Milanos-Hat-Trick beat O'Brien's Corner, 7-5 in the Olympia Summer League hockey final.
Barry Almeida scored two goals to help Milanos-Hat-Trick to a 7-5 win over O'Brien's Corner in the Olympia Summer League hockey final. WEST SPRINGFIELD - Barry Almeida and T.J. Syner are about to embark on professional hockey careers. Frank Vatarno will begin his freshman year at Boston College. Tyler Kelleher will be a freshman at the University of New Hampshire. Before they go their separate ways, the Western Mass. version of "The Fab Four'' got to celebrate a championship together. They led Milanos-Hat-Trick to a 7-5 victory over O'Brien's Corner Thursday night to claim the Olympia Summer League championship. . O'Brien's Corner sure made Milanos-Hat-Trick work hard for its third playoff victory. Goalie Chris O'Brien, who is bound for Westfield State College, made 40 saves. "It's always fun to play hockey from where you're fun and to see all the guys,'' said Syner, a former University of Massachusetts standout from Springfield. "This was a hard-fought game and the guys played really well.'' Almeida, who won two national championships at Boston College, scored two goals. Vatarno and University of Connecticut's Joe Budnik each scored one. Kelleher had a hat trick. Defenseman John Sarno played well. "Guys were all over the ice, blocking shots and we knew this game was not going to be a blowout,'' Syner said. "This is such a great league and to win it is very special.'' Syner and Almeida are keeping a close eye on the potential NHL lockout, which is slated to begin on Sept. 15 if a new collective bargaining agreement can't be reached. If that happens, they will report to the Hershey Bears camp at the end of September. They both joined the Bears after their college seasons ended. Both are expected to play for the Bears this season. "We're hoping there is no lockout,'' Syner said. "Hershey's a great town, with the smell of chocolate, great people and a ton of fans at the games.'' Almeida also got his feet wet last season in Hershey. He played one regular season and one playoff games. "Guys in the AHL were just bigger, stronger and smarter,'' Almeida said. "It's very easy to be picked apart at the pro level.'' Almeida and Vatarno are cousins. Vatarno was eligible for last June's NHL Entry Draft, but was not chosen, although he did attend the Calgary Flames development camp over the summer. Almeida can relate. He was not drafted and now he is playing professional hockey. "I told Frank to enjoy the moment because it goes by fast,'' Almeida said."He should step in and play.''