Coffman Rocks 1   Jerome Celtics 2

Game Summary - Dublin Coffman vs. Jerome Celtics, Friday, January 18,2008 - Dublin Chiller

 

                                                                                                                                                            photo by Carol Anderson

1st Period
The first game of the MLK Tourney pitted cross town rivals in a 2nd meeting of the season between Jerome Celtics and the Coffman Rocks. As usual everyone expected these teams to battle hard from start too finish, while both teams have a lot of off ice friendships, on the ice both teams always battle until the last sound of the horn and that would not change in this game. Early on the teams brought speed and solid hits to try and get some opening chances but through the first 5 minutes there was little chances to be found. Anthony Rogers and Chris Ridgway create the very first big opportunity when Rogers strips the puck off of Shapiro in the Celtic end, Rogers sends a cross ice pass to a wide open Ridgway and he redirects the pass, but Michael Sadler is too quick in net and makes an outstanding save keeping the Rocks off the board. With 5 minutes too play in the 1st the Rocks get another great chance when Sam O'Brien feeds Ryan Cohagen in the slot, Cohagen gets around Deperro and drills a hard shot upstairs that goes over the cross bar by a width of the puck, and finish was starting to show as was the case in the last game, 0-0 at the end of the 1st. Rocks out shot the Celtics 5-4.

2nd Period
The Rocks come out flying after the break and create all sorts of chances in the Celtics end, first Ridgway is allowed to walk in from the right side untouched and he drills a shot short side that somehow Sadler gets a shoulder on missing a great opportunity. Then Cohagen is allowed to cut right in front and try's to jam a puck thru Sadler but even though Sadler lost his blocker and gets spun around he manages to keep the puck sandwiched under his pads to keep the Rocks off the board. The Rocks at the halfway point ate out shooting the Celtics 7-0 but they cant get one by Sadler. Jerome finally creates some offense of their own and Lamping sets up Scott Wilke for a onetime hard shot in the slot but Rogers makes a spectacular toe save to keep Jerome off the boards. % minutes too play and Anthony Rogers gets another chance and is all alone in on Sadler, he goes upstairs and Sadler makes an enormous glove save. Rocks are now flooding the Celtic veteran net minder with shots but too no avail, chance after chance they leave in frustration as Sadler puts on a show. With 3:41 left in the period the Rocks make a rare mistake not clearing the puck in their own zone and it costs them, as Adam Deperro intercepts a puck at the blue line feeds Joey Nahay, who gets a quick shot on Rogers, Rogers makes a great glove save but the puck drops to his left and Kyle Van Krevel is waiting  on the same side, swings at the rebound and scores low 5-hole on Rogers to give the Celtics the lead 1-0. Rocks outshoot the Celtics 14-9.

3rd Period
The third produced some of the best hockey the Rocks have shown in a period this season. While they are getting the better chances of the period they are unable to solve Sadler and as had happened in the last game the pressure was mounting. The Celtics got a few early minute chances but clearly the Rocks had taken over the play and pressed to get the equalizer. With time winding down Jimmy Wall took matters into his own hands spins at his own blue line, makes a move on the first Celtic fore checker and heads across the right side of center with an open lane, Wall crosses the Celtic blue line and unleashes a sizzling howitzer that beats Sadler clean low far side and the Rocks finally solve Sadler on the night 1-1 with 4 minutes to go. The Rocks blister the Celtics all over the ice getting loose pucks as time is running out, but with 1:35 on the clock the Rocks get a questionable penalty for roughing giving the Celtics a chance to finish on the power play. Finish they would as Scott Wilke controls the puck in the Rocks end, feeds Michael Lamping on the left point who doesn't hesitate and sends the puck to a wide open Trent Iffland, Iffland's eyes lite up when he sees no Rock comes too him to stop his shot, Iffland walks into the right circle and blasts a low, hard shot that is every bit as hard a blast Rogers has faced this season, the shot beats Rogers far side with 36 seconds to go in the game and the Rocks are left empty handed for the second straight game.  Rocks out shot the Celtics 9-5 in the 3rd and the overall 28-18.

Rocks Highlights:
While the Rocks have been left with little on the score sheet in two meetings with Jerome and Michael Sadler this season, they have to be happy with the stepped up pace and opportunities they had to win this game. Both teams played well again and battled for every inch of space available on the ice, great passing, great goaltending and a very fast pace makes these two rivals fun too watch no matter the outcome. The Rocks next see action Saturday January 19th, against Evanston Wildkits from Illinois in the 2nd game of the MLK tourney, at 2:40 pm, Dublin Chiller. 

                                                                                                       by Randy Zacharias