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MAMARONECK, N.Y. – Mamaroneck’s Spencer Kupferberg had been working hard on the ice in the last five games for the hockey team, but he was not reaping the rewards.
The junior forward had been without a goal since Mamaroneck’s win over White Plains on Dec. 21. But that stretch came to a close Friday.
Kupferberg scored two goals and added two assists as Mamaroneck held off New Rochelle, 6-5, in a Section 1 Division I hockey game at the Hommocks Ice Rink.
“I’ve been focusing on my shot in practice,” Kupferberg said. “I would line up nine, 10 pucks and just keep shooting. I also worked on keeping my head down and following through the shot.”
Kupferberg did not allow himself to get frustrated during this five-game dry spell. Instead, he focused on helping Mamaroneck win. He also followed through on what coach Mike Chiapparelli said in practice.
“We’ve been stressing to go hard to the net and, on both of Spencer’s goals he did this,” Chiapparelli said. “Spencer is really good in front of the net. That’s where he does his best work.”
Robert Morris gave Mamaroneck a 2-1 lead with 2:15 remaining in the first period, and Kupferberg netted his first goal 28 seconds later. He increased the lead to 3-1 at the 6:19 mark of the second period.
“It felt good to get back into the scoring column,” Kupferberg said of his first goal, assisted by Ted Bellis and Josh Kriss. “The second one felt even better than the first because it gave us a 3-1 lead.”
The two goals came as Kupferberg earned a promotion to Mamaroneck’s first line. It has been a steady progression for Kupferberg, who said he has had his ups and downs this season.
“I started out the season on the fourth line, then jumped up to the third line, then the second line,” he said. “After the White Plains game, I felt I started to step it up and coach gave me some shifts on the first line.”
Kupferberg was assisted by Peter Conley and Trey Herlitz-Ferguson on his second goal. Then Conley scored with 12 seconds remaining in the second period, assisted by Kupferberg and Brian Schiff.
Conley finished with two goals and two assists and Trey Herlitz-Ferguson added three assists.
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