Record-Setting Night Gives Fighting Falcons Win
October 21, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release
PORT HURON, MI - The Port Huron Fighting Falcons returned to form Friday, defeating the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings 3-1 at McMorran Arena. The win snaps a three-game losing streak for Port Huron, who hosts the Jamestown Ironmen tomorrow at 7 p.m. in their second annual "Star Wars Night."
The win is Port Huron's seventh of the season, eclipsing their win total from the entire 2010-11 season in just the 15th game of their second season in the North American Hockey League.
In his McMorran Arena debut, Ron Kotkin scored the game's first goal at 13:17 of the first period. Bret Lewandowski made a great lead pass to send Kotkin off to the races, and the Moscow, Russia native handled it from there, beating Kalamazoo goalie Alex Okicki. Jake Goldberg earned the second assist on the play.
Kotkin's marker would be the first period's only goal, as the Fighting Falcons outshot the Jr. K-Wings 16-9.
Port Huron dominated the play for the second period but was unable to score. Daniel Cesarz was credited for a goal at 17:22 after his shot beat Fighting Falcons goalie Peter Megariotis. The puck danced around the goal line, giving referee Brett DesRosiers a tough call. DesRosiers decided the puck did cross the line in its entirety, and the game was tied.
Despite outshooting their opponents 20-8 in the second period, the Fighting Falcons headed to the locker room in a 1-1 tie after 40 minutes.
The Fighting Falcons came back energized in the third period, and continued to fire away at Okicki. Five minutes into the period, Max Reavis and Alex Globke battled hard for possession in the corner, and Globke gained enough control to slip a pass to Mitch Sand at the point for a blast that beat Okicki to give Port Huron a 2-1 lead.
Easton powers put home a rebound after Logan Lemirande's shot at 11:19 to give the Fighting Falcons some breathing room at 3-1. Bret Lewandowski earned his second assist on what would turn out to be the game's final goal.
Port Huron outshot Kalamazoo 14-8 in the third period. With 50 shots on goal in the game, the Fighting Falcons set a new franchise record. Kalmazoo managed just 25 shots.
Peter Megariotis came inches from his first shutout of the season, earning his fourth victory of the season. The 20-year-old turned away 24 of Kalamazoo's 25 shots.
Alex Okicki made 47 saves in the loss, falling to 5-2 on the season.
The win is Port Huron's first of the season against Kalamazoo, who had taken down the Fighting Falcons twice last weekend. At 7-6-2, the Fighting Falcons remain in sole possession of third place in the North Division at 16 points. The Jr. K-Wings stay in second place with 18 points, dropping to 9-4 on the season.
In other North action Friday night, division-leading Michigan lost 4-3 at home to the Jamestown Ironmen, and the Traverse City North Stars fell 3-2 to the Janesville Jets. Michigan holds on to first place with 21 points and a 10-3-1 overall record, while Traverse City drops to 5-3-3 and is just one point ahead of fifth place Jamestown.
Over a dozen characters from the beloved Star Wars film series will roam McMorran Arena Saturday night as they take on the Jamestown Ironmen in their second annual "Star Wars Night." Jamestown is making their second trip to Port Huron this season; their first was a 9-0 loss on October 1.
Fighting Falcons players will wear one-of-a-kind Chewbacca jerseys that have drawn the attention of national hockey websites and blogs. The jerseys will be auctioned off throughout and following the 7 p.m. game, with all proceeds benefitting St. Joseph Mercy Hospital's Pink Ribbon Fund.
Single game tickets to all Fighting Falcons home games are available at the McMorran Arena Box Office. Tickets in any section are just $7 this season. Student, senior citizen and military tickets are only $6.
For more information, call the Fighting Falcons office at (810) 966-3800, or follow the Fighting Falcons on Facebook (Port Huron Fighting Falcons - NAHL) and Twitter (@PHhockeyNAHL)!
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North American Hockey League Stories from October 21, 2011
- Austin loses to Alexandria - Austin Bruins
- Michigan Warriors Fall to Jamestown in Rematch 4-3 - Michigan Warriors
- Record-Setting Night Gives Fighting Falcons Win - Port Huron Fighting Falcons
- Kalamazoo's Five Game Win Streak Snapped - Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
- Watch the IceRays in the Run Amuck - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Huge Second Period Lifts Jacks, 6-1 - Odessa Jackalopes
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