BLAINE –
The Johnstown Tomahawks (3-1-1) were defeated in overtime by the New Mexico Ice Wolves (4-2-1) by a score of 4-3. The game was the first of the 2025 NAHL Showcase for the Tomahawks. Emerson Marshall led the way for the Hawks with a hat-trick to bring his team back after a 3-1 deficit late in the 3rd period. NAHL rookie Koen Harrold scored the overtime winning goal for his first career NAHL goal for the Ice Wolves.
The Ice Wolves got off to a great start with several mini breakaways early and the Tomahawks looked a little shell-shocked through five minutes making it easy for New Mexico to force turnovers in the neutral zone. The first penalty call was at just before the 10:00 mark, and it was against the Tomahawks for goaltender interference. The Ice Wolves were about as surgical as a team could be while on a power play without finding the back of the net. They worked the puck around with confidence and tired out the Hawks defense leading to several quality chances but Hawks goaltender Zack Ferris was unsurprisingly up to the task and helped kill it off. Another New Mexico power play opportunity came with under five-minutes to play after a Sean Morgan elbowing penalty and the next two minutes were going to be important for the Tomahawks to at least get out of the first period even. A successful kill followed with more strong goaltending from Ferris and the teams skated off for the break the same way they started at 0-0. Shots after the 1st were in favor of the Ice Wolves by a total of 11-5.
The Tomahawks earned an early power play just a minute or so into the 2nd period but couldn’t capitalize. Ice Wolves score just two-minutes after, to take the lead. A nice offensive zone setup led to a slot shot that was labeled for the twine and it was in the back of the Hawks net. The physicality was certainly starting to pick up and halfway through the period, and the Tomahawks were given another chance to tie the game after a net-front scuffle led to the Hawks’ 4th power play of the night. Finally breaking through on the man-advantage was Emerson Marshall to tie the game at 1-1. Nick Jarmain and Kaleb Capecci were credited with the assists. The Tomahawks outshot the Ice Wolves 13-8 in the 2nd period and the updated total through two periods was all square at 18-18.
New Mexico came out firing to begin the 3rd period scoring two goals within the first five minutes of play to take a 3-1 lead. The first of the two came just 34 seconds into the period. It was Deja vu for the Hawks during the 3rd period as they found themselves down two with not a whole lot of time on their side. With slightly over eight minutes to play, the Tomahawks got their spark and it was in the form of Emerson Marshall yet again as he buried the loose change making the deficit now just one at 3-2 to really put that feeling of confidence back in his bench. You could almost feel the Tomahawks were going to tie it up again, strictly on their recent stretch of games. With just over two minutes to play, New Mexico took their 8th penalty of the night and gifted the Tomahawks a chance to tie the game. Who else but Emerson Marshall to tie the game at 3-3 with just a minute left to completely stun the Ice Wolves and send this game to Overtime.
After two goals in under eight minutes to force OT, it’s no surprise as to where the momentum lied as we dropped the puck on extra time. The Tomahawks did just about everything they could to use this momentum and close the game out but were stone-walled on several occasions by the Ice Wolves goaltender using any and all parts of his body to do so. The excited extra frame played on, as a mix of great offense, goaltending and defense was showcased. However, the Tomahawks magic ran out with just 34 seconds left to play as New Mexico centered one from behind the net and in the blink of an eye, the puck was in the net and the game was over. Final shots on goal were 39-34 in favor of Johnstown in the 4-3 overtime defeat.
Your Johnstown Tomahawks are back in action tomorrow afternoon as take on the St. Cloud Norsemen for Game 2 of the annual NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota. Friday’s action kicks off at 3:00PM CT | 4:00PM ET. Catch all the action at https://nahltv.com/ and follow our social media accounts @tomahawkshockey so you don’t miss a beat!
BY: DREW P. PFEIL