanco Arena Wednesday night. 

The game started slowly in the first period as Summit led 2-1. Early in the second period Governor Livingston managed to tie the game at 2-2 but the Hilltoppers answered back with two consecutive goals to make it 4-2 and began to dominate at both ends of the ice scoring a total of seven goals in the period. At one point in the game Summit had three players in the penalty box yet the defense managed to keep Governor Livingston from scoring. The game was called in the early part of the third period due to the mercy rule after Summit scored four more goals in the final period.

The Players: Every Summit player seemed to make a contribution in the win either with an assist, fine defensive play or goal. Jarrett Ross, who was brought up from the Summit JV squad, scored his first varsity goal with an assist by Eric Stabler and Mike Tsiang. However, the big offensive stars of the game were Tim Yager and Mike Badgley who both scored three goals each to give Summit a rare double hat-trick. One of Mike Badgley’s goals was shorthanded.

Mike Nyitray and Eric Stabler also contributed with two goals each along with Jeff Wycoff who scored one goal.

Post-Game Reaction: “They realized that they were not doing what they needed to do in the first period,” said Summit head Coach Keith Nixon. “In the second period we did not want to give Governor Livingston a chance to breathe.”

Mike Badgley, who scored one of the two hat-tricks in the game, said, "After the first period, Coach Nixon told us to play our game and we will come out on top. Well, we came out on fire in the second period and took it to 'em.”

Up next:  The Hilltoppers will take on Westfield for the Union County Championship on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Warinanco Arena.