Defense Leads to 2-1 Win for Dayton Gems

Published on January 17, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Dayton Gems News Release


Monday afternoon was Kids Day at Hara Arena. Kids were entertained by making signs, playing cornhole and watching Lucky the Clown make balloon animals.

For the Dayton Gems, there was no clowning around on this day.

Dayton defeated Missouri 2-1 and had some of the best performances of the season while doing so.

The Gems took 40 shots on goal while holding the Mavericks to take just 27 shots. The one goal allowed is the fewest goals an opponent has scored since Dec. 26, when the Gems defeated Fort Wayne 2-1.

In addition to the team performance, the individual efforts were just as impressive. Mike Vaskivuo scored his team-high 15th goal of the season. Greg Labenski contributed by recording an assist. His 22 assists on the season are also a team high.

The game started out as a defensive one. Each team took 11 shots at the goal, but neither was able to find the back of the net. Each goaltender was flawless in front of the goal, stopping each shot on goal that was taken in the period.

The second period started out defensively as well. The Dayton Gems took nine shots at the goal in the opening 6:30 of the period. It wasn't until the Gems' tenth shot of the period that they were able to make a mark on the scoreboard.

Matthew Larke broke the game's scoreless drought with a goal just before the midway point of the period to give the Gems a 1-0 lead. Greg Labenski and Jonathan Ornelas were each credited with an assist on the play.

The 1-0 advantage did not last very long for Dayton. Less than four minutes after Larke's goal, Missouri's Mike Berry scored his ninth goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1.

The Gems regained the lead in the third period with a goal by Mike Vaskivuo to make it 2-1. In the end, it turned out to be the game-winner as the Gems were able to hold Missouri scoreless for the remainder of the game.

The Gems (18-14-3)will start a three game road trip on Thursday. The team will start the trip off with a game at Bossier-Shreveport at 7:35 p.m. They will then head to Mississippi for a pair of games against the RiverKings.

The Kettering Medical Center is proud to be the official title sponsor of the Gems for the 2010-11 season.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2011


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