Butler Toronadoes

HARMARVILLE - Freeport coach Jim Hill must be going through withdrawals again this season.....the Yellow Jackets went on a torrid streak last year which almost landed them in the Penguins Cup after a 1-4-0 start and then reeling off 15 straight. This year, after a slow start the Yellow Jackets are up to their old tricks and they have captured 5 of 6 with the exception a 2-1 loss to undefeated Mars. Deer Lakes on the other hand has had an up and down campaign and Al Pawloski was hoping Freeport would provide incentive for his club to get on a winning streak. Early in the first period, the Lancers applied some pressure, but Derek Gaworski was sharp stopping Brendan Orris at the 11:30 mark among several key saves. At 7:48 of the opening period Jesse Wells took a nice feed in the slot from Mike Bender and beat Roman Drievenosky through the 5 hole to make it 1-0. Just 9 seconds later, it was Troy Barker finding a loose puck and backhanding it past the Deer Lakes goalie and it was now 2-0. With 5:33 left, Tom Christy blasted a slapshot from the left point through traffic and Freeport was off an running 3-0. Early in the second, Freeport's Mike Bender unleashed a wicked slapshot to extend the lead to 4-0. Deer Lakes came back on the power play at 9:57 as Jason Graney scored to cut the lead to 4-1. At 7:41, Andreas Backstrom unleashed a booming wrist shot upstairs past Gaworski and all he sudden the Lancers were back within two at 4-2. Then with 3:57 remaining, Dustin Gaworski danced around the DL defense and beat the Deer Lakes goaltender high to the glove side for a huge goal and a 5-2 lead. Freeport never looked back in the third period, as Bender and Bryan Hanks added goals to put the game on ice. Jason Graney added a goal for the Lancers but Derek Gaworski shut the door the rest of the way as Freeport captured its sixth win in their last seven with an impressive 7-3 victory over Deer Lakes.