Hawks Split Season-Opening Series with Maryland
October 12, 2020 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Johnstown Tomahawks News Release
In a rare Sunday/Monday NAHL series, the Tomahawks split a pair of overtime-bound games with host and divisional rival Maryland.
SUNDAY GAME RECAP (7 PM)
The Johnstown Tomahawks responded with six unanswered goals to come back and win their season opener against the Maryland Black Bears on the road by a score of 7-6 Sunday night.
The Tomahawks wasted no time getting on the board with a goal from rookie forward Jay Ahearn less than two minutes into the game. The rest of the period was all Black Bears as they added on four goals before the end of the period, with the first two coming on the power play.
Brendan Clark was also awarded a penalty shot for the Tomahawks towards the end of the period, but failed to convert on the opportunity.
Sam Evola started the 2nd period in between the pipes for the Tomahawks to replace starter Ryan Ullan, who allowed four goals on 11 shots on goal. The change did not give the Tomahawks the boost they were looking for as the Black Bears added on two more short-handed goals in the first 90 seconds of the period. Maryland defenseman Aidan McDowell took a penalty at the 6:51 mark and Tomahawks' Anthony Mastromonica converted on the opportunity to break the ice for the Hawks making it 6-2.
Clark and Reed Stark tallied on two more goals later in the period to send the Hawks into the intermission down by only two goals.
Black Bears' Andrew Remer took a slashing penalty to begin the 3rd period and Mastromonica converted on the power play yet again. A few minutes later Hawks forward Mikol Sartor got another puck behind the net which miraculously tied the game up at 6.
Both teams went back and forth for the remainder of the period but 60 minutes was not enough time to end this game.
After a very fast-paced 3-on-3 overtime, rookie forward John Gelatt netted the overtime game winning goal on a breakaway shot with only 49 seconds remaining in the overtime period.
The two teams will be back at it again right away with the second game of the series beginning at 11:30 AM on Monday morning in Maryland.
MONDAY GAME RECAP (11:30AM)
The Tomahawks fell to the Black Bears in overtime, in a rare Monday morning game by a score of 4-3.
Brendan Clark (Morris Plains, NJ) opened the scoring for the Hawks just two and a half minutes into the game. John Gelatt (Middletown, NJ) also got on the scoreboard in the 1st period for the Tomahawks. Despite taking three penalties in the opening period, the Tomahawks managed to keep the Black Bears off the scoreboard to end the opening period with a two-goal lead.
Maryland's Hunter McCoy got the Black Bears on the board with a short-handed goal 5:56 into the 2nd period. The Hawks showed more discipline this period by not taking any penalties. Anthony Mastromonica (Kings Park, NY) netted a goal between a pair of Maryland penalties to make it 3-1 Hawks by the end of the middle frame.
After not much action to begin the 3rd period, Maryland's McCoy scored another short-handed goal with 14 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime tied at 3.
The Tomahawks began the overtime with 34 seconds remaining on a power play opportunity that carried over from regulation but could not convert to end the game on the advantage. Shortly after the Tomahawks received a holding penalty, on which Maryland scores to complete the come back and win the game, in very similar fashion to what Johnstown had done the night before.
Mastromonica lead the series for the Tomahawks netting three goals in the two games and Gelatt finished with two goals and one assist.
After relieving goaltender Ryan Ullan (Hibbing, MN) to start the 2nd period in Sunday night's contest, Sam Evola (Rochester, MI) made 37 saves on 43 shots faced.
The Tomahawks will have their home-opening weekend in Johnstown this coming weekend on Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17 at 1ST Summit Arena against the Maine Nordiques. Season ticket holders are encouraged to go online or call the Tomahawks Office at 814-536-4625 to secure their tickets if they have not already done so. Information regarding individual tickets will be available in the coming days.
North American Hockey League Stories from October 12, 2020
- Gaulin Earns Star of the Week After Weekend Sweep - Maine Nordiques
- Hoban & Krause Earn Stars of the Week Honors - Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks
- Nasca Named Honorable Mention for NAHL's East Division's Star of the Week for Week Ending October 12 - New Jersey Titans
- Hawks Split Season-Opening Series with Maryland - Johnstown Tomahawks
- NAHL Announces Stars of the Week - NAHL
- Maryland Rallies for OT Win - Maryland Black Bears
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