Roosevelt Skaters Defeated By Solon Comets

After watching his team play what Roosevelt hockey coach Ben Barlow considered  “the worst period of the year” during his team’s Tuesday night victory at Parma Normandy, the Rough Riders began Thursday night’s  7-4 loss against the Solon Comets with “one of our best periods this year,” according to Barlow.

The game was a battle for first place in the White East division as the teams were tied for the top spot going into the night’s action.

“We came out like gangbusters, played extremely well, dominated the neutral zone and had all facets of the game working,” observed Barlow.

Roosevelt senior Tom Fisher found the net early in the game by scoring the first goal at 51 seconds into the game. Line-mates Kyle Manning and Bob Danner were credited with assists on the goal.

Adding to the tremendous first-period effort by the Riders, sophomore Mitch Fisher scored his first high school career goal, with assists given to Tom Fisher and Manning.

Tom Fisher and Manning added additional, unassisted, goals providing a comfortable 4-1 margin for the Riders after one period of play.

Sam Littman, assisted by Jake Pierce, scored the Comet's lone first-period goal on a power play.

Unfortunately for the Riders, the game took a very different twist in the second and third periods.

“It was a strange game,” stated a clearly disappointed Barlow. “ I can’t remember the last time we gave up a three goal lead.”

The Riders would not score in the second and third periods, while allowing six unanswered goals by the come-back Comets.    

The Comets opened the second period with an even strength goal by Dan Roberts, assisted by Spencer Wien.  

Less than a minute later Solon’s Littman scored on a power play opportunity, assisted by Pierce and Eric Pohle.

“That (two quick goals) was a killer. That changed the whole momentum of our hockey game for us,” commented Barlow.

Adam Weisfeld, assisted by Littman, completed the second period scoring for the Comets.

In summarizing the rapid turn of events, Barlow stated, “It started with two power plays that they scored on both and our penalty kill is struggling” reviewed Barlow. “Those two power play goals, that’s a game changer right there.”

In the third period Pohle, Pierce and Weisfeld scored goals for the Comets.

“Losses are hard to take, but this one was extremely disappointing. I take full responsibility for what happened and everyone in the locker room feels like they had a piece in that loss”, concluded Barlow.

Blue line notes:

• The Rough Riders' next game is at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland against Red South Division power Rocky River. The game is Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 4 p.m.  “I like that my kids know they have to bring their best game,” Barlow mentioned when discussing scheduling games against upper division opponents from the Red Division.

• A busy week for the Riders continues after the trip to Cleveland as the team will play White Division foe Brecksville on Thursday the 26th at the Kent State University Ice Arena at 7:15 p.m. The team then returns to Cleveland Heights to play Benedictine on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 5 p.m.

• The Thursday game against Brecksville is senior player recognition night for the Rough Riders.

• The Rough Rider pep band will perform at the Brecksville game

Scoring summary

FIRST PERIOD:  1) KR: Fisher, T (Manning, Danner) 14:09, 2) KR: Fisher, M (Manning, Fisher, T.) 12:33, 3)KR: Fisher, T. 3:21, 4) S:Littman (Pierce) 2:58 pp, 5) KR: Manning, 1:12

SECOND PERIOD: 6) S: Roberts (Wien) 10:28, 7) S: Littman (Pierce, Pohle) 9:20 pp, 8) Weisfeld (Littman) 1:58

THIRD PERIOD: 9) S: Pohle (Littman) 14:51, 10) S: Pierce (Littman, Krenn) 8:49, 11) S: Weisfeld (Hannah) 6:37

Game scoring summary

KENT ROOSEVELT    4 –0 – 0      4

SOLON                    1 – 3 – 3      7

SHOTS ON GOAL

KENT ROOSEVELT     33

SOLON                     25

SAVES:

ROOSEVELT (Grootegoed) 18

SOLON             (Peterson) 29