The Johnstown Tomahawks suffered a 6-1 loss to the Chippewa Steel on Wednesday afternoon in ther opening contest at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota.
Kade Nielsen netted the first goal of the game for Chippewa 6:38 into the opening with a power play goal. Despite multiple opportunities and a power play of their own, the Tomahawks were not able to tie things in the opening period, giving the Steel a 1-0 lead to start the middle frame.
7:39 into the second period, Joey Sylvester extended the lead for Chippewa to two, followed a minute and a half later by Nielsen netting his second of the game for the Steel. The Tomahawks again had a chance at redemption in the late stages of the period with a power play, but Chippewa successfully killed it off and took their 3-0 lead with them into the third period.
At the midway point of the third period, Cody Kempf finds the back of the next to give Chippewa a demanding 4-0 lead. James Barbour got the Tomahawks on the board late in the period, breaking the shutout for Chippewa goaltender Adam Gajan. Despite the breakthrough for the Tomahawks, Joe Kelly added on two more late goals for the Steel, giving them a 6-1 win to close the game.
The Tomahawks have the day off tomorrow at the Showcase then make an appearance Friday, September 16 against the United States National Development Team Program with the late puck drop scheduled for 8:45 PM live on HockeyTV.