Blackhawk Cougars Hockey Game Recap for 1/9/14

By: Bruce Markey
Friday, January 10, 2014 | 4:52 PM

It was Senior night at the Beaver County Ice Arena for the Blackhawk Cougars Hockey team. Seven players were honored before the game. However the Harborcreek Huskies spoiled the festivities with a 6-3 come from behind victory to improve to 12-1 on the season. The Huskies gained revenge from the teams previous encounter at Harborcreek where Blackhawk won 6-3 on November 25th.

The first period was all Huskies as they out shot the Cougars 17-6. They scored twice in the opening frame. The first goal came at 4:34 and was scored by Jayme Collins. Nick Rocco would make it 2-0 at 13:18 of the first stanza. Cougar goalie Cory Steinle made a half dozen outstanding glove saves to keep Blackhawk in the game. The whole period was Huskie rush, odd man break and Cougar defensive errors. Blackhawk was lucky to be down just two goals.

Into the 2nd period the Huskies were still rolling and had an early power play. The Cougars defense took over and killed the man advantage. Then at the 8:00 minute mark Blackhawk took another penalty. This time the Cougars would score a short handed goal at 7:26. Nate Lundy scored from the point on an assist by Grant Rombold. His shot hit a defensman and went past Huskie Keeper Tyler Mann. Blackhawk took over and dominated the rest of the period out shooting Harbor creek 13 -10 and scoring two more times to take a 3-2 lead. They would tie it up on the power play at 12:06. Grant Rombold scored on a perfect feed from Kyle Schaefer to tie it at 2-2. A marvelous goal on a well worked power play and the Cougars were rolling. They would take a 3-2 lead at 15:24 as Robbie Swinderman scored in front on virtually the same play as the previous goal. He was assisted by Lundy and Rombold. After this the Huskies called time out to try to slow the Cougars onslaught. It worked and the period ended 3-2 Cougars.

The start of the third period was all Blackhawk as their defense was strong for the first 3:00 minutes. Harborcreek came on strong to try to tie the contest but the Cougars were up to the task. But It all came unraveled for them though at 3:29 as Ryan Markiewicz scored from the point after a Cougar defensive meltdown. They would then pour it on and score two more goals in the next six minutes, one by Logan Conboy, and another by Collins, his second of the game to make it 5-3. They would end the scoring with an empty net goal by Markiewicz his second of the contest to make the final 6-3. Harbprcreek out shot the Cougars in the third period 15 to 9 and on the game as well 42-28.

The three stars of the game were: 3rd star from Blackhawk Grant Rombold with a goal and an assist. 2nd star from Harbor creek with 2 goals Ryan Markiewicz. 1st star and MSA player of the game from Harborcreek Jayme Collins with 2 goals.

Blackhawk falls to 7-5 on the season and will play again on Monday January 13th at home versus Central Valley. The Cougars can be heard on MSA Sports again on February 6th at home versus Wheeling Park. Blackhawk is still solidly in the playoff hunt but in danger of missing out on a home playoff game. Stay tuned to the MSA Sports Network for full coverage on the Black hawk Cougars run in the playoffs, where all playoff games can be heard at www.msasports.net.

Tags: Blackhawk, Harbor Creek