Hejmanowski, Raimondi lead Rangers to 6-2 win

A surging Squirt Rangers squad defeated the Stars, 6-2, on Sunday led by a four-point performance by Bradley Hejmanowski and three points from Jason Raimondi. The victory puts the Rangers in second place and holds a slim margin over four teams for a possible semifinal bid.

Hejmanowski opened the scoring with an unassisted tally midway through the first period. A minute later, Hejmanowski gave the Rangers a two-goal lead when Stars goalie Christian Aichinger stopped Raimondi but Hejmanowski was there for the rebound. Darin Geska also assisted.

The Stars got themselves back into the game when Christian Cretella teamed up with Jimmy Kirkpatrick to steal the puck in the Rangers end and Cretella beat sprawling Rangers goalie Nick Molnar with a high shot, Kirkpatrick was credited with the assist.

In the last minute of the first period, Hejmanowski returned the favor by feeding Raimondi, who beat Aichinger with a nice move in close.

The Stars came out flying in the second period. Justin Bystrak put his team back to within one goal with an unassisted goal that beat Molnar low.

The score remained 3-2 until Matthew Soos broke free from a pack of players and banged one in underneath Aichinger. David Hnat earned an assist on the play while applying heavy pressure in the Stars' end.

The Rangers pulled ahead 5-2 when Rangers rookie left winger Alex Morris pounded in a rebound of a Hejmanowski blast. This was Morris' first career goal and Hejmanowski's fourth point of the game.

The Stars' Ben Battaglia, Samantha Degen, Steve Zaprowski and Kirkpatrick continued relentless pressure on the Rangers but could not figure out how to beat Molnar.

Ranger defenseman, Raimondi, John Tomczak, Alex Touma and Mickey Evans and forwards Jake Fuzak, Steven Swaintek and Ryan Mikulec all made great plays to stop the Stars the rest of the way. Raimondi completed his three-point night midway through the third with a blistering shot after a Touma pass.