Blackhawk Cougars Hockey Game Recap for 2/6/14

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, February 9, 2014 | 2:35 PM

At the Beaver County Ice Arena in Open Class Hockey competition the Wheeling Park Patriots win a wild game over the home standing Blackhawk Cougars by a 6-5 score. In a game with playoff implications for both teams. The game was tied four times, as the Cougars kept coming back. But the Patriots scored last for the win.

In the first period Blackhawk scored on a goal by Bobby Piccerilo at 4:28 to open the scoring to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. Cameron Houk and Grant Rombold had assists. That lead  lasted until :17 seconds left in the period as Wheeling Parks Austin Curnes tied it at 1-1. The period ended with the Cougars being out shot 15-12.

The second period saw a goal :17 seconds in as the Patriorts got a quick goal by Ryan Bishop to go ahead 2-1. But just :23 seconds later the Cougars  would tie it. Austin Javens from the front of the net got a feed from Kyle Schaefer and it was tied 2-2. Wheeling Parks Kyle Wensel scored at 5:41 to give the Patriots a 3-2 lead. Then the  Cougars would tie for a second time in the period just 1 minute and 2 seconds later on a goal by Rombold, assisted by Piccerilo to make it 3-3.  In a wild second period the Patriots would score a goal short handed on 2 on 1 break as Cameron Eberhart would make it 4-3. The Cougars out shot the Patriots 17-12 in the period and held a 29-27 lead after two periods.

Play got a little rougher in the 3rd period as numerous checks and a few scuffles after whistles led to rough play. Tim Stahoviak who took a hard check and sat out a few shifts in the second period would tie the score at 4-4 at 2:35 into the 3rd period. It was an unassisted goal and the third time in the game the Cougars would tie the game. The game remained even thru the next eight minutes as both teams had numerous chances. The Cougars hit the post or crossbar three times. The Patriots had chances and missed the net or Cougar goalie Cory Steinle would stone them. At the 10:28 mark Wheeling Park would take a 5-4 lead on a goal by Wensel his second of the game. It looked like that might be enough for Wheeling Park but they took a penalty and at 12:11  Devon Gabauer would get a power play goal. Late on the power play, after the Cougars had so many chances, Gabauer got the puck at the middle of the  point. As he was sliding to the right point he fired a high shot that beat the Patriot keeper high to the glove side. For Gabauer it was his 3rd goal of the year, and for the Cougars it was the 4th time they would tie the game. It was now 5-5.The lead would last only a few minutes, because at 14:56 Michael Grove the star of the Patriots would score  to give them a 6-5 lead. The last 2 minutes saw the Cougars furiously attempt to tie the game. They got another power play, and pulled the goalie for a 6 on 4 edge but couldn’t beat Noah Clune the Partiot goalie. Final shot totals for the third period were 15 for the Cougars and a game total of 44, and 11 for the Patriots for a total of 38.

Wheeling Park improves to 8-11 and has a solid shot at a playoff spot. Blackhawk falls to  11-6 overall, and seems to have a playoff spot wrapped up. However they will need some help in order to get a home playoff game. The Cougars have 3 games remaining. two of them will be covered by MSA Sports. On Thursday February 13th they take on Harborcreek at 6:45. Then the following Wednesday the 19th they end the season with a make up game against McDowell. The playoffs start on Sunday the 23rd and MSA Sports will have the Cougars playoff games as well.

Tonites MSA three stars were   3rd Star Wheeling Parks Michael Grove with 1 goal and 2 assists. 2nd star was Blackhawks Bobby Piccerillo with 1 goal and one assist. The number one star and MSA Sports  player of the game was the Patriots Kyle Wensel with 2 goals and one assist.

Tags: Blackhawk, Wheeling Park