Coffman Rocks 11    Springboro 2

Game Summary - Dublin Coffman vs. Springboro, - Saturday, November 10, 2007 - Chiller Dublin

 

                                                                                                                   photo by Carol Anderson

The opening of the 2007-2008 Coffman Shamrocks hockey season got underway, with an exhibition scrimmage on Saturday night, with the Rocks hosting the Springboro Panthers from the Southwest Ohio region. The Rocks faces have changed again in 2007, with 9 new members and a strong core of 11 returning players from last season. The preseason hype and anticipated strengths on the Rocks this season, has been focused on a strong back end with 6 big defenseman and solid goaltending.

However The Rocks started 2007-2008 with an offensive explosion, lighting the lamp consistently through the entire first game.

Springboro 2 - Rocks 11
1st Period
Coffman opened the 1st early and often scoring first, just 1:47 into the game.  In his first game and first shift of the game, newcomer freshman, Sam O'Brien bangs in a rebound after Senior veteran Trent Cooper feeds, also newcomer, Junior, Ryan Cohagen who fires a shot on net, O'Brien given the rebound gift makes no mistake, 1-0 Rocks. 3 minutes later the panthers get a gift and are handed a breakaway. 2nd year sophomore goaltender, Alex Rogers, shows he's ready for some early season miscues as he stymies the panthers forward to keep the Rocks ahead in the game. Rocks take a penalty and show they can control as Jordan Edmonds wires a slap shot on panthers goaltender, Tyler Oldige, but Oldige is up to the task with a tremendous glove save. The ensuing face-off on the penalty kill, turns into an opportunity, as Edmonds wins the face-off clean and 3rd year vet, Jeff Hoover, gets his 1st of the season as he one-times a slap shot over Oldige's shoulder to put the Rocks up 2-0, shorthanded. Rocks get caught napping off the center ice face-off and only 16 seconds later the Panthers strike as DJ Hume beats Rogers clean, Rocks 2-1. The panthers take their first penalty and the Rocks make short work of the opportunity. Senior veteran, Anthony Rogers, gets a great feed from Chris Ridgway and Rogers quick release slap shot is to much to handle and the Rocks lead 3-1. Early season miscues allows another breakaway for the Panthers only this time defenseman Jimmy Wall is forced to pull #91 Hanson, down giving the forward a penalty shot. Hanson comes in fast and deke's Rogers, but Rogers read the deke and made the save with ease. With just 4 minutes left the panthers have taken two penalties to give the Rocks a 5 on 3 advantage. Jimmy Wall makes his presence felt, as the hulking defenseman, sets up some great passing between Rogers and Andy O'Brien on the power play, Wall's last feed allows Rogers with an open net and the veteran forward buries the puck to put the Rocks up, 4-1. Still on the power play newcomer Steven Panchyshyn is sent out with 3rd year defenseman, Matt Zacharias, the 2nd unit controls the puck at the blue line, Panchyshyn feeds Zacharias, and Zacharias drills a hard shot from the top of the zone, the puck clips a panther player and beats Oldige, glove side, Rocks 5-1. The Rocks give the Panthers a chance to get back in the game as two players are sent to the box, the 5 on 3 produces a lot of shots and Rogers, Zacharias and Evan Bowdy prove to be too strong for the panthers and the Rocks manage to get thru without a goal. Coffman out shot Springboro 15-11.

2nd Period
Springboro start the 2nd period still on the 5 on 3 and the break is what they needed to get command of the power play, They unleash on the Rocks goaltender, Rogers facing a barrage of shots. Just 47 seconds into the 2nd the panthers, Kyle Deptula, beats Rogers and the Rocks lead is cut to 5-2. The panthers, with renewed energy, push the Rocks into 3 consecutive 5 on 3 disadvantages thru the next 7 minutes of the game. However Rogers is stone cold, unbeatable, leaving the Panthers empty handed. The big men of the Rocks, Edmonds, Wall, Zacharias show their size will be tough too handle, as the game becomes very physical, applying solid hits all over the panther forwards. However the Rocks feel some of the new High School hockey rules, contacting the head, seems to be a hard to handle with the size of some of the Rocks players. The 3 big men get called, as their physical dominance is just too much too ignore and the Rocks seem to be lining up for the box. Rocks show great strength as they continue to stop all the panthers chances, and Rogers is rock solid. Finally settling into even strength and with only 2:28 left, Zacharias feeds defense partner Evan Bowdy, the crafty defenseman steps up and blisters a shot past Oldige, who had no chance on the shot, 6-2 Rocks. Only 37 seconds later the Rocks are on the power play and Wall, Rogers and Bowdy are moving the puck with laser-like precision, Bowdy finds Rogers wide open and once again Anthony Rogers, finishes the hat trick, depositing the puck past the panthers net minder, 7-2. Rocks turn up the heat and close with a flurry of shots leaving Trent Cooper all alone, Cooper beats Oldige clean with a hard slap shot from point blank in the slot and the Rocks close out the period 8-2.   Panthers out shot Coffman 8-7.

3rd Period
Coach Pooley, using all of his newcomers to this point of the game, makes a goaltender change and sends in 1st year, sophomore goaltender, Colin Eberhart. The Rocks made strong adjustments in the period break and were determined to give Eberhart a good showing in his first game. The Rocks come out flying in the final frame and the big strong defenseman play solid, allowing nothing on Eberhart for the first 5 minutes of the third. Springboro frustrated take un-needed penalties and the Rocks waste no time to put another on the board, at 10:17, the first unit steps out again and Rogers, O'Brien and Wall continue strong puck movement in the panthers zone. Rogers feeds Andy O'Brien in the corner who quickly moves the puck to the top and from just above the hash marks, Wall unleashes a slap shot giving the panther net minder no time to react and the Rocks hit pay dirt again, 9-2 Rocks. With 6 minutes left the Rocks are again on the advantage and this time a newcomer gets his opportunity to help light the lamp. As Jeff Hoover sets up Gregory Strine who in turn lays a perfect pass to Jonathon Priest, Priest sends a backhand over the goalie's shoulder and Strine gets his first varsity point, 10-2 Rocks. The Rocks close the night with 2:23 left on the clock as Jimmy Wall goes end to end, while his effort was foiled a scrum in front of the net left Jeff Hoover with a tap in for his 2nd of the night, 11-2 Coffman. Coffman out shot the Panthers in the third 12-5 and overall 34-24 in favor of the Rocks.

Rock Highlights:
While this years version of the Rocks hockey team may be without some of the big name stars of the past, Veteran leadership is not lacking and contributed with precision plays and often. Anthony Rogers picked up where he left last season as an offensive force, while Jimmy Wall stepped up with a huge offensive effort in a 4 point night. Special note to the newcomers, Sam O'Brien, 1st varsity goal, Steven Panchyshyn and Gregory Strine first varsity point and Colin Eberhart in a shut-out of the third period. This version showed some work ethic, team work and the veteran players seem determined to make this an exciting season. Rocks next see action in Troy at the Hobart Arena against the Troy Trojans, Sunday November 11.