Fisher Scores Winning Goal in OT

When the Kent Roosevelt ice hockey team takes only 11 shots, commits seven penalties and allows a 4-1 third period lead slip away in a game, it would be safe to assume defeat would be a likely outcome.

But when that same team scores three shorthanded goals in the mix of killing off those penalties and regains their composure in overtime, the final result was a 6-5 Rough Rider victory over the Brecksville Bees in a league game played on Thursday evening at Kent State Ice Arena.

“Not necessarily the way we drew it up,” observed Roosevelt coach Ben Barlow in reviewing the evening’s play.

After a first period in which the Riders did not commit a penalty and opened the game’s scoring on junior Kyle Manning’s goal at 4:59 of that period, the team committed three penalties in the second period and four in the third.

That collection of penalties required the Riders to play nearly 12 minutes of penalty kill hockey in the final two periods and into the overtime period.

“It was a game of special teams,” commented Barlow. “Our penalty kill was able to score as their (Brecksville’s) power play is aggressive. They bring their defenseman down inside the blue line and that plays into the strength of our tight box. Coach Kevin Burroughs (Roosevelt assistant) did a wonderful job of putting two of our more skilled players up on the penalty kill, thus Tom Fisher and Bob Danner were able to pressure their defensemen, create turnovers and score shorthanded goals." 

Danner scored the first of his two shorthanded goals at 1:36 of the second period and Fisher netted another shorthanded goal one minute later. 

Aaron Gerow scored Brecksville’s first goal of the evening in the second period.

While scoring numerous shorthanded goals proved critical to the Riders victory, Barlow also cited the shot blocking efforts of his second and third line special team units.

“They had an opportunity to go out there and they did a really good job of blocking shots,” Barlow stated.

“On one shift, Gabe Smith, a freshman for us, blocked two consecutive shots and then, 10 seconds later, with a puck sitting on the back door of the crease, swoops in, picks the puck up and prevents a goal,” recounted the Rough Rider coach.

Early in the third period Manning scored his second goal of the night giving the Riders a three goal lead.

The Bees then stung the Rough Riders, scoring three unanswered goals, two by Evan Harcourt and one by Ryan Iwaszkiw, tying the game with just over six minutes to play in the third period.

Danner halted the Bee’s momentum by tallying his second shorthanded goal with 4:13 remaining in the third, giving the Riders a 5-4 lead.

However, a bouncing puck on a shot by Brecksville’s Mike Sullivan found its way into the net with just over a minute remaining in regulation time, tying the game at five goals each.

Barlow described the vanishing of a three goal lead as “unacceptable”.

“We have given up a lot of goals in the third period the last two weeks. We need to get up (ahead) early because we have a thin bench and learn how to finish games,” he said.

As overtime began, the Rough Riders were again required to play shorthanded for nearly two minutes as a late third period interference penalty had been assessed to the Riders.

Fittingly enough, Fisher, one of four seniors recognized in “Senior Night” pre-game festivities, scored the game winning goal at 5:53 of the overtime period.

Blue Line Notes:

• Roosevelt’s victory Thursday night was Coach Barlow’s 150th career win as head coach of the Riders.

• Seniors Cam Bindus, Bob Danner, Tom Fisher, Tyler Gallagher and family members were recognized during pre-game festivities, as Thursday night’s game was the final “home” regular season game.

• The Riders have one league game remaining, Saturday, Feb. 4, against Kenston at 8:40 p.m. at The Pond in Auburn Township. (The second-to-last league game was played Saturday against Cleveland Benedictine.)

• The Rough Rider pep band entertained the crowd during Thursday night’s game.