Chiefs Hang On, Beat Checkers 3-2

December 20, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


December 20, 2005 (Johnstown, PA)-The Johnstown Chiefs have played a series of nail-bitters. Tonight the Chiefs stormed out early, 2-0, then hung on to beat the Charlotte Checkers, 3-2.

Justin Kelly got things rolling in period #1. On the power play, Kelly found a wide open Gerard Dicaire in the slot. Dicaire buried the puck, beating Checker goalie, Bernd Bruckler up high.

Adam Henrich's nifty slight of hand made it 2-0. Henrich intercepted Kenton Smith's clearing attempt behind the Charlotte net. From behind the goal-line, Henrich slipped it past Bruckler, making it 2-0.

After Jake Ortmeyer made it 2-1 with a late first period slapshot, Dmitri Tarabrin increased the lead to 3-1. Following a brilliant save by Morgan Cey, Tarabrin streaked the length of the ice, throwing a puck to the net. The puck deflected off a defenseman in-front, over Bruckler-making it 3-1.

Charlotte would not make things easy. Brandon Cullen, who earlier scrapped with Brandon Elliott, put a Ryan Fultz rebound past Cey in the 2nd period.

The teams would trade chances through the remainder of the contest-until the final seconds. Former Chief, Kenton Smith intercepted a Justin Kelly clearing attempt in the slot. From the circles, Smith blasted a shot off the post as time expired-giving J-town the 3-2 win. Cey finished with 31 saves and his 5th win.

The game saw two fighting majors for each side, as Elliott duked it out with Brandon Cullen and Paul Caponigri dropped the gloves with Luke Stauffacher. Caponigri's head hit the ice hard after tangling with Stauffacher. He was helped off the ice and did not return.

The New York Rangers first round selection in 2004, Hugh Jessiman, also left the game in the 2nd period with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

The Chiefs victory coupled with the Toledo loss to Greenville puts Johnstown in a 4th place tie with Toledo. The Chiefs will return to action next Friday in Trenton and return home next Saturday for New Years Eve. Next Saturday's face-off will be at 6:00PM....



ECHL Stories from December 20, 2005


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