HARTFORD, Conn. –
On Friday March 1, the 103rd Flying Yankees played Massachusetts’ 104th Fighter Wing “Barnestormers” in the annual Bradley-Barnes Brawl at the XL Center in Hartford.
It was a great event as the XL Center hosted the two neighboring military communities for the second straight year.
The game didn’t start off how the Flying Yankees (G.S.O.I) had planned after giving up three quick goals, ending the first period down 3-0.
The Flying Yankees finally gave the 200 plus fans something to get excited about after a relentless attack in the offensive zone gave streaking defensemen Michael Antoniou the first goal of the game with a beautiful pass from behind the net, making the game 3-1.
With tensions rising, the Flying Yankees brought the game to within one when Billy Cahill made an incredible pass across the ice to give me the opportunity to put it into the back of the net.
Down 3-2 in the 3rd period, Antoniou carried the puck into the offensive zone once again and picked the high glove side to tie the game at 3 all! With five minutes left in the game and bodies flying in front of the net, Kyle Murkowicz found Steve Bava all alone on the back door, putting the Flying Yankees up 4-3.
The Barnestormers pulled the goalie with two minutes left in the game looking for the equalizer but ran out of time as the Flying Yankees won the Bradley-Barnes Brawl Trophy for the second straight year 4-3.
Special thanks to Head Coach Mark Maher, Assistant Coach Amy Robison and Co-Captain Jordan Knightly for all their hard work setting up these events. Thanks again to the Massachusetts Air National Guard for a hard-fought game! The Flying Yankees next game will be March 30, in the CT Hero’s Cup. The event will include fire departments from New Britain, Hartford, Simsbury, Watertown, Greenwich, and East Hartford. The Flying Yankees will take on Simsbury FD in Game 2 of the CT Hero’s Cup at 1:30 at the XL Center.
For more information on the event please visit the website www.CTHEROSCUP.com. Tickets are $20 ahead of time or $25.00 at the door. Tickets will get you into the XL center for all the games as well as the Hershey Bears vs. Hartford Wolfpack game directly after at 7pm.
Any questions about upcoming events can be sent to shane.p.byrnes.mil@army.mil