Dover All-Stars fall to McGuire 1-7

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Steve Lewis
  • 512th Public Affairs
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. --  Last year's win wasn't enough for the Dover Air Force Base All-Stars to hold off New Jersey's McGuire Air Force Base All-Stars, in a 1-7 ice hockey match in Philadelphia's Wachovia Spectrum Jan. 31.
 
Returning to the rink after a 9-4 lead over McGuire in last year's first charity ice hockey match, Team Dover brought new members to the veteran line-up of active-duty, reservists and civilians from the 436th and 512th Airlift Wings.
 
Despite the loss of last year's key players and the addition of new faces, Dover held strong during the first period, letting one goal pass.
 
The match intensified during the second period when McGuire began driving more pucks through the net, but that didn't stop Dover from standing their ground. In an attempt to turn the game in Dover's favor, offensive wing Corey Bourque added a point to the scoreboard. Bourque was the only player to get past McGuire's defenses throughout the match.
 
"I thought my goal would change the momentum, but they were a tough team," said Bourque.
 
As the match went on, Dover goalie Nicholas Koski-Vacirca did what he could to prevent McGuire from scoring, while offensive wings Tony Connaghan and John Bodnar tried to gain the lead.
 
Toward the end of the third period, a win was certain for McGuire as Mark DeGironimo scored the seventh and final goal of the game.
 
"McGuire was ten times harder this year," said Dover goalie Jeffrey Kach, who defended the net during the first period and half of the second period.
 
Although McGuire won this year, both teams had worked together to accomplish the mission of the annual match, which was to raise money for two government-sponsored charitable programs aimed at helping military families in need.
 
Koski-Vacirca said the teams raised $1,700 this year for the Combined Federal Campaign and the Air Force Assistance Fund. He said the total was $300 more than last year. Koski-Vacirca worked with McGuire's offensive wing Michael Ramos to organize the annual charity event.
 
Ramos said next year's match may have to be in a different location due to plans for the Wachovia Spectrum, home to the Philadelphia Phantoms, to be demolished. 

"Hopefully we can move to the Wachovia Center where the Philadelphia Flyers play," said Ramos. "We'd be able to raise more charitable money playing at a National Hockey League venue." 

Though next year's location is not yet set in stone, Dover will have a chance to reclaim the trophy, now in the hands of the McGuire All-Stars.