Weekend Preview: Hawks Back At Home Against New Jersey

Feb 17, 2017

TITANS (27-15-2) at JOHNSTOWN (29-10-3)

Location: Cambria County War Memorial| Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Game Time: Tonight (7:30 p.m.), Saturday (7:00 p.m.)

Doors: One hour prior to faceoff

The Johnstown Tomahawks are back on home ice after a brief road trip to Eastern Pennsylvania to take on the Aston Rebels. Unfortunately for the Tomahawks, it was a road trip to forget.

In two tight contests, the Rebels swept the Tomahawks and gained four valuable points in the East Division standings.

Friday night, the defenses of both teams showed why both teams are among the best in the NAHL. Two scoreless periods led to an important third period where Rebels forward Jensen Zerban found the back of the net late in the period to give Aston a 1-0 win.

Aston goaltender Mareks Mitens picked up his 11th shutout of the season.

Saturday, the Tomahawks and Rebels entertained the fans at the IceWorks Skating Complex with another defensive showcase.

The Rebels doubled up the Tomahawks in the first period with goals from Dom Garcia and Gianluca Esteves.

However, the Tomahawks fought back in the next two periods as Donovan Ott netted two goals to tie the game early in the third period.

The momentum halted for Johnstown when Esteves scored late in the third period to set the final at 3-2 Aston.

Now, the Tomahawks are looking to continue their winning ways at home and end a two-game losing streak at the War Memorial.

THE JOHNSTOWN TOMAHAWKS

locked horns, it was the Hawks coming away with a two-game sweep at the Cambria County War Memorial.

Friday, January 20, the Tomahawks defeated the Titans by a 4-1 score after receiving production from Josh Biasillo, Nick Bruce (two goals) and Joseph Kile.

The following night, the Hawks surrendered the game’s first goal in the second period when Danny Eruzione netted a power play goal for New Jersey.

Johnstown rattled off four unanswered goals to defeat the Titans 4-1 and continue their home cookin’. Logan Stork fired home a goal at 12:02 and that was followed by Tommy Horn’s marker at 16:58 of the second.

Stork chipped in another goal early in the third period while Donovan Ott put the game away at 4:59 with his goal.

The sweep of New Jersey moved the season series between these two teams to 3-2-0 for the Tomahawks.

This will be sixth and seventh meetings with the next series coming in Middletown March 9-11.

 

Player to Watch

Logan Stork has quickly established himself as a key cog in the Johnstown attack with 15 points in 20 games with Johnstown. He has three points in two games versus New Jersey this season. The Pittsburgh native was acquired in an early season trade with the Minnesota Wilderness.

 

NEW JERSEY TITANS

New Jersey was idle last weekend after two consecutive victories against the Aston Rebels on Feb.4 and Feb. 8.

The victories were much needed for the Titans as the team endured a brief four-game losing skid which started here in the War Memorial.

Head coach Craig Doremus will rely on inexperienced goaltender Brandon Perrone this weekend as he dealt goalie Harrison Feeney to the United States Hockey League in late January.

The previously mentioned Eruzione leads the Titans with 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists).

Player to Watch

Maxim Andreev was named to the NAHL Selects team for the 2017 Top Prospects Tournament later this month. He has three assists in five games versus Johnstown