Chiefs Wallop Walleye

Published on March 31, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


Johnstown, PA - The Johnstown Chiefs outlasted the Toledo Walleye in a shootout thriller by a score of 5-4 Wednesday Night at the UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at the Cambria County War Memorial

The Chiefs showed early on that they came out to play. Bear Trapp tapped in a rebound for the first goal of the game at 10:22 in the first to give the Chiefs the early lead. Jim McKenzie and Jeff Martens registered the assists on the play. The Walleye were able to answer back deep in the period. Evan Rankin potted his 30th of the season at 17:51 from Sal Peralta and Chris Robertson. Rankin lifted a shot past Kris Mayotte from close range and left the game even after the first. Chanse Fitzpatrick took a penalty late in the first that left Toledo with a lot of power play time to start the second.

Johnstown fought hard, though, and regained the lead early in the second. Troy Schwab was able to get out on a break while short handed and snipe in an unassisted goal top right on Alec Richards at 1:31. The Walleye turned it up a notch looking for the tying goal. Peralta fired a shot hard on net at 12:32 but Mayotte was able to swat it out of the air with a great glove save. Seconds later however, Rankin was able to steal the puck in the Chiefs corner and knifed it past Mayotte for his second of the game to tie it up. The Chiefs weren't willing to back down from the fight for the lead and scored at the 17:04 mark to go up 3-2. Sean Berkstresser tipped a great feed from Dan Collins up and in for his 21st of the season. Russ Sinkewich was awarded the second assist. The fight for the lead was getting both teams riled up and the period ended with a couple of fights.

The ferocity carried into the third period with a couple more fights to keep tensions high between the two teams. The Walleye were able to find the back of the net on their first shot of the period to tie the game up. Scooter Smith scored his 13th of the season on a hard slap shot at the 7:49 mark with Simon Danis-Pepin gaining the assist. The Walleye kept the attack coming and were able to take advantage of a power play for their first lead of the game. Jonathan Carlsson scored at 10:41 with Maxime Tanguay and Robertson registered the assists. The Chiefs refused to relent and battled to get the game tied. Jeff Martens broke loose but was slashed on the break away and the refs awarded him a penalty shot. Martens fooled Richards on a deke and lifted a wrister top right at 13:11 to tie the game up. The game could not be decided in regulation and went into overtime.

Half way through the overtime Joe Charlebois had the puck on a two on one and let loose a huge slap but it was stoned by Mayotte. The Walleye almost found the game winner on a break in the final seconds but the Chiefs matched their tenacity and fought it off to send the game into the shoot out.

Jim McKenzie made a dazzling move and slung the puck in top shelf on the backhand for the first shootout goal after three shooters. After Tony Romano and Jeff Martens were both shut down, Chris Robertson tied the shootout on the Walleye's last chance to keep the game alive. Fitzpatrick could not answer back to win it. Rankin was the sixth shooter for Walleye and almost scored but Mayotte made a magnificent glove save in the split. Jonathan Ralph was sent out for the Chiefs and fired in the game winner past Richards.

Mayotte made 33 saves in the victory. The Chiefs went 0-for-3 on the power play and 6-for-7 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Chiefs return to home ice on Saturday, April 3 at 7:05 against the Elmira Jackals. Don't miss your chance to see the Chiefs one last time this season. For Fan Appreciation Day the Chiefs will be chancing off the Best Seats in the House from Cambria Chair Company and also having a silent auction of their game-worn white jerseys from the 2009-2010 season. Great seats still remain so get yours today! Groups of 10 or more can be booked by calling the Chiefs at 814-6539-1799, or for individual tickets call 1-800-745-3000 or go to www.ticketmaster.com.

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