JOHNSTOWN, PA –The Johnstown Tomahawks and Soo Eagles needed overtime to settle the game on a snowy Saturday night in Johnstown, PA. In the end, Mitch Vanderburg scored with 1:20 remaining in overtime, giving Soo a 4-3 victory.
Ian Spencer got the Tomahawks on the board first, as his shot from above the left face-off circle landed in the net above the right shoulder of goaltender Chad Catt with 1:42 remaining in the first period. Lance Valimont and Zac Robbins each added assists on the power-play goal.
The Tomahawks extended the lead 5:36 into the second period, as Andrew Romano took the rebound from a Josh Bowes shot and scored a quick goal over the skate of Catt.
Soo responded less than a minute later, as Matt Menta scored at 6:17. Raymond Brice and Denver Pierce each picked up assists on the goal. The Eagles tied the game at 8:01, as Trevor Cope took a pass from Pierce, scoring on a shot between the circles.
Pierce gave the Eagles their first lead of the game, taking advantage of good passes from Sandis Zolmanis and Brad Pung to chip the puck past Tomahawks goaltender Jake Gwillim with 1:08 remaining in the second period.
After shots by Robbins and Montgomery deflected off of Catt, Dalton Hunter was able to get the puck into the right side of the net with 3:28 remaining in regulation.
Soo picked up the win in overtime, as Mitch Vanderburg scored with 1:20 remaining in the extra period.
Catt earned his second win of the weekend, stopping 21 of 24 shots. Gwillim took the loss, allowing 4 goals on 24 shots. The Tomahawks went 1-for-6 on the power play and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill.
The Tomahawks travel to Alaska for games against Kenai River and Fairbanks. They return home to take on Springfield March 7-8. For more information, visit www.johnstowntomahawks.com or call 814-536-GOAL (4625).