Your Jamestown Ironmen (35-18-4) fell to the Michigan Warriors, 2-1 in North American Hockey League action on Friday night at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena.

The Warrior’s (19-29-9) bus broke down on their way to Jamestown, delaying the start of the game by about an hour. Michigan didn’t show up to JSBA until just about a half hour before the puck dropped, yet it was the Ironmen who looked sluggish once the game got underway.

Michigan mounted a 2-0 lead throughout the first two periods where they seemed to outwork the Ironmen. Jamestown didn’t get on the board until only 1:08 remained in the game, when the home team pulled the goaltender and Dylan Zink scored off of a Joe Mottiqua assist to Michigan’s lead down to one.

But it was too little, too late for the Ironmen as they ran out of time. Jamestown outshot the Warriors, 26-21 while Joey Ballmer made 19 saves in goal for the Ironmen during the loss.

“With the whole travel situation, Michigan had nothing to lose and they played like it,” said Ironmen head coach Dan Daikawa. “If we would have played the whole game how we played the last 10 minutes, we probably would have won, but we can’t wait that long to start playing the way we should. We shouldn’t have let that one slip away.”

The Ironmen still sit in second place in the NAHL North Division with a one point lead on the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings , who were idle Friday night. The team that finishes the regular season in that number two spot in the North will receive a first round bye in the playoffs.

Jamestown will look to bounce back with a victory as they battle with Michigan again today at 5pm. The Ironmen are hosting a pet supply drive to benefit the Chautauqua County Humane Society. Give your donations to the front desk on your way into the game for $2 off admission.