Game Recap

GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup Tournament
PRPC versus the Northeast Storm
@ CoreComm Ice Haus
Saturday, February 21, 2004

PRPC MOVES ON TO FINALS . . .
. . . WITH 4-3 WIN OVER NORTHEAST
On Saturday (2/21/2004) the Prowlers faced off against the Northeast Storm (3rd, 14-9-1, 29 PTS) in the third round of the GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup playoffs. PRPC had finished first in the regular season and received a first round bye, then beat the Olentangy Braves (4th, 14-10-0, 28 PTS) by a score of 2-1 in overtime on Friday (2/20/2004) to advance to the third round. Northeast had beaten the Newark Generals (6th, 2-19-3, 7 PTS) in the first round by a score of 6-3, then shutout the Hilliard/Southwest Panthers (7th, 3-21-0, 6 PTS) 6-0 in the second round. Both teams came in knowing that a win here put them in the Cup finals on Sunday (2/22/2004). PRPC held a 3-1 edge in the regular season series (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), but knew Northeast was a tough club to play against.

Senior goaltender Zach Ahern got the start for PRPC, while Matt Marsalka was again between the pipes for the Storm. The play started out with good flow. PRPC was able to light the lamp first on a goal by Freshman Nick Hess (assisted by Senior Mike Westling and Junior Anthony Kantor) just over four minutes into the period. Northeast responded with a goal with just over 5 minutes to play when Clint Jones threw the puck at the net and Ahern inadvertently knocked it past the goal line after making the initial save. Less than a minute later, Junior Eric Willard gave the Prowlers back the lead scoring a great rebound goal (assisted by Senior Captain T.J. Hess and Junior Bryan Kay). Kay would then add a power play goal (assisted by T.J. Hess and Senior Alternate Captain Josh Martyn) with 2:33 remaining in the period to give the Prowlers a 3-1 lead going into the second period.

The second period definitely saw the physical play pick up. Kantor scored (assisted by Martyn) on an end to end rush with 8:40 remaining in the period to give PRPC a 4-1 lead, but he and the Prowlers would feel the pressure shortly after when Junior Mike Miller and Westling found themselves in the box putting PRPC down 5-on-3 for almost a full two minutes. The Prowler penalty killers were able to kill that attempt, but the Storm found life with 29 seconds remaining in the period when Evan Burghes threw an odd angle shot from the side of the goal that evaded Ahern and brought the Storm within two goals to start the second period.

The game continued to have the physical play in the third period, but the action continued to flow. With 4:37 remaining in the game, Zach Tisdale scored to bring the game within one at 4-3. The Storm then called a timeout with 2:39 remaining and the faceoff deep in the Prowler's end, then pulled their goalie with 1:22 remaining to try and get the tying goal, but PRPC would hold on for the victory and a chance to defend their GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup title in the Cup Final. Josh Martyn was named the Prowler's game MVP after tallying 2 assists and playing a great defensive game.

PRPC must now play the waiting game to see who they will play in the Cup Final at 6:00 PM on Sunday, February 22nd at the CoreComm Ice Haus. The Storm will face off against Olentangy (who defeated Athens 3-1 Saturday evening) at 9:30 AM in the loser's bracket, which means that the Prowlers will have a rematch against one of the two teams it had already faced in the tournament. Either way, PRPC knows that their fate is in their own hands as they are now one win away from holding up the GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup for the second season in a row.