Coffman Rocks 2   St. Xavier Bombers 2

Game Summary - Dublin Coffman vs. St. Xavier Bombers, Saturday, January 12,2008 - Dublin Chiller

 

                                                                                                                                                            photo by Carol Anderson

1st Period
Rocks looked to extend their advantage in the Southwest Hockey league against the St. Xavier Bombers. The Bombers have matched up quite well this season with all the top teams in their own region as well as Capital Hockey conference teams. Early on St. X brought a tough physical game trying to slow down the Rocks speed up front, finishing every check and the toll on the Rocks forwards seemed to work thru the first half. The power play managed to turn the tables and the Rocks strength started to come out, Evan Bowdy feeds Matt Zacharias at the top of the left circle, Zacharias walks in and wires a slapshot low stick side, but Joe Gieringer makes a ridiculous save to keep the Rocks off the board, it would be the first of several saves like that, as Gieringer came too play in this one. Not to be out done power forward Jordan Kamp, gets a breakaway and closes in on Alex Rogers, Kamp who has a howitzer of a shot drills a shot that Rogers just gets enough of and the game stays scoreless. The Rocks are on another power play with 6 minutes left, and shot after shot Gieringer is calm collected and makes some of the saves look easy, but as time expired on the advantage Chris Ridgway and Anthony Rogers cycle one more time from the left corner, Rogers finally gets an open lane in the middle of the zone, and drills a hard shot blocker side and beats Gieringer clean, 1-0 Rocks. The balance of the period St X continues to play physical but cannot break thru for any chances thru the Rocks defense. Rocks were out shot by the Bombers 8-7.

2nd Period
The 2nd period would be one of the best played periods of the season for either team as St. X and the Rocks battle in every corner of the rink. The hitting intensity has gone to new heights with both teams defenseman pounding away at the forwards for both clubs. The end to end action challenges both goalies to bring their A game and both pass the test with some stupendous saves. Rogers stops 2 breakaways in the middle frame absolutely robbing Drew Grombala, Grombala a noticeable and exceptional player for St X all night. Gieringer would answer the call stopping a breakaway by Rogers and than making a sick save off of Andy O'Brien with the big trapper late in the period. Neither team scores but the game is definitely gone to another level of speed, finesse and physicality. Rocks out shot the Bombers 7-6.

3rd Period
The final frame the Rocks come out flying and have St. X in trouble, Rogers gets another breakaway and Gieringer comes up with another highway robbery save. Some of the suspect penalties called in the middle part of the frame, on St. X, gives the Rocks a chance to finish the Bombers but Gieringer does not give an inch. Leading to, finally, a chance on the power play for the Bombers. While the Rocks seem to be killing off the penalty well a mistake frees up Jordan Kamp, the last man the Rocks wanted to see unleash his shot, Kamp walks in to the face off dot and booms a cannon top shelf off the bar and in and the game is tied 1-1 with 7 minutes to go. Rocks turn up the heat and start getting some odd man chances but Gieringer stops Ridgway and Rogers on back to back breakaways, than Rogers gets the chance of the night and beats Gieringer clean only to hear the twang of the pipe and the game remains tied. With 4 minutes to go the Rocks Tyler Anderson makes a great pass to Ridgway in the neutral zone Ridgeway hits Rogers in the slot and Rogers undresses Gieringer, putting the puck where Granny hides the cookie jar, to take the lead 2-1. The Rocks pour on more shots and Gieringer continues to shine, as time is winding down the Rocks take a penalty in the neutral zone and it would cost them, with 30 seconds on the clock the Bombers pull their goalie and are controlling the puck, a feed to the point is sent to Jordan Kamp and he unleashes a shot that is deflected right in front of Rogers, the puck squeezes thru and just crosses the line to tie the game 2-2.   Rocks out shot the Bombers 9-8 in the 3rd and 23-22 overall.

Rocks Highlights:
The game was a great game with end to end action the Rocks came too play and matched the Bombers physical game. Both goaltenders were outstanding stopping several breakaways. The Rocks next see action Sunday January 13th, vs Cincinnati Centerville Elks, SWOHSHL, at 11:30 am, Chiller North. 

                                                                                                       by Randy Zacharias