Game Recap

GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup Tournament Final
PRPC versus the Olentangy Braves
@ CoreComm Ice Haus
Sunday, February 22, 2004

PRPC WINS BACK-TO-BACK BLUE JACKETS CUPS!
With 15.1 seconds remaining on the clock, Junior Bryan Kay scored the game winner to give the PRPC Prowlers their second GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup in two years.

In a high scoring Cup final, PRPC defeated the Olentangy Braves (4th, 14-10-0, 28 PTS) by a score of 7-6 to defend their title. Finishing the season in first place in the GCHSCHL with a record of 20-3-1 and 41 points, PRPC received a first round bye in this years Cup tournament. The Prowlers then defeated Olentangy in a tightly played overtime thriller by a score of 2-1 on Friday (2/20/2004) in the second round before defeating the Northeast Storm (3rd, 14-9-1, 29 PTS) 4-3 on Saturday (2/21/2004) to advance to the Cup finals.

After last year defeating the defending Cup Champs Athens 2-1 to win the Cup, PRPC knew that they would have to play hard to keep their title. The regular season series between the two clubs 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), and the Braves had played a great game against them in the second round before battling through the tournament's losers bracket to get another shot at them.

After a goaltending dual in the first tournament game between these two clubs, both goaltenders (Junior Jesse Betts for PRPC and John Snyder for Olentangy) found themselves back between the pipes facing off again, but this time there were drastically different results for the goaltenders. PRPC got on the board first in this match, starting the scoring with a beautiful goal by Junior Eric Weinhold (assisted by sophomore Jesse Betts and Junior Anthony Kantor) showing patience and putting the puck upstairs on Snyder just over 3 minutes into the game. Kay then scored from the doorstep on a nice pass from Senior Captain T.J. Hess with 3:34 left in the period to add some cushion. Then two and a half minutes later, Junior Eric Willard scored on a tic-tac-toe passing play from Kay and T.J. Hess to put the Prowlers up 3-0 at the end of the first period.

The second period started out more physical and saw seven goals scored. After only one penalty called in the first period, the second period saw the special teams take more of a role. Two and a half minutes into the period Andrew Zwolinski found himself in the box for tripping, and the PRPC power play connected with Willard getting his second of the game (assisted by Senior Alternate Captain Josh Martyn and Kay) to give PRPC a 4 goal lead. Just a minute later, Mike Niehaus scored to give the Braves life and close the gap to 4-1. But, the Braves then again found themselves short handed at 8:09 with Joe Weeks going to the box for high sticking. And the Prowler's power play again produced just 10 seconds into the advantage with Freshman Nick Hess getting the goal (assisted by Freshman Brian Rossi).

Now, with the score 5-1 in the Prowler's favor, it looked as if this game might fall easily in the Prowler's favor, but Todd Rudasil and the Olentangy Braves battled back. Caleb Cramer scored just 38 seconds after Hess's goal, and Rudasil connected short handed just two minutes later to bring Olentangy back within 2 goals. Both teams traded goals in the last part of the second period with Nick Hess scoring his second (assisted by Martyn) at 4:06 and then Rudasil scoring again unassisted with just 36.8 seconds left in the second period to bring the score to 6-4. Kay had a penalty shot awarded with 2:56 remaining in the period after being pulled down on a breakaway with is team playing short handed, but his shot sailed wide to the right of Snyder.

Both teams came out of the locker room to start the third period fired up. The period saw the penalties and physical play pick up as the intensity flared. Joe Kola then scored at 8:31 for Olentangy on the power play to bring the Braves within one goal. Both teams continued to battle, and Cody Cramer connected with 2:26 remaining to tie the score up at 6-6. It looked as if this game may also go into overtime like the team's first meeting, but then Kay scored (assisted by Willard and T.J. Hess) with 15.1 seconds remaining on the clock to give the Prowlers the lead. The building erupted with players and fans cheering, but the Prowlers knew they still had to kill off the remaining seconds against a tough opponent. Martyn was able to pin the puck along the boards as the final seconds ticked off of the clock and the Prowler's overflowed onto the ice to celebrate their second GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup Championship.

It was a bittersweet end for PRPC seniors T.J. Hess (41) and Josh Martyn (55) who were on last year's championship team, as well as for seniors Matt Macciomei (19), Mike Westling (28) and goaltender Zach Ahern (33) who were in their first season with the Prowlers.

The post game festivities saw Junior forward Bryan Kay (3) accept the team MVP Award for PRPC while Joe Kola took the honors for Olentangy. After the players were awarded their individual trophies, team captains Hess, Martyn and alternate captain/forward Mike Miller (18) accepted the league championship trophy and the Blue Jackets Cup.

The entire team then had the opportunity to participate in the traditional championship lap around the rink with the Cup. In addition to those already mentioned, forwards, Juniors Eric Weinhold(8), Eric Willard(9), Anthony Kantor(10), Sophomores Nick Miller(22) and Ben French(77), and Freshman Nick Hess(23); defensemen, Junior Matt Schuh(17), and Freshmen Brian Rossi(7) and Loren Chrisman(2) all had their chance to skate with the Cup. They were joined on the ice by injured defensemen, sophomore Jeff Laird(26) and freshman Cody Berkebile(67), who also had their chance to hold the Cup over their heads.

It was a great finish for the Prowlers and 2nd year coaches Marty Laroche and Jay C. Catherine as they won the 3rd Annual GCHSCHL Blue Jacket's Cup as not only the league's regular season champions, but also winning their second Cup in a row.

Congratulations on back to back Championship seasons!