Tonight, the Johnstown Tomahawks and Aston Rebels meet for the fourth time this season, and the first time here in Johnstown. The Rebels hold a 3-0 advantage in the season series, including a 6-4 victory in the most recent meeting on Nov. 6.
The Rebels enter the weekend with a four point advantage over the Tomahawks in the East Division.
Zak Galambos, Casey Linkenheld and Kelly O’Brien each have three points in the three games against the Rebels. Luke Lynch also has two goals against the Rebels.
Kristofers Bindulis leads Aston with six points (one goal, five assists), while Victor Bergstrom has four assists against the Tomahawks. Goaltender Darion Hanson is 3-0 with a 2.98 GAA against Johnstown.
Following this weekend’s games, the Tomahawks and Rebels next meeting will take place in Aston Dec. 11-12. They return to the War Memorial Feb. 12 and 13.
Johnstown
Johnstown enters this weekend, after earning three points against the first-place New Jersey Titans last weekend. The Tomahawks earned two points in a 3-2 victory on Friday night, thanks to goals by Ryan Burr, Linkenheld and O’Brien.
After a 4-1 loss Saturday night, the Tomahawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead Sunday, thanks to a pair of Dalton Hunter goals. The Titans responded with two of their own, sending the game to overtime, and eventually a shootout. It took six rounds for Andrew Durham to net the game-winner for New Jersey.
Andrew Romano leads the Tomahawks with 23 points (six goals, 17 assists), while Luke Lynch leads the team with 10 goals.
Between the pipes, Andrew Lindgren has four wins on the season, while Ryan Glander holds the team lead with a .904 save percentage.
The Tomahawks close out their 11-game homestand next weekend, hosting New Jersey for three games here at the War Memorial.
Aston
Aston enters this weekend after splitting a home-and-home series against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last weekend. The Rebels dropped the first game 2-1, thanks to a pair of first period goals by the Knights. Connor Wood scored the lone goal for the Rebels in the third period. Hanson suffered the loss, allowing two goals on 30 shots.
The Rebels returned home Saturday night and found their offense in a 7-0 victory over the Knights. They jumped out to a two-goal lead, thanks to Frank Spellman and Michael Merulla.
Merulla extended the lead in the second period with a power-play goal, before Andrew Bellant and Dean Balsamo made it 5-0 after two periods. Third period goals by Ryan Cusin and Austin Swingle set the final score, earning the weekend split. Trevor Micucci stopped all 27 shots he faced in the victory.
Bindulis leads the Rebels with 19 points and 16 assists. Dean Balsamo holds the team lead with 11 goals in 20 games. Between the pipes, Trevor Micucci and Darion Hanson each have seven wins, with Micucci playing in two more games than Hanson. Micicci also leads the team with a 2.19 GAA, 315 saves, and a .929 save percentage.
Following this weekend’s games, the Rebels take on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a home-and-home series next Friday and Saturday. Aston hosts Friday’s game, before taking on the Knights in Scranton on Saturday.