Oke's Winner Lifts Outlaws Over Demonz

Published on January 12, 2013 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Williamsport Outlaws News Release


WILLIAMSPORT, PA - Mother nature stepped in last night and made it impossible for the Dayton Demonz and Williamsport Outlaws to play, only the second time this season weather stopped a game on the outdoor Airmen Pond at Historic Bowman Field. If that wasn't enough of a deterrent, the bus that brought the Demonz to Williamsport burnt to the ground shortly after dropping the team off at the hotel. Fortunately no one was hurt in the blaze. After all of that, we had hockey in Williamsport on Saturday afternoon.

The first period resembled a heavy weight title fight, both teams trading offensive opportunities on each end while delivering some hits defensively. The Demonz and Outlaws felt each other out into the later stages of the period when the lone whistle of the period sent Outlaws defensemen Nathan Oke to the penalty box for two minutes for cross-checking.

Dayton possessed the puck in the Outlaws zone at a cost. Williamsport found themselves on an odd-man rush that ended in a Jeff Rose save at the other end and brought the Outlaws fans to the brink. Moments later, the puck found its way on the blade of captain Trevor Karasiewicz, who made a great read on a cross ice pass in the Outlaws zone, and he was off to the races.

With Rose standing between him and an Outlaws goal, Karasiewicz made his move as a Demonz defender tossed his stick at Karasiewicz's stick causing the puck to come off of the captain's stick and right to the stick of trail man Chris Leveille who bet Rose near post to make it 1-0 Outlaws at the 19:06 mark.

The goal was Leveille's 19th on the season and his 4th shorthanded goal of the year. Karasiewicz picked up his league leading 64th assist and 78th point on the play.

Williamsport would outshoot Dayton 15-8 in the period.

Leveille would make his presence known early in the 2nd period as his power move around a defender through the near side faceoff circle put the puck in front of Rose's crease. Matthew Puntureri would find the loose biscuit and send it into the twine to give the Outlaws a 2-0 lead at the 1:49 mark of the period.

Dayton would be able to answer with a goal from Brian Marks at the 4:58 mark of the period to make it a one-goal Outlaws lead. Marks beat Chris Whitley with assists from Nicholas Petriello and Jason Hill.

Dayton's momentum would be short lived. Leveille came between the faceoff circles in the Demonz zone with puck on stick, patiently waited, found his spot and scorched the twine behind Rose for his second goal and third point of the contest. The goal came at the 8:25 mark was assisted by Martin Moucha to make it 3-1 Outlaws.

Just as every great title fight goes, the opponent would find the opportunity to counter and Dayton did just that.

Dayton forward Lucas Schott beat Whitley far side post to make it a one-goal game at the 10:48 mark of the period. The goal was assisted by Ryan Wiley.

Dayton would be able to draw the game even with goal from Ahmed Mahfouz at the 13:23 mark of the period. The goal was Mahfouz's 26th of the season and it was assisted by Jesse Felten.

Williamsport almost regained the lead with 3:50 left in the period when the puck wandered through Rose and in front of an empty net on the blade of Puntureri, but Puntureri rang it off the post and Rose found it and froze it.

Dayton won the ensuing faceoff and charged into the Outlaw zone. A nice pass from behind Whitley's net intended for Mahfouz was on point until a brilliant stick lift from Karasiewicz ended that threat, or so the Outlaws thought.

The puck continued in the Outlaws zone to the stick of Peter Cintala who rocketed a one timer passed Whitley to make it 4-3 Dayton.

Dayton continued their second period dominance when they beat Whitley yet again to make it 5-3 at the 17:48 mark of the period when Schott tallied his second goal of the game, the assist going to Seth Ronsberg.

Dayton would go into the second intermission leading the Outlaws 5-3. Williamsport and Dayton both equaled 15 shots on net in the period. Williamsport outshot the Demonz through the first two periods by a total of 30-23.

Williamsport returned from their locker room with something to prove in the third period in front of their home crowd and Matt Smyth delivered a huge goal to start the period.

Williamsport worked the puck into the Demonz zone to the far side wall where Karasiewicz set up the sniper at the blue line for a bullet off the tape of the Orlando, Florida native to make it a 5-4 Outlaws deficit. The goal came only 54 second in to the final period.

Moments later the Outlaws would find themselves on the attack again that started with a gorgeous entry pass from Leveille that sent Karasiewicz into the Demonz zone working one-on-one with a Demonz defender.

Leveille followed his pass and Karasiewicz would find his line mate for the easy goal to tie the game at 5 goals apiece at the 2:03 mark of the second period.

The goal was Leveille's 21st of the year, while the assist was Karasiewicz's 66th and also his 80th point of the year.

With the game evened up, both Dayton and Williamsport returned to the "feel it out" stage that saw the hitting pick up. Outlaws forward Brett Needham delivered a big open-ice hit on Ahmed Mahfouz that got a rise out of the crowd.

Luke Flicek would be called for slashing at the 9:11 mark to put the Outlaws on their first power play of the afternoon. Williamsport wouldn't be able to retake the lead with the man advantage.

Peter Cintala would get 2 minutes for roughing with 6:21 remaining after his hit along the endboards on Outlaws forward Matt Smyth.

Rose was put to the test early when Outlaws defensemen Nathan Oke rifled a one timer from the far faceoff circle that hit Rose's left shoulder. Rose would then turn away arocket from Smyth on a one timer from the near side faceoff circle. Dayton would kill off the penalty with the score still tied up at 5-5.

Chris Whitley would answer with a sprawling cartwheel save on the other end shortly after the penalty expired.

Williamsport had a golden opportunity with 1:08 left as Matt Smyth swung around Rose's net and found Anthony Battaglia in the nearside faceoff circle. Battaglia ripped a shot on net near side post, but Rose stood strong. That would be the final scoring opportunity in regulation.

In overtime the Demonz had the win on their stick. Whitley made the save but came out of his crease as the rebound came out in front. Kevin Hamel stood strong in place of his goaltender and blocked the open four by six.

The Outlaws would counter with an attack of their own. Puntureri carried the puck into the Demonz zone and found Matt Smyth. Smyth worked it around the net and found the open Nathan Oke who took his time, found his spot and scorched the twine behind Rose for the game winner.

The goal was the first of the season for the defensemen, who was playing in his first game back with the Outlaws after a leave from the league on December 21st.

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