Coffman Rocks 8   Thomas Worthington Cardinals 0

Game Summary - BJ Cup - Dublin Coffman vs. Thomas Cardinals, Friday, February 9, 2008, Chiller North

 

                                                                                                                                                            photo by Carol Anderson

1st Period
The first game of the Blue Jacket Cup for the Rocks was a rematch in back to back games with Thomas Worthington Cardinals. The Rocks would be the home team on this night and looked ready after the previous weekends, tight game, with the Cardinals. Thomas looked like a team ready to go as the first 2 minutes of the game is spent mostly in the Rocks zone, producing the first test of the night for Alex Rogers in between the Coffman pipes. League scoring champion, tied with our own Anthony Rogers, Erick Rottenbiller walks down the wing makes a nifty move on a Rocks d-man and drills a hard shot top shelf, short side, but Rogers stands his ground making an outstanding, tuff, save on the 1st shot of the game. Just 2:28 into the game the Rocks strike first, Anthony Rogers heads straight up the middle of the ice, Chris Ridgway is heading up the boards with the puck, as Ridgway reaches the hash mark on the left side, he slams on the breaks and lays a pretty feed to Rogers, Rogers wire the shot but off the crossbar, the puck drops straight down and Andy O'Brien pounces on the loose biscuit stuffing the puck in the net, 1-0 Rocks. The Rocks start controlling the play with great passing and just 4 minutes later the Rogers line is at it again, Ridgway works hard along the boards to feed Evan Bowdy at the point, Bowdy patiently waits with the puck until Rogers gets free, Bowdy sends the puck down top Rogers, Ridgway is between the circles and Rogers wastes no time getting him the puck, Ridgway drills a shot that beats Cardinals net minder Matt Molde, 2-0 Rocks. with 3 minutes to go the Rocks get the 1st man advantage and send the power play unit to go to work, the puck gets behind the net, Matt Zacharias backhands a pass to Ridgway and heads to the front of the net, Ridgway makes a sweet move in the corner and sees Jimmy Wall at the top of the circles, Wall gets the pass and absolutely crushes the puck, thru a perfect screen by Zacharias, Molde doesn't move and the Rocks end the 1st up 3-0.  Rocks out shot the Cardinals 16-8 after 1.

2nd Period
The Rocks pick up where they end the first and again perfect passing gets them their first chance of the period, Rogers is sent in on the left side with another chance to score but he moves around the last d-man and sends a pass to Ridgway, Ridgway one times the shot but clangs the puck off the post. 5:13 into the second frame Jordan Edmonds makes a great play in the neutral zone, stripping the puck off of one d-man and heads in on Molde, just as another d-man looks to hit Edmonds he uncorks a rising shot that beats Molde to the glove and the Rocks go up 4-0. Just one minute later the face-off is deep in the Cardinals end, Rogers and Ridgway hook up again, Rogers wins the draw and slides himself into an opening just to the left of Molde, Ridgway draws two men in the center of the zone and fools everyone with a back door pass that leaves Rogers alone on Molde, Rogers snipes the short side to put the Rocks up 5-0. Rocks back off for the next several minutes and it almost costs them as the Cardinals are proving they are not just done yet, Rottenbiller and Frank Proctor show why they have lead their team all season and create havoc in the Rocks end. Alex Rogers is sensational stopping point blank shots by the two high scoring forwards and keeping the goose egg on the board. As the period winds too a close Proctor makes another high speed rush, cuts over the Rocks blue line and unleashes a howitzer, low shot, that handcuffs Rogers, but a friendly sound of the post sends the Rocks into the break up 5-0. Rocks out shot the Cardinals 13-5.

3rd Period
The Cardinals surprise the Rocks with a goaltender change and Phil Dollens is not welcomed by hospitality from the Rocks as the Rocks pepper Dollens to start the final frame, Dollens makes two great saves off of Rogers and O'Brien. Jimmy Wall feeds Ridgway on the right side of the Cardinals end, Ridgway circles and heads to the middle of the zone, fires and his blistering shot is deflected just in front of Dollens by Anthony Rogers, 6-0 Rocks. Thomas finally gets a power play and take the puck into their own end to set up, but a heady play by Ridgway cost the Cardinals as Ridgway steps from behind a Cardinal forward at the blue line, intercepts the pass and rifles a shot upstairs, Dollens no chance, 7-0 Rocks. The fortunes continued the Rocks way when Jonathon Priest also intercepts a pass and heads over the blue line looks up and sends a laser to the far right post and beats Dollens clean to finish the Rocks scoring, 8-0 Rocks. Rocks were out shot by the Cardinals 8-6 in the 3rd but outshoot the Cardinals 35-21 overall.

Rocks Highlights:
The Rocks passing was tremendous on this night, and set by all 3 lines, as all 3 lines chip in with goals and 6 different scorers. The score may have been one sided but the Cardinals did come too play, their work ethic is something the Rocks face most nights and if not for great passing the score could have been different. The Rocks play the second round of the Blue Jacket Cup against Gahanna Lincoln Lions Saturday, February 9, 2008, 3:15 pm, Ice Haus.

 

                                                                                                                      by Randy Zacharias