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Health & Fitness

Roosevelt Skaters Drop "Must-Win" Game

Needing a win to qualify for the Baron Cup Tournament, Kent Roosevelt's ice hockey team was defeated by Kenston 5-1.

The Kent Roosevelt ice hockey team, facing a must-win situation in order to qualify for the post-season Baron Cup tournament, traveled to The Pond in Auburn Township to face off against league foe Kenston Bombers on Saturday night.

Unfortunately for the Riders, they were on the short end of the 5-1 final score and were eliminated from Baron Cup play.

“It’s a game where everyone knows what’s on the line and as high school varsity athletes we should be ready to go. You’ve got to play with pride, you’ve got to play with passion and I think we left some of those in the locker room tonight,” commented Roosevelt Coach Ben Barlow.

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“We had a game plan and we fell short in the execution of virtually everything that we had to do in order to be successful tonight,” he added.

Kenston opened the game’s scoring with 4:29 remaining in the first period on a Zack Kinney goal. Senior Pat Lyons assisted on the goal.

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The Riders responded at 7:14 of the second period on a power play goal by senior alternate captain Bob Danner.  

For the Rough Riders, it was their only successful power play on five opportunities presented to them during the game.

“That’s a good snapshot of our lack of intensity in a big game like this,” reviewed Barlow when discussing the absence of power play production from his team.

Kenston regained the lead 32 seconds later when Alex Petre scored on a goal assisted by Lyons.

Later in the second period, Kenston’s Ben Kinney took advantage of one of nine  Roosevelt penalties scoring at 1:08 of the frame. Jim Althans and Zack Kinney assisted on the extra man tally.

“(Penalties) prevent us from getting into a rhythm and we allow a team (Kenston) that has an incredibly short bench to rest their players. We let them dictate play tonight; they were the best players on the ice tonight,” observed Barlow in response to the Riders’ 18-plus minutes of penalty time.

The Bombers’ final two goals were both empty net opportunities scored late in the final period by Zack Kinney and Nick Levine

For the game, Kenston outshot Kent 35-21.

“We’ve got a lot of hockey left (this season) and this will be a learning lesson for our kids,” Barlow reflected after the defeat.


BLUE LINE NOTES:

-The Riders next game action will be in district play of the Ohio High School Athletic Association state tournament at the Kent State University Ice Arena. Game schedules have not yet been announced.

-Roosevelt goalie Nate Grootegoed stopped a rare penalty shot opportunity taken by Kenston in third period.

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