Game Recap

Ice Prowlers home versus the Jackson Polar Bears
@ Chiller North
Sunday, October 31st, 2004

PROWLERS START THE SEASON WITH A "W"

Prowler's Captain Eric Willard (Reynoldsburg) watches the puck drop on the 2004-2005 season.

The Ice Prowlers opened the 2004-2005 season this Sunday (10/31/2004) against the Jackson Polar Bears at the Chiller North. The Polar Bears had finished last season with a 28-9-1 record, while the Prowlers had come off of their second straight GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup Championship and a 21-5-2 record themselves. Both teams were using this game as a primer for the season, and a look at what the rest of the state had to offer as far as competition with the first ever Buckeye Cup State Championship up for grabs at the end of the season.

Freshman Miles McGrew started between the pipes in his first game for the Prowlers, while freshman Matt Botura saw his first action for the Polar Bears. The Prowlers got on the board first when a shot from junior defenseman Jeff Laird was deflected by sophomore Nick Hess past Botura to give the team an early lead. Jackson did not sit back at all though and responded halfway through the period with two quick goals from last year's leading scorer Tom Schleichert just 10 seconds apart. First year Prowler, freshman Tommy Newhard then evened things up for the Prowlers with just 41 seconds on the clock to knot the game up at 2-2.

The second period saw the Prowler's first penalty of the season turn into a goal against. With junior Ben French in the box for elbowing, junior Tyler Murphy was able to get one past McGrew with the man advantage. Spending the majority of the period behind by a goal, the Prowlers responded well. Then with 2:45 left in the second, first year Prowler, junior Taylor Walcutt connected unassisted to get his team back into the game.

The shots on goal favored the Polar Bears in the third period 10-7, but McGrew was able to stand strong in the Prowler's net while his teammates took care of business in the offensive end. Junior forward Nick Miller scored what would be the game winning goal just over three minutes into the period (assisted by Walcutt and senior alternate Captain Anthony Kantor). The Polar Bears then picked up the physical play and found themselves shorthanded twice. Senior alternate Captain Eric Weinhold took advantage 16 seconds into the first penalty to give the Prowlers a two goal cushion (assisted by sophomore Brian Rossi and senior Captain Eric Willard). Jackson then found themselves down by two men with less than a minute left in the game and French was able to put the icing on the cake for the Prowlers scoring with 36 seconds left in regulation (assisted by freshman Max Matsanoff).

The Prowlers were happy to see even scoring down the roster with goals coming from 6 different players and 12 different players getting a point. The defense remained steady throughout the contest in front of McGrew, and was able to shut the door on the Polar Bears in the third period to give the team their first victory this season by a score of 6-3.

The Prowlers now start their league schedule this coming weekend, facing the Northeast Storm on the road this Friday (11/05/2004) at 7:40 PM at the CoreComm Ice Haus, and then a matchup on Sunday (11/07/2004) home against the Westerville Warcats at 6:00 PM at the Chiller at Easton.