Tomahawks Game Preview October 11th

Oct 10, 2013

Game Preview

Johnstown Tomahawks at Michigan Warriors

Perani Arena, Flint, Mich.

Friday October 11th 7:00 p.m.

Saturday October 12th 7:00 p.m.

The Series

The Johnstown Tomahawks and Michigan Warriors meet for the first time this season with a pair of games in Flint. This weekend’s games will be the first of 12 meetings this season, with the first four being played at Perani Arena. The two teams will meet again on Dec. 20 and 21 in Flint, before playing their first games in Johnstown Dec. 30 and 31. Last season, the Tomahawks went 3-3-2 against the Warriors, including a 1-2-1 record in the four games in Flint.

The Tomahawks

The Tomahawks have won four straight games going into this weekend’s series. Last weekend, they swept the Springfield Jr. Blues at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena. On Saturday night, Omar Mullan scored twice, and Colin Finkhouse tallied his second goal of the season, as the Tomahawks defeated the Jr. Blues 3-2.

In the weekend finale on Sunday, Springfield took a 2-1 lead early in the third period, before Tyler Basham tied the game at 6:32. The game would eventually go to overtime, where Johnstown got goals from Jordan Watt and Mitch Hall to pick up the 3-2 shootout victory.

Omar Mullan finished the weekend with four points (3-1-4) and Alex Okicki earned both wins to extend his winning streak to four games. The pair of wins pulled the Tomahawks within three points of first place Port Huron, while giving the team a four-point cushion over Springfield, Michigan, and Soo.

Mullan leads the team with eight points (six as a member of the Tomahawks), and Brandon Reinholz, Joe Drabin, and Mitch Hall each have six points. Mullan and Jordan Watt have each scored five goals this season, and Mitch Hall leads the way with six assists. Alex Okicki is now 4-2-0 on the season with a shutout and a 2.19 GAA.

Following this weekend’s games, the Tomahawks have an off weekend, before returning home to take on the Soo Eagles Oct. 24-26.

 

The Warriors

The Warriors come into this weekend’s series after defeating Port Huron 4-3 on Wednesday night. After Port Huron’s Vito Aluia scored the first goal of the game, the Warriors scored the next four to take a 4-1 lead after two periods. Port Huron battled back and got within one with less than eight minutes remaining in the game, but the Warriors held on for the victory. Dillon Kelley earned the win, stopping 18 of 21 shots. The win snapped a three game losing streak for the Warriors, while placing them in a three-way tie for third place in the North Division.

The leading points scorer for the Warriors is Joshua Shellman with six points (2-4-6). Six Warriors players have at five points, including Colin Larkin, who leads the team with four goals. Kelley and Trevor Gorsuch have combined for the team’s four wins between the pipes.

Following the series against the Tomahawks, the Warriors welcome Springfield for a pair of games Oct. 18-19. They take on Port Huron in a home-and-home series the following weekend.

Key Stats

  • Johnstown is tied with Amarillo and Bismarck for the longest current win streak with four.
  • Michigan is 4-0-0 in home games this season.
  • Jordan Watt is tied with Aberdeen’s Jake Horton with four power-play goals this season
  • Michigan has allowed 30 goals this season, with 18 goals allowed in the third period.