The Redwood City Blackstars beat the Vacaville Jets 6-3 in a game dominated by the Blackstars, who out-shot the Jets 30 to 14.  The Jets struck first 24 seconds into the game due to a misplayed puck by the Blackstar defender, and scored again to go up 2-0 after just three minutes of play. But the Blackstars pushed back hard and two minutes later Ryan Brown struck for the Blackstars. The ice remained tilted toward the Jets end for the rest of the game, but their goaltender and his glove kept the game in reach for his team until late in the third period.

The Jets were well matched with the Blackstars in terms of speed, but the difference was the Blackstar’s gritty play in all three zones. The Blackstar forward’s habit of hungrily attacking the net paid off as all of the goals were scored with low shots during scrambles and plays made around the net. In the neutral and defensive zones, once again the energetic backchecking of the forwards put pressure on the Jets offense to force turnovers.

Vaughn Montoya led the scoring with a hat trick, scoring the second, third, and fourth Blackstar goals. Montoya paid the price on his third goal on a powerplay when he converted on a slick pass from Alexei Davis down low, just before being cross-checked from behind into the net. Davis patiently confounded the Jet defenders with a series of reversal moves in the corner, maintaining possession of the puck for what seemed like tens of seconds, allowing Montoya to fight his way to the goal.

Despite the Jet’s heavy-handed stick work on the Blackstar players, there were only three penalties called on them out of a total of five penalties in the game.  Davis and penalty killing linemate Luke Desmarai dominated on one penalty kill shift by keeping possession of the puck in the Blackstar offensive zone and successfully disrupting the Jet’s breakout. As in the last game the Blackstars defensive corp chased down Jet attackers, and consistently and efficiently moved the puck up to the forwards.

In addition to the goals by Montoya and Brown, Jack Luttringer and Aidan Hsu each scored. Zach Scacco had another solid performance, stopping 14 shots.

The Blackstars Squirt 1 team bested the Fresno Jr. Monsters 15-2 on Saturday in the first exhibition game of the 2011-12 season.  The Blackstars started fast by notching two goals in the first minute of play, with Ian Gould tallying first, and then Luke Desmarai 37 seconds later. This line, including Alexei Davis, set the tone with an aggressive forecheck that put the Monster blueliners back on their heels early, and it stayed that way for most of the game.

Blackstar speed was evident up front as well with the defenders, as they regularly beat the Monsters to loose pucks. The upfront speed made for a thin margin of error for the Monster’s defense, producing several clean breakaways for the Blackstars. But most notable was the forward’s commitment to the backcheck which continually forced Monster turnovers high in the defensive zone.

The Blackstar’s passing and playmaking gelled surprisingly quickly, given that it was the first game for this group. Neutral zone play was chaotic at times, but the Blackstars speed came into play as they usually gained possession of the puck.

The Blackstars out-shot the Monsters 31 to 10, and the scoring was spread evenly with eight players lighting the lamp. Ian Gould led the scoring with four goals, followed by Luke Desmarai with three. Jack Luttringer and Alexei Davis each scored twice, and Alexander Harrenstien, Stosh Janik, Vaughn Montoya, and Cole Sotnick each had one goal.

Zach Scacco was solid in goal for the Blackstars, turning aside ten shots for the win.

Fresno had a short bench and although their goalie was reportedly a novice who replaced their regular netminder, it was not entirely evident from his play. None of the Blackstars goals were goalie flubs, they the result of good hockey plays.