The Johnstown Tomahawks open the 2015 portion of the schedule, welcoming the Kenai River Brown Bears to the War Memorial for the first time. The teams previously met once at the 2012-13 NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minn. The Tomahawks defeated the Brown Bears 6-5, earning the first win in team history.
The teams will meet four times this season, with the final two being played in Kenai in February.
The Tomahawks
The Tomahawks come into this weekend after splitting a pair of games with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs earlier this week. The Ice Dogs took the first game 6-3 on Tuesday night, before the Tomahawks rebounded with a 3-1 win on New Year’s Eve.
The Tomahawks are currently one point behind Michigan for fourth place in the NAHL North division. Following this weekend’s games, the Tomahawks host the Ice Miners next Friday night, before welcoming the Springfield Jr. Blues to the War Memorial next Saturday and Sunday.
The Brown Bears
Kenai River enters tonight’s game after dropping two games against the Keystone Ice Miners earlier this week. The Brown Bears lost 5-2 on Tuesday and 3-2 in a shootout on New Year’s Eve. The Brown Bears have lost eight-straight games, with their last win coming at Wenatchee on Nov. 28.
The Brown Bears sit in fifth place in the Midwest division, two points behind the fourth place Minnesota Magicians and 20 points behind division-leading Minnesota Wilderness.
Following this weekend’s games, Kenai River returns to Alaska for a pair of road games against Fairbanks.
Facts & Notes
· Ryan Bednard is third in the NAHL with 1384:12 minutes played and second in the league with 627 saves.
· Kenai River’s Jack Gessert is tied for second in the NAHL with 18 goals scored this season
· The Tomahawks are 0-2 in their first game after New Year’s Eve.
· Kenai River has allowed the most shorthanded goals (7) this season.
· Tomahawks forward Trevor Recktenwald leads the team with 22 points (9G-13A), one more than his 2013-14 season total (21 points (10G-11A) in 50 games).
· Alex Jaeckle had an assist on Wednesday night, his first point since scoring at Michigan on Oct. 10.
· Kenai River has not played on home ice since falling to Wenatchee 4-0 on Nov. 22. Their next home game will be against Fairbanks on Jan. 16.
Current Streaks
Johnstown
· Trevor Recktenwald: Six points in his last five games (1G-5A)
· Luke Lynch: Four game point streak (3G-2A)
· Cam Bleck: Two game goal scoring streak
· Casey Linkenheld: Six points in his last five games (3G-3A)
· Andrew Romano: Two game point streak (1G-1A)
Kenai River
· Maurin Bouvet: Points in four of his last five games (2G-2A)
· Matt Rudin: Five points in his last five games (2G-3A)