Home Ice: Ice Miners Complete Sweep of Johnstown, Secure #2 Seed
March 29, 2015 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Keystone Ice Miners News Release
JOHNSTOWN, PA - Taylor Fernandez isn't used to being a healthy scratch. Leading the Ice Miners in points for much of the season and having appeared in every 2014-15 game, Fernandez found himself out of the lineup one week ago in an eventual 2-1 loss to the Michigan Warriors. Whatever the reason, Fernandez responded with a four goal weekend, including both game winners in a season ending sweep of the Johnstown Tomahawks. Saturday's night 5-2 final score at the Cambria County War Memorial, combined with Michigan's 2-1 shootout win in Soo, knocked the Tomahawks out of the North Division playoffs and clinched Keystone the #2 seed and home ice advantage in the first round.
Joey Sofo got the scoring started at 10:36 of the first period after some good work by linemates Tommy Horn and Cameron Smith. Smith pulled the puck around from behind the net onto Sofo's sitck for his 5th goal of the season. The Tomahawks evened the scored with a powerplay goal at 18:45 as Casey Linkenheld put a rebound home off an Andrew Romano shot. Long time Ice Miner/Fighting Falcon Nick Le Sage also assisted in what would be his final NAHL game. Keystone got a powerplay and answered less than a minute later when Fernandez was the beneficiary of a live board bounce from an Alex Archibald shot and the Ice Miners took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
The Ice Miners held a considerable 16-7 shot edge in the 2nd period but neither team could change the 2-1 score. It remained 2-1 until 13:58 of the third period when Fernandez notced an insurance goal, patiently stickhandling out from behind the net and putting home a short-side backhand. Michael Maiden and Vito Aluia set him up. Johnstown pulled the goaltender with just under two minutes remaining and struck immedietly when Jake Houston took a pass in the slot and brought the game back to 3-2 with 1:47 to go. Keystone had a quick answer again, however when Tommy Horn picked up a Jake Coleman rebound and make it a 4-2 game just ten seconds later. With less than 10 seconds to go, Fernandez completed his hat trick with an empty net goal. It was the 2nd Ice Miners hat trick of the season. (Austin Romzek at Fairbanks on February 21st)
In net, Nick Kossoff stopped 24 Johnstown shots for his 14th win while Jake Gwillim made 35 saves in the loss. The Ice Miners finish the regular season 31-24-5 and the Tomahawks miss the postseason for the first time in three years at 25-27-8. Keystone will host the Soo Eagles in a best of five series beginning the weekend after next at the Ice Mine. Dates and time will be announced on Monday, when tickets will also go on sale. The best value package will be a "5 for $25" deal. Fans will ve able to get tickets online at keystoneiceminershockey.com or by calling 724-628-4847.
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North American Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2015
- Jaeckle Makes Commitment to Canisus - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Brahmas Secure First Round Bye with 5 - 4 Win - Lone Star Brahmas
- Hard Fought 2 - 1 Win Earns Brahmas NAHL South Division Crown - Lone Star Brahmas
- RoadRunners Stalled by Wild's 4-3 Win - Wenatchee Wild
- Bulls Fall to Rays 4-2 in Regular Season Finale - Amarillo Bulls
- Home Ice: Ice Miners Complete Sweep of Johnstown, Secure #2 Seed - Keystone Ice Miners
- Bobcats Done in by Five-On-Threes in Regular Season Finale - Bismarck Bobcats
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