TOMAHAWKS (12-2-1) at TITANS (10-4-1)
Location: Middletown Ice World | Middletown, New Jersey
Faceoff: Tonight (7:30 p.m.), Saturday (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (3:30 p.m.)
THE JOHNSTOWN TOMAHAWKS
The Tomahawks split a weekend series with the first-place Aston Rebels and now are set to make the trip to the Jersey Shore to battle the New Jersey Titans.
Going into New Jersey, the Tomahawks boast the NAHL’s second-best winning percentage at .833 and have earned a 8-1-1 record in the last 10 games. Johnstown will hope to continue its winning ways in Middletown this weekend.
Goaltender Drew Hotte continues to be solid in between the pipes for the Tomahawks after giving up only three goals in two games against a high-octane Rebels offense.
Dalton Hunter, Filips Buncis and Donovan Ott continued to put up points as all three found ways to get on the scoresheet. The aforementioned Ott tallied four points (two goals, two assists) during the series in Aston including a goal which was selected to the NAHL’s Top 10 plays of the week.
This is the first meeting of the season between the Titans and the Tomahawks and the first since the Tomahawks swept the Titans out of the 2016 Robertson Cup playoffs.
NOTES:
Hunter and Ott place in the Top 10 in points in the NAHL with 19 points a piece.
Bucnis is tied for the league lead in assists with 14 helpers to go with his four goals on the season.
With a goals against average of 1.84, Hotte places fourth among NAHL goaltenders.
THE NEW JERSEY TITANS
The new-look New Jersey Titans are off to a solid start to the 2016-17 campaign. After seeing their previous coaching staff move on and a litany of NAHL veterans take the next step in their careers, the Titans have found a way to earn a 10-4-1 record.
Head coach Craig Doremus and company are third in the East Division and four points behind the Tomahawks for sole possession of second place.
The Titans are paced by NAHL rookie Jordan Kaplan who has amassed 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 14 games played. He averages 1.07 points per game.
New Jersey also welcomes back a few key returning players in veterans Anthony Cusanelli, Greg Malafronte, Victor Ostling and captain William Riedell.
NOTES:
On the Titans roster is forward Danny Eurzione, the nephew of the captain of the 1980 United States Olympic hockey team, Mike Eruzione..
6-7 Swedish defenseman Oskar Stromberg paces the Titans defense in points with seven.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
How To Watch: HockeyTV
Fans can follow the Tomahawks social media accounts for updated action throughout the weekend.