2/21/2019 Slippery Rock University vs John Carroll University  

 Thursday night Slippery Rock University traveled to Ohio to face John Carroll University at the Gilmour Academy.

 The puck drop Thursday night at Gilmour Academy was 9:30 p.m.  In a high scoring affair, Slippery Rock and JCU combined for seven goals in the first period. J McMahon started the scoring off early for JCU with a goal twelve seconds into the game. The dynamic duo of T. Kimmick and J. Mauro scored the equalizer goal at 1:38. JCU then came roaring back with a flurry of three goals in under eight minutes. The goals scored by B. Rossbach 3:02, C. Mills 5:28, and B. Russell 10:58. Slippery Rock University continued to grind preventing the game from getting out of hand early. T. Gilliand of Slippery Rock scored a goal 13:53. B. Rossbach scored his second goal the game and seventh of the period at 17:21. In the period we saw penalties prove costly for SRU as JCU was able to capitalize with four power-play goals.

 After the first period, JCU 5 SRU 2

 After seeing JCU dominate the first-period SRU pulled a 180 made things interesting in the second period. SRU came alive in the second period scoring four of the five goals scored in the second period.  C. Ackerman struck with lightning quickness scoring two goals at 1:56. Tommy Kimmick added a third goal in the period at 7:46. A. Gilca scored the only goal of the period for JCU at 16:25. With fifty-six seconds left in the period, Slippery Rock University struck again with a goal scored by Sean Patt. Just like all season, Slippery Rock University proves that great things improve with time like a nice glass of wine. 

 Through two periods of play, SRU 6 JCU 6

Heading into the third period of play tied six to six both teams looked to gain the advantage once and for all.  T. KImmick scored his third goal of the game at 2:34 giving him a hat trick. Though in what has been a game of one up between J. McMahon and T. Kimmick J. McMahon and JCU got the last laugh. J. McMahon scored a hat trick in the third period with three goals at 4:21, 9:22, and 16:45.

 Final Score JCU 9 – SRU 7

 SRU K. Belanger 33 shots, 24 saves

 JCU W. Deacon 40 shots, 33 saves

 In a scoring affair with two hat tricks T. Kimmick of SRU and J. McMahon of JCU. JCU got the best of Slippery Rock with a combined 14 points scored between J. McMahon (4 goals and 2 assists) and E. Krueger (7 assists).  Joins us Friday and Saturday night, as The Rock looks to rebound and finish the season off strong with a home and home series against the University of Pitt. The scheduled puck drop times are 10:00 p.m. at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex and 9: 20 p.m at the Alpha Ice Cmplx.

2/22/2019 SRU vs Pitt Game One

Friday night Slippery Rock University was at home for their final home game of the regular season.

Puck drop was 10:00 p.m. at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Pitt busted out of the gates in the first period with seventeen shots on goal to Slippery Rocks six. T. Skomsky of Pitt scored the only goal of the period at 5:22. In a period where the action was fast paced and very little stoppage of play. The only two penalties called were two on Pitt for Tripping.

After the first period Pitt 1 SRU 0

After being outshot seventeen to six in the first, Slippery Rock outshot Pitt thirteen to nine in the second. A. Bosnic scored at 7:15 for Pitt. J. Fair added another goal at 13:36. The only penalty of the period was two minutes tripping on SRU Sean Patt.

Through two periods, Pitt 3 SRU 0

Once again The Rock outshot Pitt fourteen to nine. Although Pitt was able to capitalize on their opportunities.  J. Bertolami scored at 4:05 for Pitt. It was at 5:19 that things started to really get out of the hands of Slippery Rock.  M. Carrozzi of Pitt hit SRU captain T. Kimmick in the head that left him down on the ice for a few minutes. C. Ackerman disagreed with no call being made and decided to get some retribution for his injured teammate. C. Ackerman got two minutes for cross-checking, five minutes for head contact, and a match ejection penalty. Pitt scored two power-play goals Z. Mulholland at 8:13 and M.Klena at 8:47. Jamie Mauro was able to salvage a goal for SRU at 16:54.

Final Score Pitt 6 SRU 1

SRU J Szynalski 30 shots, 24 saves

P. Spaulding 5 shots, 5 saves

Pitt M. Snader 33 shots, 32 saves

Saturday night SRU travels to Alpha Ice Complex to face Pitt in the second game of the home and home series and last game of the regular season. Slippery Rock will look to avenge their two losses against JCU and Pitt to salvage some momentum before the playoffs start.

2/23 SRU vs. Pitt Game 2

The puck drop was 9:20 p.m at the Alpha Ice Complex. Pitt and Slippery Rock spent the first period feeling each other out, The Rock’s T. Pfeil had the only penalty of the period two minutes for interference at 4:35. In a period where Slippery Rock outshot Pitt ten shots to eight only one goal was conceded. Jamie Mauro scored at 17:56 on a shot that bounced off M. Snader and caused a huge pile in front with the puck bouncing off multiple players somehow finding the back of the net. 

After the first period SRU 1 Pitt 0

In the second period, we saw Pitt pick things up. Pitt outshot The Rock fifteen shots to ten. With stellar goaltending by K. Belanger and steady defense by The Rock, there were no goals in the period. There were no penalties in the period.  This was Slippery Rocks best period of play in probably their last seven proving sometimes the best offense is just playing a clean consist period. 

Through 2 periods, SRU 1 Pitt 0

In the third, we saw the urgency with SRU knowing they needed a win to stop their skid and Pitt could possibly get the number two playoff seed with a win. Slippery busted out of the gate with a picture-perfect textbook goal A.  Esposito dribbling the puck down to the Pitt zone passing it to Jamie Mauro who found a wide-open Tommy Kimmick for the goal at 0:20.  About fourteen minutes into the period complete anarchy broke out when J.Seibert had routine rainbow lob pass into the Pitt zone for the shift change somehow found the back of the net. After a hasty deliberation, the refs made a call that SRU was offsides when nobody was in the Pitt zone. S. Phillips scored for Pitt at 15:29. The captain Tommy Kimmick scored the easiest goal of his career with nobody around him within five feet it was just look up and fire it one hundred miles per hour past the goalie at 16:25. M. Defay scored a goal at 17:48 cutting SRU’s lead to one. In the last two minutes of the game was a circus with bodies flying everywhere guys trying to force the puck into the goal. The refs not calling any penalties letting the two teams duke it out. 

Final score SRU 3 – Pitt 2

SRU K. Belanger 32 shots, 30 saves

M. Snader 34 shots, 31 saves

Join us Friday March 1 for the first week of the CHMA playoffs, as number three Pitt squares off with number six RMU at 6:20 P.M and fourth rank Slippery Rock faces the fifth seed JCU at 9:20 p.m. This makes for some playoff hockey as RMU defeated Pitt last weekend 3-1 and JCU beat Slippery Rock 9-7 Thursday night. There’s going to be some intensity between all the teams considering it is the playoffs and the fact they have just faced each other within the last week.