The Brooklyn Aviators ended a five-game losing streak on Sunday when they spanked the Danville Dashers 3–1 at the Hangar.
Brooklyn’s boys of winter haven’t won a game all year, so they weren’t about to lose to the last place Dashers, even if they had to physically beat their opponents into submission — something right winger Joseph Pelle Jr. did halfway through the first set when he shed gloves and put his dukes up against Dasher Chris Affinati.
Pelle spent five minutes in the box for his fisticuffs, but he wouldn’t be the only Aviator sidelined for unruly behavior: seven other Aviators were boxed for 14 minutes — five of them in the second period — for a high sticking, hooking and cross checking.
A full squad was rarely on the ice, but the Aviators still managed to pull off a victory. Newcomer Chase Watson began the rally for the Aviators by slipping a puck past the Dashers’ netminder with 24 seconds left in the first period. Center Jesse Felten doubled the lead in the second and right winger Andrew Scampoli secured the win with a late power play goal with just over four minutes left in the third period.
The win was the perfect capper to Aviator Sports and Events Center’s Cooler Bag Night, where the first 500 fans received a free cooler bag courtesy of the Community Newspaper Group.
The Brooklyn Aviators will return to the Aviator Sports and Events Center [3159 Flatbush Ave. in Floyd Bennett Field in Marine Park, (718) 758-7580] on Jan. 20 to take on the New Jersey Outlaws. Tickets are $12 ($10 for seniors and children under 14) For more info, visit www.BrooklynAviators.com.
