White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Hockey Night: Sommer Nets 7 Goals. White Plains Stuns Rye, 8-5.

WPCNR PRESS BOX. November 30, 2003: The White Plains Hockey Tigers trailed Rye 3-1 going into the Third Period at Ebersole Rink Saturday night. In the first 4 minutes of the third period, the Tigers turned into the Montreal Canadians of the 1950s, and Tommy Sommer turned into Maurice "Rocket" Richard. Sommer scored 5 of the Tigers' 6 unanswered goals in 4 minutes, stunning Rye to win their second game of the Tigers Thanksgiving Invitational, 8-5. Tommy added 1 more later to record 7 goals scored, a double-"Hat Trick".

FLYING TIGER: Tommy Sommer No. 16 swoops by Rye's Goaltender stick high in triumph after racing on left wing and blasting his 6th goal behind the hapless Garnet, to give the Tigers a 6-3 lead with 11 minutes to go in the Third Period. The Tiger was on fire in the first 4 minutes of the third period, scoring 5 goals.
Photo by WPCNR Sports

It was the most incredible team and individual performance this hockey fan has ever seen.

There were the Tigers playing a close tight-checking defensive game, kept at bay by Rye's disciplined position hockey system, and trailing 3-1 going to the third period.

Rye had taken the lead on two power play goals in the last 5 minutes of the second period, and as a fan, you were not prepared for the Tiger team that hit the ice to start the Third Period.

Within 10 seconds Tommy Sommer had poked in a rebound on the far side in a two-Tiger breakaway, to make it 3-2.

Fifteen seconds later on an identical 2-on-1 play, Sommer did it again to tie the score 3-3. Incredibly before a minute and a half had gone by another Sommer sizzler from the head of the far circle had given the Tigers the lead, 4-3. Rye pulled their goalie.

Sommer's wingmen and forecheckers were swarming the Rye nets skating like the Flying Frenchmen of the great old Montreal Canadians of the 50s. It was an overwhelming, beautiful thing to see.

At the 12 minute mark, Sommer poked home another rebound to make it 5-3.

Not since the Boston Bruins scored 6 goals in the first 4 minutes of the Third Period against the New York Rangers in 1958, had I seen anything like this.

White Plains Coaches Howard Rubenstein and his assistant were shaking their heads after the game, one coach said he had never seen anything like it, "Amazing," he said, "Simply amazing."

The Tigers were 2-0 in the tournament, and Coach Rubenstein was refusing to take calls from Ranger Coach Bryan Trottier, inquiring about Sommer's availability for the next Ranger game.

Note: The White Plains Tigers ran their ice record to 4-0 Sunday with an 8-6 shootout over Archbishop Stepinac. Sommer scored three goals, Greg Squires 2, Adam Weinstein 2, and Mark Paonessa 1 in the Tigers Tournament Championship win.


Create an account		The White Plains Daily Internet Newspaper...Founded 2000 A.D....


			Designed and hosted by WestchesterInternet.com