Chiefs declaw 'Catters

February 15, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


Johnstown, PA - Johnstown battled through 65 minutes of play Friday night and pulled out a 5-4 win, thanks to the shootout heroics of Alexandre Imbeault.

Texas would find the score sheet first, as Jordie Preston slipped the puck past Chiefs netminder Jason Bacashihua at 6:14 of the first, assisted by Riley Emmerson and Dan Welch. Little more than a minute later, Johnstown answered on a Vincent Zaore goal from Nicolas Bachand and Tyler Hirsch at 7:36. The Chiefs would take the lead as Mike Sgroi shoveled the puck from center ice ahead to Jean Desrochers into the Texas zone. Desrochers would hammer his shot home at 17:02, in the closing seconds of the Chiefs' power play. Johnstown carried a 2-1 advantage to the dressing room after one.

The Chiefs would barrage Wildcatters goaltender Jeff Pietrasiak with 16 shots and manage to find the back of the net two more times in the second period. Randy Rowe would open the scoring on the man advantage at 2:02 of the second, with helpers from Joey Olson and Rob Drummond. Sgroi notched a goal for himself at 8:28 of the period, assisted by Desrochers and Ray Macias. Texas battled to overcome a three-goal deficit, tallying two goals less than a minute apart. Brandon Benedict found the twine at 15:57 on a 3-on-2 break with Scott Champagne and Kevin Baker. The Wildcatters struck again as Welch lifted the puck past Bacashihua at 16:37, assisted by Colin Nicholson. Johnstown held a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes of play.

Texas would bring the game to a 4-4 deadlock 4:36 into the third, as David Schulz scored on a pass from Nicholson. A Wildcatters goal by Welch was waved off midway through the period, as the net came off. Neither team would find the net through the rest of regulation, though Drummond and Rowe came close on a short-handed break late in the period.

A bench minor for too many men left Johnstown with a 4-on-3 power play in overtime, but the Chiefs failed to capitalize on the man advantage. Macias and Olson scrambled for the Texas net in a 2-on-1 break, but the shot sailed wide.

Alexandre Imbeault would provide the game-winning goal for the Chiefs in the first round of the shootout. None of the Wildcatters' five shooters could slip the puck past Bacashihua.

The Chiefs went 2-for-4 on the power play and fired 32 shots at Texas goaltender Pietrasiak. Bacashihua earned the win in net for Johnstown, turning aside 31 of 35 attempts.

Johnstown faces division rivals the Dayton Bombers on Saturday night for "Man's Night". Join the Chiefs for a celebration of manhood. If you can't make it to the War Memorial on Saturday, be sure to come out Sunday, February 24, for "70s Night." All fans sporting 70s wear will receive $1.00 off their tickets at the box office, and the best dressed flashback fan will receive a prize from the Chiefs. Great seats are still available for both games at the UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at the Cambria County War Memorial. Call 536-5156, or visit www.johnstownchiefs.com to get yours today!



ECHL Stories from February 15, 2008


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