It was alumni night at St. Michael’s College School Arena on Friday night as the St. Michael’s Buzzers welcomed back numerous former players from years gone by.

Prior to the game, Kyle Pereira – a defenseman with the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League, Cassidy Preston – a forward with the York University Lions and the holder of two Buzzers’ records for most assists (6) and points (9) in a single game, Louie Caporusso – a forward with the University of Michigan Wolverines who was a Hobey Baker Award Finalist in 2008-2009 and was drafted in the third round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators in 2007 and former Captain Fred Cassiani – a forward with the Lake Superior State University Lakers and the holder of the record for most career appearances (166) in a Buzzers’ uniform were honoured in a pregame ceremony at centre ice.

Perhaps inspired by their presence, the Buzzers responded with one of their most inspired efforts of the season, playing an aggressive, physical style for a full sixty minutes and earning a victory based on defence and goaltending.

“Oh for sure the atmosphere tonight inspired us,” said Buzzers’ defenseman Alex Bezerra. “As soon as we walked into the room, we saw the gold jerseys out; we knew something was going on. To see guys like Louie Caporusso out there and Freddie Cassiani and Cassidy Preston and Kyle Pereira, those are big names; they might not all be NHL guys but they’re guys that came out of the Buzzers’ dressing room and guys that sat in the stalls we’re sitting in now.”

The first period featured an energetic tempo with good scoring chances on both sides but equally good netminding from both Jon Loparco – who made his second consecutive start for the Buzzers and Michael D’Angelo for the Beehives.

Loparco was outstanding throughout the game, turning aside thirty four of thirty five shots to earn his second consecutive victory. In only his second career Junior A start, Loparco looked very comfortable but said his success was not coming because of anything special.

“I don’t know,” said Loparco, when asked why he had been able to step in and contribute seemingly with ease. “I’m just going out there and trying to do my job. I’m supposed to stop pucks so I’m just trying to get in front of them as much as I can.”

Buzzers’ Head Coach Mike DePellegrin said that he has been very pleased with what Loparco has brought considering he has not played a lot of hockey at any level since September.

“He’s going to start again tomorrow, he was the player of the game our last two games and the reason why we had a chance to win the last two games,” said DePellegrin. “Credit to him, he’s done really well after not playing for so long, he looks like he’s been playing all along. He’s been a pleasant surprise for us.”

Dan Ciampini broke the scoreless tie midway through the second period with his twenty ninth goal of the season, backhanding in a rebound at the top of the goal crease after Mike Neville got the puck out in front.

Late in the period, with just three seconds left, Alex Bezerra grew the lead to 2-0 with his first goal of the season when a shot thrown toward the Dixie net bounced in front of Michael D’Angelo leaving him helpless. Bezerra’s goal would ultimately stand up as the game winner.

“We needed the win, like Coach DePellegrin said, this was our Stanley Cup and we came out with it,” said Bezerra. “It was ugly but it happened and that was the story with the goal too. An ugly shot but I’ve been getting pucks on net lately and good things happen when you do that.”

The Beehives cut the deficit to one goal at the 6:29 mark of the third period while on the power play when Manny Gialedakis collected a rebound at the side of the net and deposited it past Loparco, who was unable to get across the net in time.

Down the stretch however, the Buzzers did not show any degree of panic, sticking to their defensive system and keeping their intensity high as they hung on to the one goal lead. As a team though, the Buzzers played defence as a five man unit with the forwards putting in a conscious effort to help out in the defensive zone, something could not always be said earlier in the season.

“We played physical, I know the defensemen did and the forwards helped out a lot,” said Bezerra. “We had some problems with the forwards coming back earlier in the year and they did a great job today and helped us out big time.”

The win gets the Buzzers off on the right foot as they will hit the road for two more important games this weekend: Saturday again against the Beehives and on Sunday against the Toronto Jr. Canadiens.