The Johnstown Tomahawks defeat the Northeast Generals Friday night with two goals from forward Will Margel. Defenseman Ryan Reid would play his first game in a Tomahawks uniform after facing an injury that had kept him sidelined until now.
The Tomahawks got things going right away in the 1st period as team-leading goal scorer John Gelatt scored his 15th goal of the season only 16 seconds into the game off the initial shot from forward and line-mate Brendan Clark. After a few minutes, Northeast’s Dylan Schuett gets whistled for tripping and is sent to the box. Halfway through the penalty, forward Will Margel would convert for the Tomahawks to get his second goal of the season, since joining the team in late December. Northeast seemed to let some frustration set in after allowing two early goals as there was an exchange between Northeast’s Liam McCanney and Johnstown’s Jay Ahearn which led to coincidental roughing minors. The rest of the period would play out with one more penalty for each side, but the score would remain the same with the Hawks having the advantage going into the middle frame and starting the 2nd on the power play. Tomahawks goaltender Peyton Grainer would finish the 1st period unphased, stopping all nine shots faced.
The Generals came out showing great defense on their penalty kill by blocking shots and keeping the puck away from the net to start the period, but the Hawks would prevail on the man-advantage as Brendan Clark scored his seventh goal of the season to make it 3-0 Hawks. Northeast got on the scoresheet with a goal from Liam McCanney but 24 seconds later, Will Margel would score his second goal of the game on the breakaway, getting his own rebound off Generals goaltender Anton Castro. With only 5:40 to go in the period, Max Neill and Jared Gerger get a 2-on-1 rush up the ice and Gerger scores five-hole on Castro to make it 5-1 Hawk to end the 2nd period.
Northeast’s McCanney got his second goal of the game on a breakaway opportunity only 2:50 into the 3rd period tightening the gap to make it 5-2 Hawks. Things started to get a little chippy as the 3rd period went on, as both sides were getting more physical in their game. The final period wouldn’t see much action until Jay Ahearn scored with just under three minutes to go, making a snow angel on the ice to celebrate the goal and the win for the Tomahawks.
The Tomahawks and Generals will faceoff against tomorrow night for the second of three games this weekend at 1ST SUMMIT ARENA. Game time is set for 7 PM. For tickets call the Tomahawks office at 814-536-4625. Tickets for this weekend’s games are NOT available on Ticketmaster.