Coffman Rocks 1    Sycamore Aves 2

Game Summary - Dublin Coffman vs. Sycamore, Sunday, January 20,2008 - Dublin Chiller

 

                                                                                                                                                            photo by Carol Anderson

1st Period
Rocks hurting after two stinging losses looked to find some redemption as the MLK weekend closed the round robin portion. The game started as a back and forth tight checking affair and thru 4 minutes of the 1st neither team could get thru the defense for a shot. The first opportunity of the game was handed to the Aves as, hard working Aves forward, Nick Hegyes, steals a puck off a Rocks forward and feeds captain Dan Dukart, the slick Dukart back hands a shot on Alex Rogers only to hear the twang of the crossbar and the score stayed even 0-0. A minute later Ryan Cohagen plays thief in the Aves end and rifles a shot on a surprised, Jason Graves, goaltender for the Aves but graves pulls some robbery of his own and the game is still 0-0. Aves get the first power play of the game with 6:02 left, and the biggest offense thrust of the game comes in a 2 minute window as the Aves are flying in the Rocks zone. Rogers is unbeatable as he makes several point blank saves, the period ends scoreless and the Rocks were fortunate to come out of the period even. Rocks were out shot by the Aviators in the first period 10-4.

2nd Period
Rocks wake up to start the middle frame and start regaining control, 1:32 into the frame a penalty on the Aves allows Coach Pooley to experiment. Pooley sends out his 1st power play unit but with a slight change, The Rocks gain the zone and control to the left circle of Graves, in front Matt Zacharias, Zacharias creates all kinds of problems for both Graves and the two d-men right in front of Graves. Jimmy Wall takes two hard shots that somehow Graves gets a piece of but the puck is fed by Anthony Rogers one more time and this time there was no doubt as Graves never moves and Wall rockets a shot on the low far corner of the net, 1-0 Rocks. For the next several minutes of the period the game is a parade of players to the penalty box and the action end to end is even as both sides playing 4 on 4 create numerous chances. Both Rogers and Graves make enormous saves for their respective teams keeping the game tight. With 4 minutes remaining the Aves get a break, Ben Moster feeds a puck in the corner to Hegyes, he comes around the net to the right of Rogers, moves into the corner and Dukart, trailing the play is left uncovered behind the net, Hegyes drops the puck and Dukart tries the wrap, the puck hits a stick right in front of Rogers and slips thru a narrow opening to tie the game 1-1. Rocks out shot the Aviators 9-8.

3rd Period
The final frame saw lots of action but most concerning was the injury to star forward, Anthony Rogers, the Rocks would play short a key player for the balance of the game. The Rocks get bit with an early penalty but to know avail for the Aves as they don't allow a shot on goal. Halfway thru the period the tight game is end to end with few chances for either side, when Dukart gets a breakaway, he strolls in and dekes Rogers but Rogers makes a sensational glove save robbing Dukart blind. Under the halfway point the Rocks get some big pressure of the cycle, Graves makes 3 point blank saves keeping the Rocks off the board. With 5:14 left Dukart, more than a hand full all game is at it again and this time a great thread the needle pass from Dan Kryzminski across the Rocks zone leaves Dukart with a wide open net he slams the puck but out of no where Rogers flashes his glove to make the most incredible save of the year. Suddenly the Ref who is on the far side of the rink by the blue line indicates a goal, the Rocks are furious, after a long discussion between refs they indicate a goal explaining they thought the puck that was under Rogers glove could have been over the line, even though they did not see the puck, 2-1 Aves. Clearly the disputed goal stopped the Rocks focus on the game and the Rocks go down in defeat. Rocks were out shot by the Aviators 6-5 in the 3rd and 24-17 overall.

Rocks Highlights:
Players need to step up there game when a star player goes down and Chris Ridgway assumed that roll, his robust playmaking play created several chances and the alternate captain played an inspired 3rd. The only good news after the game was Anthony Rogers injury was slight and will be ready for action next weekend. The Rocks see action next weekend back in League play as the Rocks head into the final stretch , 6 straight league games starting, Friday evening against Desalles Stallions, 8:00 pm, Dublin Chiller.

                                                                                                       by Randy Zacharias