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Langley Beats McLean to Advance in Regional Ice Hockey Playoffs

McLean goalie ousted from game from fighting

Kevin Diner scored twice and Evan Sterling had a goal and three assists as Langley High School posted a 6-1 upset win over McLean Monday night in the quarterfinal round of the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League playoffs at SkateQuest Reston. 

With the victory, Langley advances to Wednesday night’s league semifinals at the Ashburn Ice House where they will face Stone Bridge at 9:20 p.m. In the other semifinal, Briar Woods will play host to Woodbridge at SkateQuest Reston, beginning at 8:45 p.m.  

The annals of Langley-McLean hockey have produced several unusual scenarios and Monday’s game added yet another chapter to that legacy.  Down 1-0 on an early goal by Kevin Diner, McLean goalie Michael Laywood was tossed from the contest with five minutes remaining in the first for throwing a roundhouse punch during a minor tussle in front of his net. 

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With no backup goalie, McLean captain Nick Baker stepped into nets while forward Paul Forest dressed in Laywood’s equipment.  Baker was valiant, blocking several scoring bids including a rocket slapshot with his glove, during the final five minutes of the period, during which time McLean was assessed four additional penalties requiring the Highlanders to play two men down for the next seven minutes.  By the time Forest emerged from the locker room to start the second, Langley put two more shots past Baker to take a 3-0 lead.

From that point on, McLean played with heart, determination and passion but it wasn’t enough.  Forest, who played goalie in youth hockey ten years prior, made several spectacular saves but Atte Happonen and Drew Schneider finally broke through in the last three minutes of the period to essentially put the game out of reach.  Grady Paine scored a late goal for McLean but Sterling answered 45 second later and the Saxons were on their way to the semifinals.

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“It was an unusual game what with the goalie getting that penalty but once the second period started, both teams settled down and it was a good, two-way game,” said Langley coach Rob Faktorow.   Indeed, both teams had ample scoring opportunities with Langley goalie Ryan Framinan looming large on several McLean shots, particularly in the second period when a Highlander comeback was still a possibility.

 In other NVSHL quarterfinal action Monday night, Woodbridge topped Westfield, 5-2 in a penalty filled encounter at Reston while Briar Woods’ beat Broad Run 6-1 and Stone Bridge’s topped Chantilly 9-4 at Ashburn.

Steve Winter coaches youth hockey for the Reston Raiders and McLean High School.  President of Brotman|Winter|Fried, a sports and entertainment public relations and event management firm, Winter brings to the Washington-area several major youth and adult sports events each year, including the upcoming 2012 U12 Tier II USA Hockey National Championships.

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