- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,194,857
- Reaction score
- 59
The Johnstown Tomahawks goaltender tandem is back to full strength, a week after the North American Hockey League team used emergency backup netminders in back-to-back games.
“From the hockey perspective, it’s a nice attribute when you put in an emergency goaltender and you’re able to be in games still,” Tomahawks coach Adam Houli said after the backups produced solid performances in an 0-1-1 two-game set at home against Rochester. “That means that things are starting to come together the right way.
“We just have to realize it’s 60 minutes of doing that, not just a couple minutes.”
Both veteran Zack Ferris and first-year goalie Nikita Oleksiienko will be in the lineup as the East Division sixth-place Tomahawks host the fifth-place New Jersey Titans Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (7) at 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial.
Oleksiienko missed both games this past weekend as a precaution, Houli said, after the goalie took a few hard shots to the head area during his 2-1 shootout victory at Elmira Jan. 17.
Ferris, who is 7-10-6 with a 2.98 goals against average and .905 save percentage, received a game misconduct after engaging in a goaltenders fight against Rochester’s Florian Wade at the end of the second period Jan. 23.
Emergency backup Ryan Lombardo, a 16-year-old Bellefonte Area High School product, played the final 20 minutes and stopped 12 of 14 shots in a 5-0 loss. Lombardo had to contend with a Rochester 5-on-3 as well as a five-minute major power play.
Houli said the NAHL eventually reversed its course regarding Ferris’ expected suspension Saturday, but the team decided to utilize emergency backup goaltender Luc Beauparlant – the son of Tomahawks assistant coach Geoff Beauparlant – because of the uncertainty ahead of the league ruling.
“Ferris actually had his fight (suspension) rescinded, but we kept him out for precautionary reasons so we needed to use an emergency backup,” Houli said. “Geoff’s son is a goaltender in the league (Eastern Hockey League) I was formerly in, so we knew he could step up to the plate.”
The younger Beauparlant made 25 saves in 65 minutes as the Tomahawks fell 3-2 in an overtime shootout.
“Luc had junior experience, which helped,” Houli said. “Our team really rallied around him, playing strong in front of him and doing the little details right.
“Last Saturday night is the perfect example of when we execute the small details the right way, we can play with one of the better teams in the division.”
The Tomahawks (17-15-7) have 41 points, one point behind New Jersey (19-15-4).
Johnstown is 3-4-3 in its past 10 games, and the Titans are 3-6-1 in that same span. Both teams look for momentum as the NAHL playoffs loom. The top six teams in the East qualify for the postseason.
“Every weekend is big,” Houli said. “We are staring at them above us in the standings. Here is a team that is above us that is coming into our building, and we have a chance to have a successful weekend that would put us in front of them.”
Ferris is an experienced leader and has played solid despite a 0-3-2 record in his past five games. His most recent win was at Maine Dec. 13.
Oleksiienko is 7-3-0 with a 2.95 goals against average and .919 save percentage in 10 games.
“We have about 20 games left,” Houli said. “We have to make sure we feel comfortable with where our lineup is going and play a good, strong game."
The Tomahawks acquired forward Ethan Rosenoff from the Minnesota Mallards for defenseman Talan Del-Signore this week. Rosenoff will join the Tomahawks Friday, Houli said, but a two-game league suspension will keep him off the ice.
“We’ve shown we can play with the best of the league," Houli said. "We now have to find the little pieces to help us get over the top.”
Continue reading...
“From the hockey perspective, it’s a nice attribute when you put in an emergency goaltender and you’re able to be in games still,” Tomahawks coach Adam Houli said after the backups produced solid performances in an 0-1-1 two-game set at home against Rochester. “That means that things are starting to come together the right way.
“We just have to realize it’s 60 minutes of doing that, not just a couple minutes.”
Both veteran Zack Ferris and first-year goalie Nikita Oleksiienko will be in the lineup as the East Division sixth-place Tomahawks host the fifth-place New Jersey Titans Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (7) at 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial.
Oleksiienko missed both games this past weekend as a precaution, Houli said, after the goalie took a few hard shots to the head area during his 2-1 shootout victory at Elmira Jan. 17.
Ferris, who is 7-10-6 with a 2.98 goals against average and .905 save percentage, received a game misconduct after engaging in a goaltenders fight against Rochester’s Florian Wade at the end of the second period Jan. 23.
Emergency backup Ryan Lombardo, a 16-year-old Bellefonte Area High School product, played the final 20 minutes and stopped 12 of 14 shots in a 5-0 loss. Lombardo had to contend with a Rochester 5-on-3 as well as a five-minute major power play.
Houli said the NAHL eventually reversed its course regarding Ferris’ expected suspension Saturday, but the team decided to utilize emergency backup goaltender Luc Beauparlant – the son of Tomahawks assistant coach Geoff Beauparlant – because of the uncertainty ahead of the league ruling.
“Ferris actually had his fight (suspension) rescinded, but we kept him out for precautionary reasons so we needed to use an emergency backup,” Houli said. “Geoff’s son is a goaltender in the league (Eastern Hockey League) I was formerly in, so we knew he could step up to the plate.”
The younger Beauparlant made 25 saves in 65 minutes as the Tomahawks fell 3-2 in an overtime shootout.
“Luc had junior experience, which helped,” Houli said. “Our team really rallied around him, playing strong in front of him and doing the little details right.
“Last Saturday night is the perfect example of when we execute the small details the right way, we can play with one of the better teams in the division.”
The Tomahawks (17-15-7) have 41 points, one point behind New Jersey (19-15-4).
Johnstown is 3-4-3 in its past 10 games, and the Titans are 3-6-1 in that same span. Both teams look for momentum as the NAHL playoffs loom. The top six teams in the East qualify for the postseason.
“Every weekend is big,” Houli said. “We are staring at them above us in the standings. Here is a team that is above us that is coming into our building, and we have a chance to have a successful weekend that would put us in front of them.”
Ferris is an experienced leader and has played solid despite a 0-3-2 record in his past five games. His most recent win was at Maine Dec. 13.
Oleksiienko is 7-3-0 with a 2.95 goals against average and .919 save percentage in 10 games.
“We have about 20 games left,” Houli said. “We have to make sure we feel comfortable with where our lineup is going and play a good, strong game."
The Tomahawks acquired forward Ethan Rosenoff from the Minnesota Mallards for defenseman Talan Del-Signore this week. Rosenoff will join the Tomahawks Friday, Houli said, but a two-game league suspension will keep him off the ice.
“We’ve shown we can play with the best of the league," Houli said. "We now have to find the little pieces to help us get over the top.”
Continue reading...
