Coffman Rocks 1   St. Charles Cardinals 0

Game Summary - Dublin Coffman vs. St. Charles, Friday, November 30,2007 - Dublin Chiller

 

                                                                                                                                                            photo by Carol Anderson

1st Period
A season ago these two teams battled for every inch of ice in every game they faced each other. This year the Capital Hockey conference has divided the teams into two divisions, the "Blue" and  "Jackets" division included two teams hoping to challenge for this years championship. So fitting to start 07/08, St. Charles and Coffman square off in game 1. For the first 5 minutes, the game, is all Rocks. Rogers line is buzzing early and Chris Ridgway is left one on one with St. Charles net minder Kyle Ray. Ray a year ago stymied all shooters in the conference, Ridgway absolutely wires a wrist shot that anyone else watches the puck go in, but not Ray, he flaps the big leather hand out and flat out robs Ridgway of his goal. The game was pretty much running Coffman's way until a penalty changed the makeup of the first, The Cardinals turn up the heat and for the next 8 minutes they are swarming the Rocks, but Alex Rogers is unbeatable this night stopping everything thrown his way. While the Cardinals carried the play for the most part the Rocks wake-up with a flurry at the end of the 1st, once again Kyle Ray robs Ridgway, what seemed an empty net goal after Rogers feeds Ridgway across the net, ends up being stopped by Rays big left pad, 0-0 end of one. Cardinals out shot the Rocks in the first period 11-6.

2nd Period
Early on the Rocks get a big chance with their first power play. The opportunity helps as the Rocks move the puck well and get their game going, but left shaking heads again seems the norm when Ray is in net and the Rocks leave empty handed. The 2nd unit is sent out for the last seconds of the power play, Jeff Hoover was and is battling for every puck. The puck is fed to Zacharias at the point, he controls the puck and feeds Hoover to the left corner, Hoover undresses a Cardinal d-man and heads right to Ray, at the last second possible Hoover makes an outstanding pass to a wide open Jordan Edmonds. Edmonds snuck in the back door and the pass is redirected into an empty net, Ray had no chance and the Rocks lead,  1-0 at 11:02 of the 2nd. For the next 7 minutes the game goes back and forth, neither team is giving the other any chances to score, the Rocks d-men are keeping most of the shots from way out. With 4 minutes left the Rocks take a questionable penalty, but once again it gives the Cardinals life, just 1 minute later while killing the penalty the Rocks take a very bad penalty and are now down two men 5 on 3. Anthony Rogers, Evan Bowdy and Zacharias are asked to clean up, and Alex Rogers ends any chances for the Cardinals making every save and is flat out sensational. The Rocks kill the both penalties and head to the locker with the lead, 1-0. Cardinals out shot the Rocks 8-5.

3rd Period
The third period started out with more of a neutral zone back and forth play, the Cardinals are able to muster up some shots but again the Rocks d-men are keeping everything from well out. 3/4 of the way thru the third the shots are 3-2 with neither team giving much as the battle continued. Left with nothing but to pull Kyle Ray for an extra attacker, the Cardinals dominate the last minute, the Rocks can't get the puck out of their own zone and St. Charles is drilling a flurry on Rogers, Rogers was too much, starting the league off with a shutout, the Rocks win the conference season opener, 1-0. Cardinals out shot the Rocks 7-2 in the 3rd and 26-13 overall.

Rocks Highlights:
The Rocks get a big effort from several players but the game puck had to be given to Alex Rogers and Jeff Hoover. Rogers was a stone cold Rock out there making big saves all night and Hoover was all over every Cardinal player, all night, his intensity was simply the difference between wining and losing this night. Next up, again a conference match up and Coffman's opening night, as they entertain Gahanna Lincoln Lions in game 2 of a 3 game league opening weekend at 6:00 pm, Dublin Chiller.

 

                                                                                                                      by Randy Zacharias