Tomahawks Defeat Fighting Falcons, Earn Three of Four Points

Jan 31, 2014

By Edward Sheets

In their final meeting this season, the Johnstown Tomahawks and Port Huron Fighting Falcons battled hard, taking a 2-2 game deep into the third period. A goal by Tyler Basham and an empty-net goal by Shane Bednard gave the Tomahawks a 4-2 victory on Saturday night at McMorran Arena. The win gives the Tomahawks three out of four points this weekend, while pulling them closer to the first place Fighting Falcons.

Jon Hall got the Fighting Falcons on the board first, tipping a Jonathan Kopacka shot past goaltender Alex Okicki at 6:43. After killing a 5-on-3, the Tomahawks got on the board as Matthew Meier scored on a sharp angle shot from the right side of Alex Blankenburg at 11:53. Dakoda Menslage and Mitch Hall added assists on the goal.

Bednard gave the Johnstown its first lead of the game, scoring on a shot from the top of the left face-off circle at 15:00. Meier and Josh Bowes each added assists on the goal.

Port Huron tied the game in the second period, as Austin Romzek redirected a shot from Nick Horne past Okicki at 8:42.

Basham gave the Tomahawks the 3-2 lead, scoring on a shot off a face-off at 14:33 of the third period. Bednard set the final score at 4-2 with an empty net goal from center ice with six seconds remaining in the third period.

Okicki earned the win, stopping 32 of 34 shots. Blankenburg took the loss, allowing three goals on 29 shots. Blankenburg now has four regulation losses this season, with three of those losses occurring against the Tomahawks.

The Tomahawks are off next weekend, before welcoming the Michigan Warriors to the Cambria County War Memorial Feb. 14 and 15. For more information, visit www.johnstowntomahawks.com, call 814-536-(GOAL) or stop by the team office Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.