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Titans Sweep Two-Game Midwest Swing After 5-2 Win over Ft Wayne

December 23, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Titans News Release


Fort Wayne, IN - It's hard to predict how a game will go in a first-ever meeting between two teams. But if the numbers are any indication, a very physical, grinding game on home ice should have given Fort Wayne an edge.

Trouble is, that played right into Trenton's hands.

Before a pre-Christmas crowd of just over 7,000, Trenton (13-11-2-230 points) withstood serious, early Komets' pressure. When the first period was over, Trenton had balanced out the play and kept the game scoreless.

Then came period number two.

After trading goals, Trenton exploded for three unanswered in an eight minute span to take the first-ever meeting with Fort Wayne, 5-2.

With the win the Titans sweep the two game Northern Division swing (def Evansville Friday, 6-3) and run their point-scoring streak to six (5-0-1). It also sets up a huge, early-season, three game series with Atlantic Division rival Reading starting Thursday. The Royals will bring an eight-game win streak into the series and have won the last five over Trenton (5-2 on the season).

Rookie Marcel Noebels continued with the hot stick after netting his 10th of the year with a PPG 3 minutes into the second for a 1-0 lead. He has now scored a point in six straight games and 10 of his last 11.

Things settled a bit after the Komets (14-12-1-130) tied the game a couple minutes later. But when Phil DiSimone ripped his third of the year - and fifth point in three games - past goalie Charlie Effinger (6-6-1, 29 saves) at the 6:16 mark, the game changed.

Play got faster and chippier, leading to a Titans penalty at 11:37. No matter, as the league-leaders in Road SHG struck for the second time in as many nights when Jacob Drewiske scored his fifth of the year to bump the lead to 3-1. Under two minutes later it was Stephen Schultz - in his first game back from a mouth injury - blasting a PPG inside the left post for his ninth and a 4-1 lead.

Fort Wayne picked up the physical play, but the Titans continued to pound the net. Less than a minute after Schultz's tally, Drewsike netted his second of the night, effectively ending the competitive phase of the contest with a 5-1 lead that wouldn't be challenged the rest of the way.

For the night Noebels added two more assists, with Schultz and Tyler Hostetter adding two points apiece. Scott Wedgewood (9-7-2) was outstanding in net once again, stopping 39 on the night. The Titans power play was just as good, going 2-for-5 on the night and 5-for-13 for the weekend.

The Titans can now enjoy Christmas, but only briefly with Reading in the immediate future. The Royals have a home game on the 28th, sandwiched by Titans home games on the 27th and 29th. All three games start at 7:05, with the Titans Pregame Show beginning at 6:45, as "The Bronc" Daryle Dobos calls all the action on AmericaOne.com, 107.7 FM (Trenton) and 1077theBronc.com.

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