JOHNSTOWN – The Johnstown Tomahawks (10-7-3) were victorious in overtime by a score of 2-1 versus the Elmira Aviators (8-10-2) at 1ST SUMMIT Arena on Friday, November 14th. Nick Metelkin scored two goals including the game-winning goal in overtime in his Tomahawks and 1ST SUMMIT Arena debut. Tomahawks goaltender Nikita Oleksiienko earned the victory and turned aside 27 of 28 shots.
The opening frame of Military Appreciation Weekend didn’t start the way the Tomahawks had hoped. Elmira generated quality looks right out of the gate, capitalizing on a string of odd-man rushes created by a flat Tomahawks start on home ice. Just 1:20 in, the Aviators executed a clean two-on-one, throwing a pass off the pad of Nikita Oleksiienko and burying the rebound for a 1–0 lead. It’s a spot the Tomahawks have found themselves in way too often lately, and not one they want becoming even more routine. A Tomahawks power play shortly after the goal offered a chance to respond, but the Tomahawks couldn’t make it count. Elmira continued to dictate the pace, putting together the kind of composed, efficient road period coaches dream of. Coming into Friday, the Tomahawks had managed only two goals in nearly 200 minutes of hockey (outside of shootouts), and early on, it appeared that scoring slump might linger. Despite generating plenty of attempts, most were low-danger looks that Aviators goaltender Aidan McKenna handled without much trouble. Elmira, meanwhile, broke out of their zone cleanly and consistently, applying pressure that kept the Tomahawks chasing for long stretches. The shot clock favored Johnstown 14–9 after twenty minutes, but the Aviators held the only number that mattered— a 1–0 lead—and were unquestionably the team carrying the play through the first period.
The Tomahawks opened the third period on the man advantage, and there was no disguising the urgency—they needed a goal, and they needed it quickly. They got exactly that. After a clean entry sparked by Jack Genovese and Caleb Capecci, newcomer Nick Metelkin cut across the slot and snapped a shot back against the grain, beating McKenna over the glove for his first goal as a Tomahawk. It came just one second after the power play expired, sneakily giving the trio the plus on the scoresheet and finally giving the home crowd something to erupt over. Suddenly, it was 1–1 just a few minutes into the third, but one of the defining themes of the season reappeared: every time the Tomahawks generate something positive, something tends to swing the other way. Only a minute after tying the game, a hooking penalty sent them right back to the kill. Fortunately, that unit stayed scorching hot. Elmira moved the puck well and created extended pressure, but everything was forced to the perimeter—and when shots did get through, Nikita Oleksiienko was dialed in. He even turned to unconventional methods, stopping multiple chances with his mask, channeling shades of Henrik Lundqvist as he willingly redirected pucks out of danger. It was a big time performance from one of the league’s youngest goaltenders as he responded like a veteran after allowing an early goal, keeping his team in the game throughout the next 50+ minutes and completely turning the page on the goal against. The tight, tense nature of the night only grew as the period hit the halfway point. The captain was sent back to the box on a cross-check, once again calling on the penalty killers to step up. And once again, they answered—another crucial stand that kept the game tied. Evan Kensey was outstanding on the kill all night long, using his speed and relentless effort to force a ton of turnovers and restart many Elmira breakouts. He even earned a shorthanded breakaway but was denied. The final ten minutes brought the loudest pulses of the period. Metelkin nearly tallied his second of the night on a late chance that could have been the winner. Capecci created a pair of highlight-worthy rushes, slicing up the middle and splitting defenders, but he couldn’t find the finishing touch. Regulation wound down with both teams trading pushes, but like the last few outings, this one felt destined for extra time. And that’s exactly where it headed. After three periods, the Tomahawks stood at 33 shots on goal—nine in the third—while Elmira matched their per-period consistency with another nine, bringing them to 27.
Overtime opened with a golden chance for the Tomahawks, as captain Nick Jarmain pulled the puck back on a string a two-on-one and ripped a high-danger shot—only for it to disappear into Aidan McKenna’s chest, then things got downright bizarre. What followed was one of the strangest sequences you’ll see inside a hockey rink: the puck vanished completely. The officials and McKenna began the search, and before long McKenna’s equipment was coming off piece by piece. His jersey, chest protector, and even parts of his pads were peeled away as everyone tried to locate the missing puck. The crowd grew louder with each passing minute, feeding off the absurdity and anticipation. After nearly five full minutes of stoppage, the puck was finally recovered from somewhere deep within McKenna’s gear, and the game resumed. In that moment—after McKenna’s focus had to have been at least slightly yanked away from the play—it felt like the momentum tilted squarely toward Johnstown. Less than 90 seconds later, the ice broke open. Jacob Ingstrup gathered the puck in the defensive end and fed it to Nick Metelkin, who was already shifting into stride. Metelkin carried through the neutral zone, attacked with speed in the three-on-three setup, and drove wide around his defender before sliding a shot through McKenna’s five-hole and across the goal line. Just like that, the Tomahawks sealed a 2–1 overtime victory and capped an electric debut night for their newest forward. The 2,000+ in attendance in Johnstown were treated to an exciting opener to the weekend and the Hawks will look to duplicate that this evening.
Your Johnstown Tomahawks will be BACK at home tonight on Saturday, November 15th at 7:00PM to take on the Elmira Aviators once again. Military Appreciation Weekend has been rolling so far and you can STILL get BOGO FREE tickets for tonight’s game! Get your tickets RIGHT NOW for tonight https://www.ticketmaster.com/johnstown-tomahawks-tickets/artist/1760594. Catch all of the action on NAHLTV and follow our social media accounts @tomahawkshockey to keep in the loop.
BY: DREW P. PFEIL