TOMAHAWKS HANG ON TO WIN FRIDAY NIGHT

Mar 19, 2021

The game began with good back and forth hockey between the two teams, with only three whistles coming in the first 6 minutes. The Generals broke through fist though, as captain Dylan Schuett snuck one over goaltender Josh Graziano’s shoulder from down-low 7:14 into the opening period. Time went on in the period and the Generals found their second goal of the game coming with just under six minutes remaining in the 1st. Moments later, Northeast would take their first of two back-to-back penalties. While Northeast killed off the first penalty, the Tomahawks converted on the second opportunity with John Gelatt scoring his league-leading 20th goal of the season with just two minutes left in the period to send us into intermission at a one goal game.

The 2nd period began with Jay Ahearn getting called for elbowing 2:40 into the period, but the Tomahawks PK unit remained on their game and killed off the penalty. A few minutes later, Jake Dunlap of Northeast was sent to the box for interference and halfway through the advantage, Anthony Mastromonica scored his 12th of the season to tie it up at two. Seven minutes later the Tomahawks are given another power play opportunity and this time Jay Ahearn converted, scoring his 19th of the season to regain the lead for the Hawks. At the 17:01 mark of the period, Tyler Cooper would get penalized for sending Johnstown’s Max Neill’s stick flying out of his hands prior to the face off. Within that same whistle, Liam Whitehouse got a roughing penalty to give us some four-on-four time at the end of the period. The Tomahawks carried the 3-2 lead with them to the 3rd period, hoping to hold on for a win.

The 3rd period started with another early penalty, this time going to Hunter Olson of Northeast. Shortly after the Generals killed off their penalty. Mastromonica got called for tripping to give the Gens a power play, on which Ryan Gordon scored to tie things up yet again. Two and a half minutes later Northeast took back the lead with a goal from Jake Dunlap. Only 54 seconds later, Jared Gerger took out the trash picking up the rebound from Max Neill’s shot tying the game yet again at four. At the 14:33 mark of the 3rd period, Tomahawks captain Alex Gritz’s scored his tenth goal of the season, netting what would go on to be the game-winning goal for the Tomahawks in Friday night’s tight-knit game.

The two teams are back at it again tomorrow night from 1ST SUMMIT ARENA in Johnstown for game two of three this weekend. Puck drop is set for 7 PM.