St Joseph's Prep Hawks

VARSITY: Meadville: 6, McDowell: 0 Game Report provided by Meadville Bulldog Hockey Club ERIE - Sophomore goalie Bryan Danczak was perfect in the contest stopping all 14 Trojan shots in a total team effort as the Dogs’ dominated the entire game. Meadville’s Morgan Nickerson powers the Dogs to victory with 3 goals and an assist in the contest. The Dogs outshoot McDowell 36-14 to lead the PIHL division. The first period had both teams feeling each other out a bit until the Dogs’ began to wear down the Trojans with their relentless effort. Goalie Bryan Danczak kept the Dogs’ in it early as he made some quality saves late in the period. Senior Assistant Captain Chris Learn sacrificed his body for the good of the team when he blocked a shot from the point with 1:55 remaining in the 1st. Momentum shifts to the Dogs’ as they record 9 shots on goal in the period to McDowell’s 5. The second period saw an energized Meadville team turn up the noise on the McDowell tender. At 12:13 the Dogs’ mounted 2 flurries around the net but couldn’t cash in. At 9:31 the McDowell tender began losing control of the rebounds, and the puck, and you could sense Meadville smelled blood. With increased intensity from both the forwards and defense, the Dogs’ drew a penalty. With about 9 minutes remaining the eruption began……on the power play…Casey Rogers fed Morgan Nickerson at the point and with some slick stick work, Nickerson walked through 2 defenders and snapped a devastating wrist shot past the Trojan tender for the eventual game winner. About 30 seconds later on the same shift, Nickerson used his size and agility in front of the net to score his second of the evening from Casey Rogers. Nickerson took a pass in front of the net an d pulled the puck all the way across his body…and “roofed” it with a quick backhand….sweeeeettt. 2-0 Meadville. McDowell called a time out but the train already left the station and it was Tyler Learn and” Red Hot “Mike Noonan who teamed up for the Dogs’ 3rd goal. Noonan’s aggressive attack allowed Learn the opportunity to poke home a rebound…3-0 Meadville. Goalie Bryan Danczak stayed focused on the task at hand and “stoned” sniper Nick Desanti with 2:12 remaining in the 2nd from close range. The save fueled the fire and the Dogs roared back with 1:56 remaining in the period. Coming out of the Meadville zone Casey Rogers made a nice headman pass to a streaking Morgan Nickerson. Nickerson took the puck up the right wing and with some fancy skating and stickwork…..found Pat Leone on the back door with a perfect pass through traffic that Leone punched in for the Dogs’ 4th goal. The second period ended with Meadville out shooting the Trojans 17-5 in the period and 26-10 after 2. The Dogs’ poured it on in the 3rd and “Beef” Stanton got an early Christmas present when he dumped the puck in from center red and it took and odd bounce an in for the 5th goal of the night. Leone recorded the assist on the play. Danczak stayed sharp and could smell the shutout coming but not before making several more quality saves as the Trojans tried to spoil the fun at 10:24. At 8:42, the Nickerson, Leone and Rogers line struck again with for the Dogs’ final goal of the night. Rogers and Leone worked hard to get the puck to Nickerson for the hat trick. As Nickerson was getting worked over in front of the net, he held his position and with sheer desire, muscled home the Dogs’ 6th goal with power and finesse. The Dogs’ defense tightened up for Danczak, preserving the shutout and the 6-0 win. Final Shots on goal Meadville 36…McDowell 14.