Game Recap

GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup Tournament
PRPC versus the Olentangy Braves
@ CoreComm Ice Haus
Friday, February 20, 2004

PRPC BEATS OLENTANGY IN OT TO ADVANCE
PRPC Faced the Olentangy Braves (4th, 14-10-0, 28 PTS) in the second round of the GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup, after a first round bye. Olentangy had just defeated the Athens Bobcats (5th, 10-12-2, 22 PTS) 5-2 in the first round game just one night earlier. Both teams were coming in hungry after a hard fought regular season series that was 3-1 in the Prowler's favor (3-1 PRPC on 11/14/2003, 4-3 PRPC on 12/14/2003, 6-3 Olentangy on 01/30/2004, and 7-5 PRPC on 02/06/2004). Both teams knew what was on the table and that the winner of this game would have a much easier path to the Cup than the loser who would have to face the Westerville Warcats (2nd, 16-5-3, 35 PTS) in the loser's bracket.

The game started out with high intensity and back and forth action. Despite the physical play, the first penalty of the game came with 7:49 left in the period. Steven Telle would put the Braves down a man with a slashing penalty. PRPC responded with a power play goal by Junior Eric Willard (assisted by Senior Captain T.J. Hess and Junior Bryan Kay) 42 seconds into the man advantage. Play continued to go back and forth, and PRPC looked to go up with 1:46 remaining on the period on a Bryan Kay breakaway, but goaltender John Snyder made a fabulous glove save to keep the Prowler's lead at 1.

Olentangy came out of the gates flying in the second period. Todd Rudasil scored an unassisted goal with Sophomore goaltender Jesse Betts caught out of position to tie the score at 1-1. PRPC appeared to have a goal scored with 4:58 remaining in the period, but it was waived off. Then again with 1:50 remaining in the period it appeared that Willard scored on the power play, but again the goal was disallowed. Despite these opportunities, both goaltenders continued to shine with Betts stopping 14 of 15 and Snyder stopping all 15 shots thrown at him in the period.

The third period again belonged to the goaltenders. There were two spectacular saves a minute appart at opposite ends of the ice. With 6:40 remaining, Betts made a nice glove save, but not with the trapper, rather with the blocker pad, catching the puck before it could cross the goal line. A minute later Snyder made an incredible glove save to keep the game tied up at 1-1. PRPC's Junior Alternate Captain Mike Miller was then called for a hold with 1:16 remaining in regulation and it was up to the Prowler's penalty killing and goaltending to get them to overtime.

As overtime began, the Prowler's found themselves playing down in a 4-on-3 situation. Then with 3 minutes remaining on the clock, T.J. Hess fed the puck to Freshman defensman Brian Rossi who was streaking down the slot and blew a shot by Snyder to give the Prowler's the sudden death victory and advance them on to the next round. After the game, Snyder was named the game's MVP for Olentangy, while Rossi took the honors for the Prowlers.

PRPC now goes on to the third round to face the winner of the Northeast Storm (3rd, 14-9-1, 29 PTS) versus the Hilliard/Southwest Panthers (7th, 3-21-0, 6 PTS) (Northeast was up by a score of 5-0 at the beginning of the third period). The regular season series between PRPC and North East ended 3-1 in the Prowler's favor (2-1 PRPC on 11/23/2003, 4-3 PRPC on 12/07/2003, 9-1 PRPC on 01/11/2004, and 6-4 Northeast on 01/23/2004). The two teams will look to faceoff again on Saturday (2/21/2004) at 6:50 PM at the CoreComm Ice Haus.