Coffman Rocks 4   Thomas Worthington Cardinals 2

Game Summary - Dublin Coffman vs. Thomas Cardinals, Sunday, February 3, 2008, Chiller North

 

                                                                                                                                                            photo by Carol Anderson

1st Period
The Rocks went on the road one more time this weekend playing their final game of the regular season and final game of the Capital Hockey Conference. The game had implications for both teams to position for the Blue Jacket cup. With both teams having two of the top four scorers in the league, Eric Rottenbiller and Frank Proctor of the Cardinals and for the Rocks Anthony Rogers and Chris Ridgway, the game was sure to see some pretty goals and with out question a great match up. The Rocks goal win the game and secure the Capital Hockey Conference league title. The Rocks come out flying and just 2 minutes into the game Zacharias strips a Cardinal player of the puck at his own blue line and sends a quick pass up ice to Rogers who is gone on an early breakaway, Rogers drills the shot low to the far side and Cardinals net minder, Matt Molde, makes an outstanding toe save to keep the Rocks off the board. The Rocks are swarming Molde and he is making save after save, the period is running thru quickly with few whistles but the Cardinals seem to have difficulty getting out of their own end and the pressure does pay off for the Rocks. Sam O'Brien picks the puck up at the blue line and sends the puck up to Andy O'Brien, Andy, tries to go around the Cardinals defenseman, as he just manages to get around him he gets a quick shot in on Molde, the rebound comes straight pout in front and Sam O'Brien, following the play grabs the puck and deposits the puck into an empty net and the Rocks lead 1-0 with under 2 minutes to go in the 1st. Off the ensuing center ice face-off Rogers spins in the neutral zone and feeds Ridgway up the middle of the ice, Ridgway splits the defense and dekes Molde from left to right and lifts the shot past the outstretched pad of Molde, he scores just 15 seconds after the first goal, Rocks 2-0 after the 1st. Rocks out shot the Cardinals 17-6 after 1.

2nd Period
Rocks take off in the 2nd like they finished the 1st and pressure the Cardinals all over the ice, the pressure forces two early penalties in the middle frame and the Rocks have a chance to turn up the heat, The Rocks move the puck well on the man advantage but cannot solve Molde. The penalty kill lifted the Cardinals and with the 9 minute mark approaching Frank Proctor, the outstanding winger makes a behind the back pass to Rottenbiller who is in alone on Alex Rogers, Rottenbiller drills a shot up high and beats Rogers just under the crossbar and the Cardinals cut the lead to 2-1. With 4 minutes too play the Rocks get called for interference and the face-off is just outside the Rocks blue line, Rogers wins the draw back to Ridgway, the Cardinals press to keep the puck in the zone and Ridgway sees Rogers has a clear breakaway, he feeds the puck up to Rogers and he is gone from the Rocks blue line, he comes straight in on Molde and beats him to the right side just over his pad and the Rogers scores shorthanded, 3-1 Rocks. Rocks out shot the Cardinals 6-5.

3rd Period
A [period to plat and the CHC title on the line, the Rocks start quickly again, Rogers off the opening face-off pushes straight up ice beats a d-man and absolutely unleashes a shot the Molde gets a piece of from his left shoulder to keep the Rocks from sealing the game. Halfway thru the period the Rocks take back to back penalties that they would pat for. Cardinals send out the big unit and although the Rocks managed to kill the penalties Rottenbiller and Proctor are just outstanding creating several chances, but the leave the ice frustrated after Alex Rogers robs them blind on several attempts. Rottenbiller gets a ;loose puck at his end of the ice, feeds a behind the back pass to Proctor who is in full flight, he beats one man in the neutral zone and undresses a Rocks d-man with a sweet toe drag and comes in on Rogers all alone, Proctor waits until the last second and roofs the puck on Rogers, glove side and the Cardinals are back in the contest, 3-2 Rocks. Just 2 minutes later Rogers and Ridgway answer the Cardinals players right back, the Rocks are on the power play again and this time they hit pay dirt. Ridgway, Zacharias are spread across from each other as they head to the net, Ridgway slams on the breaks, Zacharias heads to the net, and Ridgway fools everyone feeding a wide open Rogers, Rogers has a free lane to the net and dekes Molde, sending the puck to the back of the net on the backhand, 4-2 Rocks with 4 to go. Rocks, as they have the past few games got into the dump and chase game, the Cardinals are trying everything they can to get the puck to the Rocks end until a miscue allows Rottenbiller and Proctor to take off on a 2 on 1, Rottenbiller makes the perfect saucer pass to Proctor who one time the puck top shelf, and a Tremendous save by Alex Rogers with his blocker keeps the Cardinals off the board. The Cardinals run into penalty problems with 3 minutes to go and the first unit is controlling the puck well to the outside of the Cardinals goaltender, as the seconds tic down in the game the Rocks see that the title is in reach. The Rocks run the clock out in the Cardinals zone on a 5 on 3 and capture their 2nd title in the 5 years CHC has been played, celebrating a weekend sweep of their opponents to finish the regular season. Rocks out shot the Cardinals 9-5 in the 3rd and outshoot the Cardinals 32-16 overall.

Rocks Highlights:
Rocks came out hard in the first frame setting the pace early on, the game was a tight affair but the plays of the night were set by the top four point getters of the league as Rogers and Ridgway battled Rottenbiller and Proctor shift after shift in the end Rottenbiller nets 2 points Proctor 2 points, Ridgway 3 points and Anthony Rogers with 2 goals and an assist. The league scoring title goes to Anthony Rogers and Eric Rottenbiller both with 39 points in the league, just outstanding play by booth teams. Rocks goaltender Alex Rogers finishes the leading goaltender with 11 wins in league play and was strong throughout the game. The Rocks play host to the Thomas Worthington Cardinals next Friday, February 8, 2008, 6:00 pm, Chiller North as the post season begins in the Blue Jacket Cup Championship.

 

                                                                                                                      by Randy Zacharias