Game Preview
vs. Keystone Ice Miners
Friday January 9th 7 p.m.
The Johnstown Tomahawks continue their homestand, welcoming in-state rival Keystone to the War Memorial. The Tomahawks and Ice Miners have met five times this season, with the Ice Miners holding a 3-2 advantage. In the most recent home-and-home before Christmas, the Tomahawks won the first game of the weekend 5-1, before the Ice Miners rebounded with a 2-1 victory on home ice that included a 20-round shootout.
Johnstown and Keystone meet six more times this season, with the next meeting being played as part of a home-and-home next weekend. The Tomahawks host the Ice Miners on Friday night, before the series shifts to Connellsville for the weekend finale on Saturday.
The Tomahawks
Johnstown comes into the weekend one point behind Keystone, after taking six of eight points against Fairbanks and Kenai River last week. The Tomahawks are 3-1-1 in their last five games, and have won three straight.
Casey Linkenheld, Joe Drabin, and Trevor Recktenwald each have 10+ points in their last ten games, while Jake Gwillim went 2-0-0 against Kenai River in his return to the Tomahawks.
Following tonight’s game, the Tomahawks welcome Springfield to the War Memorial tomorrow night and Sunday afternoon.
The Ice Miners
Keystone also found success against the teams from Alaska, winning three of their four games against the two teams. Keystone swept Kenai River, before splitting its weekend series with Fairbanks. The Ice Miners have won four of their last five games, and are currently one point ahead of the Tomahawks in the North Division.
Jacob Coleman has six assists in his last five games, while Brendan Jaquay has four goals in the last five games. Alex Blankenburg is 2-0 with a 1.38 goals against average and a .951 save percentage in the last five games.
North Division
Five of the six North Division teams are in action for at least one game this weekend, with Soo being the lone idle team. Janesville travels to Michigan in the other North Division matchup this weekend.
Facts & Notes
· Casey Linkenheld was named the Easton Hockey NAHL North Division Star of the Week for his seven point (6 goals, 1 assist) performance against Fairbanks and Kenai River. Linkenheld is the second Tomahawk to win the award this season, joining Ryan Bednard, who won back in October.
· Ryan Bednard and Alex Blankenburg both rank in the top ten for minutes played this season. Bednard is fourth with 1384:12 minutes played, while Blankenburg is ninth with 1212:12 minutes played.
· Four of the five meetings between the Tomahawks and Ice Miners have been one-goal games.
Current Streaks
· Johnstown
· Trevor Recktenwald: Points in four consecutive games (2 goals, 4 assists).
· Joe Drabin: Assists in four consecutive games (5 assists)
· Casey Linkenheld: Seven points in last four games (6 goals, 1 assist)
· Luke Lynch: Points in four of his last five games (2 goals, 3 assists)
· Keystone
· Jacob Coleman: Assists in four consecutive games (6 Assists)
· Brendan Jaquay: Four goals in his last four games