JOHNSTOWN – The Johnstown Tomahawks used a three-goal first period to defeat the Fairbanks Ice Dogs 5-1 Friday night at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
Fairbanks scored the game’s first goal at the 18:52 mark of the first period when Hunter Wendt capitalized on a Tomahawks turnover. For Wendt, the goal was his eighth of the season and was assisted by Austin Ghirardelli.
After the Tomahawks pushed the pace they would knot the game at 1-1 when Chris Trouba received a pass from Joe Kile in the high slot and fired the puck past Ice Dogs goaltender Joshua Sarlo. Hayden Rowan picked up the secondary assist on Trouba’s first career NAHL goal.
The Tomahawks and Ice Dogs would head into an early intermission after a pane of glass broke with 2:46 left in the first period.
It would Johnstown that snatched the momentum in the game after the intermission.
Logan Stork would fire home a goal for the Tomahawks at 2:36 of the first period. His goal was assisted by Rowan.
Thirty seconds later, the Tomahawks increased the lead on Fairbanks as Donovan Ott tallied his 15th goal of the season, beating Sarlo glove side. Dalton Hunter and Nick Bruce registered the helpers.
After a brief break to exchange sides of the ice, the second period began with the Tomahawks leading 3-1.
Ott would add to the Johnstown advantage at 3:05 of the second period with his second of the game assisted by Bruce.
Hunter would add to the lead late in the third period with an empty-net goal, his 19th of the season to set the final score at 5-1.
Drew Hotte picked up the victory, his tenth of the season to improve his record to 10-5-1 on the season. Sarlo and Josh Benson split time in the loss with Sarlo picking up the defeat.
Both team are back in action tomorrow night for the traditional New Year’s Eve hockey game at the War Memorial Arena. Tickets are still available by visiting the arena box office.