The North Shore Vikings ice hockey team lost a heartbreaker on Jan. 17 to the Jericho Jayhawks by a score of 4-3. The Vikings who led most of the game, surrendered the tying goal to the Jayhawks with 2:47 minutes left to play. Jericho followed that tally with the game-winner just one minute and 39 seconds later as Jayhawk center Ross Goldman completed a hat trick by scoring his third goal of the game.

North Shore got off to a strong start by scoring just 19 seconds after the opening face-off. Nick Moon, the Vikings leading scorer, connected for his eighth goal of the season as he converted a beautiful pass from Gabe Slutsky. Teagh Sandhu was outstanding in the North Shore goal as he repeatedly stopped the Jayhawks at point-blank range to preserve the 1-0 Viking lead for the remainder of the period.

The Vikings held that lead until 11:57 of the second period when Ross Goldman scored for Jericho to tie the game. Jerry Fischer was credited with an assist on the play. North Shore had two of their defensemen in the penalty box for the goal and missed numerous opportunities to clear the puck from their defensive zone right before the Jayhawks scored. However, the Vikings answered back with a goal of their own just 63 seconds later. Nick Moon stripped the Jayhawks defense of the puck and skated in alone to score his second goal of the game. Gabe Slutsky again assisted on the play.

North Shore successfully defended their one goal lead for the next 20 minutes despite taking multiple penalties. The penalty boxes for both teams seemed like they had revolving doors as the Vikings served 12 penalties during the course of the game and Jericho was cited for 13 infractions.

With 6:23 to go in the game the Vikings added to their lead. Wyck Cushny took a slap-shot from the point and the rebound came to Nick Moon who found Gabe Slutsky all alone at the side of the Jayhawks net. It was Slutsky's sixth goal of the season. After that the flood gates opened as Jericho scored three times in the last five minutes of the game. First it was Jerry Fisher who scored for the Jayhawks with assists going to Ross Goldman and Adam Goldberg. Then Goldman scored the tying and winning goals for Jericho to complete his hat-trick. Josh Levine assisted on the tying goal; Brian Doble and Oliver Fazio assisted on the game winner.

North Shore Coach Dean Ciamundo was upset that what seemed like a certain victory had eluded the Vikings. "The team played a strong game," said Giamundo after the contest had ended "but penalties hurt us again. The team has to learn to be more disciplined, especially late in the game when we are protecting a lead."

North Shore has three games in the coming week all of which will be played at Iceworks in Syosset. The Vikings take on St. Mary's this Thursday at 6:15 p.m. Next on the slate is Hicksville at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday followed by Long Beach at 6:15 p.m. Sunday evening.