Coffman Rocks 3   Beavercreek Beavers 0

Game Summary- State Districts-Dublin Coffman vs. Beavercreek Beavers, Saturday, February 16, 2008, Ice Haus

 

                                                                                                                                                            photo by Carol Anderson

1st Period
The final series of games for the 2007-2008 High School Hockey season began this weekend with 4 district championships being played across the state. Our own Coffman Shamrocks were in the Columbus district bracket looking to continue through to the final four in March. The Rocks first opponent would be Beavercreek Beavers, a team they played back in December in the Adam Allgeyer tournament, the Rocks came out on top in that one 6-1. The Rocks knew going into the game was to make sure they kept constant pressure on the Beavers net minder Anthony Dann, Dann has been sensational for the Beavers all season and of late has stymied some of the top teams in the south district. The Rocks came out flying in the first period, putting immediate and constant pressure on Beavercreek, and just 4 minutes into the contest Anthony Rogers is set up in the slot by Chris Ridgway, Rogers drills a shot from 15 feet in front finally solving Dann but hits the goal post dead on to keep the Rocks off the board. Rocks continue the pressure when Jimmy Wall goes up ice taking a pass from Matt Smith, Wall gets around the Creek d-men walks in and dekes, Dann, and again Dann ,makes a spectacular toe save to keep the game scoreless. The game starts to get a little physical and Matt Zacharias throws several huge hits in the neutral zone that slows the Beavers attack and creates a turnover that sends Ridgway up ice he feeds Rogers in the slot and Rogers wires another shot that somehow Dann gets a glove on. While the Rocks are giving up a few shots they are mostly from well outside a scoring area and Alex Rogers has little trouble handling the shots and the period comes to a close 0-0. Rocks out shot the Beavers 10-6 after 1.

2nd Period
At the end of the 1st the Rocks had taken a penalty leaving them shorthanded to open the middle frame. The Rocks manage to kill off the penalty allowing just 4 shots and Rogers is able to handle all the chances. For the next several minutes the Rocks pour on the pressure which finally draws a penalty from Beavercreek. The Rocks send out the big unit again, Zacharias parks himself right in front again and there is no one moving him, Ridgway takes the puck behind the net and feeds Evan Bowdy, Bowdy one times a pass across the zone to Anthony Rogers and Rogers one times a blast thru the traffic in front beating Dann low to the far side and the Rocks make short work on the power play, 1-0 Rocks. Creek gets the favor right back when the Rocks take a penalty for interference, and Alex Rogers comes up with a scintillating save of his own, Mike Mazza feeds a pass across to Matt Green, Green one times a slap shot from 10 feet in front of Rogers, Rogers makes the miraculous glove save keeping the Rocks up 1-0. With 4 minutes to go the Rocks are controlling the game but cannot beat Dann who continues to make stop after stop, but finally pressure the Beavers into another penalty. Rocks send their main unit again, Rogers crosses the blue line and controls the advantage, he waits until Zacharias parks himself in front of Dann and than feeds Wall in the high slot, Wall uncorks a slap shot that some how Dann gets a piece of, Zacharias manages to kick the puck loose to Chris Ridgway and he slides the puck into an open net, 2-0 Rocks. For the balance of the period the Rocks are attacking the Beavers at every chance and Dann is able to escape the period only down 2-0. Rocks out shot the Beavers 17-7.

3rd Period
The Rocks get an early power play to begin the final period, and Dann show MVP status as he stops 4 blasts from Rogers and Ridgway keeping the game looking closer than it was. The Beavers finally generate some offense and defenseman Adam Baldwin goes end to end cuts around the Rocks d-men and is in alone on Rogers, Rogers sprawls too make the save and Baldwin lifts the puck only to hear the clank of the crossbar and the Rocks dodge a bullet, 2-0 Rocks. After the near miss, Tyler Anderson gets a pass from Stephen Panchyshyn , Anderson makes a great move at the Beavers blue line and is in alone on Dann, he crashes the net and fires up high, beating Dann clean but also hits the crossbar. The very next shift the O'Brien brothers take matters into their own hands as Andy O'Brien man handles a d-man in the corner scoots out towards the net and at the last 2nd pass across the net to Sam O'Brien. Sam wastes no time and drills the puck to the short side and somehow Dann gets his pad across in time robbing Sam O'Brien of a sure goal. The game is running out of time and the Rocks shut down the neutral zone sending the puck deep in the Beavers end, as the last couple of minutes tick away, the Beavers manage to get a face-off deep in the Rocks end, they pull Dann for the extra attacker and get a quick shot on Rogers off the face-off, Rogers deflects the puck behind the net, Zacharias picks the puck up and goes d to d to Evan Bowdy, Bowdy throws a perfect pass to Chris Ridgway who has nothing but net and Ridgway deposits the biscuit for a 3-0 final victory. Rocks out shot the Beavers 10-4 in the 3rd and out shot the Beavers 37-17 overall.

Rocks Highlights:
The intensity of the State play-downs is evident with the first 4 games being decided by one goal, 3 in over time. Each game will demand special teams payoffs and the Rocks power play is simple tough to stop. The Rocks displayed a new style they have not shown all season in this game with the line of Jeffrey Hoover, Jordan Edmonds and Jonathon Priest, playing a defensive game that clogged up the neutral zone and created a lot of turnovers, the lines concentration on defense gave a different look to a team that usually attacks all game long. This could also prove to be a big key to their drive to the final four. The Rocks next play the Columbus Bracket State District Championships vs Sycamore Aves, February 23, 2008, 1:15 pm, Ice Haus.

 

                                                                                                                      by Randy Zacharias