Game Recap

PRPC home versus the Hilliard/Southwest Panthers
@ Chiller at Easton
Friday, January 30, 2004

PRPC LOSES A TOUGH BATTLE
PRPC received it's 3rd loss of the season Friday night, at the hands of the Olentangy Braves. The final 6-3 score did not represent the play on the ice from the Prowlers this night. A few different bounces and this game could have easily gone the other way.

As expected between these two clubs, the tempo was up from the start. Both teams came into the building knowing that this was going to be a battle. Sophomore Jesse Betts got the start for the Ice Prowlers while John Snyder was back between the pipes for the Braves. PRPC connected first just 2:33 into the game on a 5-on-3 power play goal by Junior Bryan Kay (assisted by Senior Captain T.J. Hess and Freshman Cody Berkebile). After that goal PRPC still had the man advantage, but Cody Cramer was able to score a short handed goal just a minute later to tie the score up at 1-1. Just seconds after the Olentangy goal tempers flared in front of the PRPC bench when Sophomore Nick Miller threw a big hit along the boards. Players pushed and shoved a bit, but the officials called four fighting majors (on Nick Miller and Junior Mike Miller for PRPC and Kyle Lagendyke (16) and Neil Grant (21) for Olentangy) which are automatically accompanied by a game misconduct.

Both teams pushed forward short manned. T.J. Hess was able to connect minutes later on the Prowler's second power play goal of the evening (assisted by Senior Mike Westling and Kay) to give PRPC the lead. PRPC then scored what appeared to be a goal with 3:51 remaining in the first that would have put them up by two goals, but the official ruled that the puck was kicked into the net. The score remained 2-1 Ice Prowlers. Then, with just over a minute remaining in the period, on what appeared to be an offside play at the PRPC blue line, Captain Joe Weeks scored for the Braves to knott the score up at 2-2 going into the second period.

The second period was very uneventful on the scoreboard, with no goals and only two penalties. Goaltender Betts made some key saves turning away 10 shots to keep the score tied at 2-2. His counterpart Snyder continued to play solid for the Braves after facing 16 shots in the first period and turning away 9 shots in the second.

The third period did not start as good for Betts and the Prowlers. Joe Kola scored a quick goal just 18 seconds into the period to give the Braves a lead to start the third period. Todd Rudasil would then score two quick goals just 20 seconds apart to provide the Braves with a now 3 goal cushion. Betts was soon pulled in favor of Senior Zach Ahern with 9:31 remaining in the game to calm the goaltender down after the game turned around so quickly. Ahern then gave up a goal 2 minutes later to give Rudasil his third goal of the game and Olentangy a 6-2 lead. Sophomore Jeff Laird then scored on a rifle of a shot from the top of the circle in an attempt to get the Prowlers back into the game, but it was too little, too late as Olentangy skated away with their first victory of the series (now 2-1 PRPC). The teams wrap up the season series next Friday (2/6/2004) at 8:00 PM at the Chiller in Dublin.

PRPC will look to rebound before that, this Sunday (2/1/2004) in a rematch with the Athens Bobcats, 4:00 PM at the Chiller at Easton. That series is 2-0 PRPC with the two teams having faced off each of the past two weekends. PRPC is looking at a tough weekend comming up when they will play the final game of the Olentangy series next Friday (2/6/2004) 8:00 PM at the Chiller in Dublin, the final game of the Athens series next Saturday (2/7/2004) 4:45 PM at Bird Arena in Athens, then the 4th and final game against the Westerville Warcats (2-1 PRPC) on Sunday (2/8/2004) at 5:40 PM at the Chiller at Easton. The Prowlers will then close out the regular season on Friday (2/13/2004) at the CoreComm Ice Haus at 7:40 PM against the Hilliard/Southwest Panthers before beginning the defense of their GCHSCHL Blue Jacket's Cup Championship the weekend of February 19th through the 22nd.