JOHNSTOWN – Sam Solensky etched his name into Tomahawks history with four assists in an 8-1 Johnstown Tomahawks win over the Northeast Generals Saturday night.
Just two minutes in to the first period, the Tomahawks notched the first goal of the game when Owen Arfstrom’s shot from the point went bar down past Northeast netminder Marko Sturma. Sam Solensky and Bennett Stockdale picked up the assists on Arfstrom’s first goal of the season.
More than three minutes later, Hunter Toale’s shot from the right point was expertly deflected by Carson Brière past Sturma for a 2-0 Tomahawks advantage. Pavel Kharin picked up the secondary assists on Brière’s seventh of the season.
The Tomahawks increased their lead to 3-0 on the power play when Solensky finished a pass from Brière for his ninth of the season. Oliver Benwell picked the secondary helper.
Northeast would solved Johnstown goalie Carter McPhail at the 12: 16 mark with a power play goal from defenseman Cam Gaudette. Svyatoslav Kuchynski assisted on the goal.
In the second period, the Tomahawks exploded for three more goals.
At the 7:24 mark of the frame, Colin Frame slid the puck past Sturma after catch the goaltender out of position. Andy Nedeljkovic and Joey Baez picked up the assists.
On the power play, Brière scored his second of the season after a cross-ice pass from Solensky found his tape. For Brière the goal was his eighth of the season. Toale picked up the secondary.
Solensky added to his outstanding performance with a record-breaking assist on Cameron Hebert’s power play goal at 17:04 of the second for a 6-1 Tomahawks lead.
With his helper, Solensky shattered alumnus Casey Linkenheld’s all-time assists total of 56 career assists with his 57th of his Tomahawks career.
The Tomahawks added to their lead early in the third period when Colin Price snuck the puck in for his second of the game. Nedeljkovic and Baez assisted on the goal.
The final was set at 8-1 when Hebert tallied on the power play. Solensky picked up his fourth assist of the night on the goal.
McPhail, in the 21-save win, moves his record to 6-1-0 on the season while Sturma falls to 3-4-0.
Both team are back on the ice for the second game of this weekend series tomorrow afternoon at 5 p.m. for the traditional Pucks & Paws game presented by Cambria Vet Care. Fans can bring their dog to the game for a $5 donation to the Humane Society of Cambria County.
