Game Recap

Ice Prowlers away versus the Northeast Storm
@ CoreComm Ice Haus
Friday, November 5th, 2004

STEADY DEFENSE LEADS PROWLERS TO FIRST LEAGUE WIN

Fresh off a 6-3 win against the Jackson Polar Bears (10/31/2004) last weekend, the Ice Prowlers opened their 2004-2005 GCHSCHL league schedule this Friday (11/07/2004) against the Northeast Storm at the CoreComm Ice Haus. The Prowlers did not know what to expect from this year's Storm as their team went through a coaching change over the summer and had lost several key players from last season.

Freshman Miles McGrew again got the start for the Prowlers coming off of a solid effort in his first appearance for the team the previous Sunday. Matt Marsalka was back between the pipes for the Storm in their first game of the season. The Prowlers found themselves down a man early when senior alternate captain Anthony Kantor went to the box just 19 seconds into the game. The Storm jumped at the opportunity and scored a quick power play goal by Carver Scott to take an early lead. But that would be the only scoring the Storm would get in this game as the Prowler defense tightened up and limited Northeast to just one more shot in the period.

The Prowlers quickly responded with a goal of their own just 1:38 later with sophomore Nick Hess netting his first of the night (assisted by senior captain Eric Willard). The Prowlers then took the lead just under halfway through the period when sophomore defenseman Cody Berkebile ripped a shot past Marsalka on the power play to make it 2-1 (assisted by Hess and junior Nick Miller). Willard then added another power play goal (assisted by Hess and senior alternate captain Eric Weinhold) with 2 minutes left in the period. Berkebile came through with a repeat performance 17 seconds later (assisted by Kantor and junior Taylor Walcutt), again firing a wicked wrister past Marsalka to end the period scoring at 4-1.

Marsalka kept his team in the game at the start of the period stopping an Eric Weinhold breakaway early on, but the Prowler offense was just too much for the goaltender. Weinhold scored on the power play (assisted by Willard and Hess) just under 6 minutes into the period and Hess scored his second of the night (assisted by Willard and Weinhold) with 5 minutes left in the period. McGrew and the Prowler defense held the Storm to 3 shots in the period.

Junior goaltender Jesse Betts relieved McGrew for the third period and was stellar in his first action of the season stopping a Carver Scott breakaway to keep the Storm off of the board. Nick Miller added to the Prowler scoring with 4:34 left in the period (assisted by sophomore defenseman Brian Rossi), and Nick Hess completed his hat trick (assisted by Willard) and the Prowler's scoring when he connected short handed just 7 seconds later.

The season opener saw 8 different Prowlers on the scoresheet. It was a big night for some with a hat trick and six point night for Hess (3G/3A), a five point night for Willard (1G/4A) a three point night for Weinhold (1G/2A), and a pair of goals for Berkebile as the Prowlers went on to win 8-1. The Prowlers now have their home opener on Sunday (11/07/2004) at the Chiller at Easton against the Westerville Warcats (2-0), who are fresh off of victories over the Olentangy Braves and Newark Generals to start the season.