JOHNSTOWN – The 2017-18 Johnstown Tomahawks season came to an end on Saturday night with a 3-1 loss to the visiting Philadelphia Rebels.
Before the game got underway, the Tomahawks gave out their end-of-the-season fan voted player awards. The winners included Mitchell Hale, Samuel Solensky, Roman Kraemer, Carson Briere, Chris Trouba, and David and Ben Schmidling.
The Tomahawks then payed tribute to the Humboldt Broncos and the 15 lives lost last evening as the team was traveling for a road playoff game in Canada. This ceremony saw the Tomahawks and Rebels standing side-by-side through a moment of silence and video montage.
Once the game got underway it was Johnstown that got on the board first. At 4:17 of the first period, Ben Schmidling scored his sixteenth goal of the season. The assists were awarded to Carson Briere and Joey Baez.
Johnstown continued to control most of the play in the first period, but the game remained 1-0 heading into the first intermission.
In the second period, the Rebels tied the game only 48 seconds into the period. Adam Peck scored his fourteenth goal of the season. The lone assist went to Eric Olson.
The Rebels then took the lead on a controversial non-goaltender interference call with Auggie Moore credited with the goal, his thirteenth of the season. The assist went to Diarmad Dimurro. The goal was on the power play goal.
Philadelphia took the 2-1 lead into the third period.
In the third period, Johnstown controlled the majority of the play as they tried to find a way to tie the game.
Late in the game, the Tomahawks pulled Jack Leavy in hopes to send the game to overtime, but with only a second left, Philadelphia scored the empty net goal to give the Rebels the 3-1 win.
The Tomahawks will prepare for the 2018-19 season with three pre-draft camps starting in May. On May 18-20, 2018 the Tomahawks will have tryouts at RMU Island Sports Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. Then on May 25-27 2018 the Tomahawks will be in Novi, Michigan at the Novi Ice Arena. The pre-draft tryouts will conclude on June 1-3, 2018 in Prior Lake, Minnesota at the Dekotah Sports and Fitness Center.
For more information you can contact head coach, Mike Letizia at 814-536-4625 or visit the Tomahawks’ official website for more information and to register a player, www.johnstowntomahawks.com