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Hookers Win USA Hockey National Championship
Capobianco Scores Last Second Goal and OT Game Winner
May 21, 2007 - The Las Vegas Hookers defeated Michigan's Quantum Graphics by a score of 3-2 in sudden death overtime to win the USA Hockey Labatt Blue Rec Division 1 National Championship. Keith Capobianco scored the tying and winning goals to earn the Most Valuable Player award. Kevin O'Connor also scored for the Hookers. See some of the action in the Champions Gallery.
The Hookers allowed Quantum Graphics to take an early lead when Darren Allen and Kyle Voeyeer broke in on a two-on-none break at 13:30 of the first period. Allen faked a pass across then lifted a shot over the shoulder of Ho goalie Tom Brown for a 1-0 lead. The Hookers responded with several scoring chances on the powerplay, but Quantum Graphics' goalie Doug Danzigek was up to the challenge.
The Hookers killed three penalties in the second period before Quantum Graphics' Taylor Suyreis ripped a shot through a partial screen to give his club a 2-0 lead at 9:32. The Hookers rallied to press the attack on three powerplays of their own, but Quantum Graphics' defense held. Then with just 18 seconds remaining in the second period and down a man, the Hookers' O'Connor took the puck behind his own goal and went end-to-end to score on a wrap-around shot to draw his club within one goal.
The Hookers found themselves two men short early in the third period when Paul Kasztelan was signaled for cross checking, then Josh Hoover was nabbed for roughing during the ensuing delayed penalty. But Brown came up with several saves including one on a break-away and the Hooker defense remained perfect on the penalty kill.
After returning to full stregnth, the Hookers turned up the pressure a notch with Quantum Graphics' Voeyeer off for tripping, but failed to come away with a goal. Kasztelan put the Hookers down a man again when he was caught for holding at the 9:00 minute mark. However, the Hooker defense managed to shut down Quantum Graphics and get some scoring chances in the process. The Hookers got one last chance on the powerplay at 5:11 when Scott Sorbie was boxed for hooking. But despite several great opportunities, the Hos came up empty.
With less than a minute remaining and Quantum Graphics' fans already celebrating in the stands, the Hookers pulled Brown in favor of an extra attacker. After narrowly missing during a scrum in front of the Quantum Graphics net, the Hookers got an offensive zone face-off and called time out with just 18 seconds remaining. When play resumed Ho center Wally Lacroix got the face-off back to Kasztelan who slid a pass to Capobianco. The Hooker winger fired the puck into the goal with just 1 second remaining in regulation to tie the game.
After a brief intermission, the teams lined up for a fifteen minute sudden death overtime period. As soon as the puck was dropped, Capobianco grabbed it and rushed past the Quantum Graphics defense. Using teammate Patrick Bailey as a decoy on the opposite wing, Capobianco fired a shot as he entered the zone. The puck soared past a stunned Danzigek for the game winner just 14 seconds into overtime. Looking dazed himself, Capobianco was mobbed by his jubilant teammates and the celebration began.
After exchanging handshakes with their opponents, the Hookers lined up at center ice to receive the USA Hockey Labatt Blue National Championship trophy and banner. Team captain Bailey accepted the cup for the Hookers. Capobinco was awarded the tournament MVP award for his last second heroics. Brown was awarded the game puck by his teammates.
Notes: The Hookers went unbeaten through the USA Hockey Labatt Blue National Championship tournament, picking up wins against teams from Minnesota and Chicago before tying Quantum Graphics in the final game of round-robin play. Quantum Graphics was the 2007 Michigan Tier 3 State Championship runner-up. Teams from Michigan won USA Hockey National Championships in both 2005 and 2006. The Hookers defense was perfect on the penalty kill during the tournament. Brown posted the lowest goals against in the tournament. The Hookers went unbeaten in the USA Hockey Labatt Blue Pacific Regional tournament earlier in the year to qualify for the finals. The Hookers overall 2006-07 record stands at 61-13-3. The club won LVIC regular season titles in both the "B" and "C" leagues for the second straight year. | 
