Johnstown Outlasts Wild
November 15, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
Johnstown, PA. - The Wenatchee Wild began a four-game road trip Friday night at the Johnstown Tomahawks and it was two late goals by the home team that proved to be the difference, as the Tomahawks beat the Wild 6-4 in front of 2,246 fans at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
Wenatchee scored first, as Mike Coyne (Kenmore, New York) deflected home a crossing pass from the right side. Matthew Nuttle (Marilla, New York) and Chris Jones (Normandy Park, Washington) assisted on the power play goal at 16:15 of the first period, giving the Wild a 1-0 lead.
Johnstown tied the game early in the second period, as Joe Drabin scored from Mitch Hall at 2:25, knotting the game 1-1. Wenatchee regained the lead shortly after, as Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach, California) banged home a second rebound, shortly after a Tomahawks penalty had expired. Tanner Barnes (Burnsville, Minnesota) and Trey Bradley (Tampa, Florida) drew assists on the goal at 6:05, putting the Wild back on top, 2-1. Johnstown tied it just over four minutes later, as Matt Meier scored from Cody Bentzel at 10:22, making it a 2-2 game. Barnes put Wenatchee back in the lead with a rebound goal at the left post, assisted by River Rymsha (Huntington Woods, Michigan) and James Mathias (Ontario, California) at 16:20, giving the Wild a 3-2 lead. That lead didn't last long however, as the Tomahawks' Brandon Reinholz scored from Brady Bender and Josh Bowes at 18:57, tying the game 3-3 through 40 minutes.
Johnstown grabbed their first lead of the night 30 seconds into period number three, as Trevor Rectenwald scored. Shane Bednard and Omar Mullan assisted, giving the Tomahawks a 4-3 lead. A power play goal, their second of the night, tied the game for Wenatchee. Nuttle tapped one home in tight, assisted by David Powlowski (Rochester, New York) at 14:13, tying the game 4-4. 47 seconds later, Josh Bowes slid one home, with Meier and Bender assisting, putting the Tomahawks back on top 5-4, at 15:00. Johnstown added an empty net goal in the final minute, as Bednard sent the puck into the goal. Bednard got the goal, with Mullan and Rectenwald assisting at 19:13, giving the Tomahawks the 6-4 win. "That's a tough one to lose" said Wenatchee Wild Head Coach Bliss Littler. "Had the lead three times, that's a tough one to lose. Got to make them (Johnstown) work harder for the goals they scored. We had some good chances, but we just got to make them work a little harder for the goals. Outshoot a team almost 2 to 1. Frustrating." Littler went on to say that "I thought they tried to intimidate us with a lot of play after the whistle. I was happy that our kids competed, battled. They did not show any signs of being intimidated. I'm very proud of them for that."
The Wild outshot the Tomahawks 40-23 on the night. Gustaf Johansson (Uppsala, Sweden) made 17 saves for Wenatchee, while Jake Moore had 36 stops for Johnstown. The Wild was 2-for-4 on the power play and 1-of-1 on the penalty kill.
Wenatchee is now 8-10-2, the Tomahawks are 12-8-1.
The Wild play the Johnstown Tomahawks again tomorrow (Saturday) night at 4:00pm PST. That game will be followed by two at the Michigan Warriors on Friday and Saturday, November 22nd and 23rd at 4:00pm PST both days. The Wild then return home for 4 games with Johnstown on November 30th, December 1st, 6th and 7th. Individual and group game tickets for all home games are on sale now. Call 509.888.PUCK (7825).
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