Barons Split Series with Indians
September 23, 2003 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Cleveland Barons News Release
The Cleveland Barons opened their 2003-04 regular season on the road in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, with a pair of games against the Soo Kewadin Indians.
On Friday night, the Indians Rob Nowinski opened the scoring midway through the first period to give the Indians a 1-0 lead. In the second period , Barons forward Brian Bicek (Downers Grove, IL) scored his first junior goal, with assists to twin brothers Mike and Matt Ruberto (Stoney Creek, ONT), to knot he game up at one goal a piece after two periods. In the third period, the Indians Logan Bittle gave the Soo a 2-1 lead only to be matched by Barons forward Vinny Jalaba (Beverly Hills, MI) with Matt Ruberto and Adam Fincik (Donora, PA) receiving assists to tie the game up at two after regulation.
In overtime Indians goalie Adam Dekker and Barons net minder Ian Keserich (Parma, OH) put on a scoreless show to send it to a shootout. In the shootout Barons Mike Ruberto, Jason Weeks (Seattle, WA), Kurt Kivisto (Milford, MI) scored, only to matched by the Indians. On the seventh shooter, Captain Nick Biondo (Parma, OH ) blasted a shot past Dekker to give the Barons the advantage and Barons goalie Ian Keserich sealed the win with a stop. Keserich had 24 saves in the match.
The return match on Saturday night featured the barons coming out firing away at Indians goalie Derek MacIntyre. The Barons had 12 shots in the first only to have an Indians goal to be scored by Stavros Paskaris.
In the second period the Barons came out with an aggressive attack, which led to a goal by Mike Ruberto, his first junior goal, assisted by Nick Biondo and Marco Trevino (Beverly Hills, MI), to tie the game up. After an Indians goal by Logan Bittle, barons forward Brian Bicek scored his second goal of the weekend, assisted by brothers Matt and Mike Ruberto to have the score tied at two after two periods. In the third period the Barons fired 22 shots on goalie Derek MacIntyre but he stood tall as the Indians scored two goal in the period to end up with the 4-2 victory. Barons goalie Ian Keserich had 21 save for the game . The Barons out shot the Indians 47-25 for the game.
BARON NOTES: For the weekend Barons forward Brian Bicek had 2 goals, Mike Ruberto 1G 1A, and Defenseman Matt Ruberto with 3 assists. The Barons will open their home portion of the season at their new home, IceLand USA in Strongsville, OH . They will in state rivals the Toledo IceDiggers on Friday and Saturday nights. Game time is 7:05PM. Admission is $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 23, 2003
- NAHL to Hold Fall Showcase - NAHL
- NAHL Tabs Week's Best - NAHL
- Barons Split Series with Indians - Cleveland Barons
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