Game Recap

Ice Prowlers away versus the Hilliard/Southwest Wildcats
@ the Chiller in Dublin
Friday, November 4th, 2005

PROWLERS DROP A TOUGH GAME AGAINST HILLIARD

After pulling out a last second victory against the Olentangy Braves in the season opener (10/30/2005), the Prowlers looked to get back to business in their first contest of the year against the new look Hilliard/Southwest Wildcats. The Hilliard club had gone through many changes over the off season. They had a new name in the Wildcats, a new logo and new jerseys, and a new coach behind the bench for the second straight season. The Prowlers did not know what to expect from this team as they took the ice. The previous season, the Prowlers had outscored them a combined 32-4 in just four meetings, and had dominated this series over the past several years. But, after a 5-0 preseason this team was ready for action.

The Wildcats started the scoring and put an end to junior Justin Lohrman's shutout streak when Tim Hahn fired a long range puck that eluded the goaltender just 2:42 into the contest. That would be the only scoring through the first two periods, but the Prowlers knew right away that this was not the Hilliard team of seasons past.

The scoring picked back up 20 seconds into the third period when the Wildcats took a 2-0 lead on Chase Newcome's goal with the teams skating 4-on-4. The Prowlers looked to counter seconds later when sophomore Luke Wilkins had a short handed breakaway, but was stonewalled by goaltender Matt Bridger who played outstanding for the Wildcats stopping all 16 shots thrown his way through the first two periods. The Prowlers would finally get one past him when freshman Brad Noskowiak would laser a shot into the back of the net with 11:33 left to play in the period. Junior Geoff Killian knotted the game up at 2-2 when he scored from in front at 7:58 of the period. With the score tied and the Prowlers back in the game, it looked as if they would come from behind to take this one from the Wildcats, but Hahn would fire another shot past Lohrman with 4:22 left on the clock to give the Wildcats a lead that they would not relinquish. Zach Wilburn added one for insurance at 1:48, and with the solid goaltending of Bridger, the Wildcats would defeat the Prowlers for the first time in over four seasons and advance to the top of the GCHSCHL league standings with a record of 2W-1L.

The Prowlers won't have to wait long for a rematch with the Wildcats. The teams meet again in just one week, facing off Sunday (11/13/2005) at 5:40 PM at the Chiller at Easton. But before that, the Prowlers have a pair of tough contests starting with a rematch of last season's GCHSCHL Blue Jackets Cup Finals, when the Prowlers play host to the Westerville Warcats on Sunday (11/06/2005) at 5:40 PM at the Chiller at Easton. They then travel to Athens for their first game of the season against the Bobcats next Friday (11/11/2005) at 8:00 PM at Bird Arena in Athens Ohio.