Jamie Baker posted on February 03, 2012 22:58
By JAMIE BAKER
Staff Writer
Corey Bern and the rest of the Findlay High hockey team’s seniors didn’t want to leave the ice as losers Friday night.
Not on Senior Night, not against archrival Bowling Green.
The Trojans scored three goals, including the game-winner by Bern, in the final 2:30 to rally past the Bobcats 5-3 in a Northwest Hockey Conference encounter at The Cube’s Huntington Bank Arena.
With the game deadlocked at 2-2 and time running out, it looked like the Bobcats might skate away with the win.
Mason Mayberry gave Bowling Green a 3-2 lead with a goal on an assist from Dakota Bell with 2:42 to play.
But the Bobcats’ lead was shortlived.
Just 14 seconds later, Findlay’s Andy Martin tied it when he snuck the puck past Bowling Green freshman goaltender Tanner Fausnaugh.
Bern then took a pass from Patrick Hall on the right wing and blasted the game-winner past Fausnaugh with 38.1 seconds left in the contest.
Martin capped the win with an empty net goal, his third of the game, with 5.6 seconds remaining.
It was a fitting end for the careers of Findlay’s four seniors — Bern, Mark Roepke, Evan Hanawalt and Logan Sampson — who finished 10-0 against their I-75 rivals during the last four years.
“Coach Joe (Longo) just told us to keep trying to get shots on net,” Bern said.
“That shot wasn’t exactly beautiful, but it was money,” Bern said.
It took both teams almost a full period to finally break the ice.
In fact, Findlay, which was unable to take advantage of three power-play opportunities in the first period, looked like it would go into the first intermission deadlock at 0-0.
“We really came out slow in that first period. It was Senior Night and we were playing BG so everyone was pretty excited,” Bern said. “We may have had too much intensity
“The coaches told us to calm down, stay focused and play Trojan hockey.”
Findlay sophomore forward Noah Hindall came off the bench and finally found the back of the net with 21.4 seconds left in the opening period. Hindall slipped the puck through the legs of Fausnaugh on assists from senior defender and captain Roepke and junior defender Patrick Hall.
Bowling Green, which fell to 6-15-1, did most of its damage in a 55-second span of the second period.
Bowling Green senior Reid Mankowski got the Bobcats on the board just 24 seconds into the period on an unassisted goal.
A little less than a minute later, BG freshman Ryan Emans gave the Bobcats a 2-1 lead. Emans got a rebound and was able to score on an open net on the backside of of Findlay High junior goaltender Alex Woolley with 13:41 left in the second period to give the Bobcats a 2-1 lead.
The Trojans responded quickly, however.
Martin scored the equalizer for the Trojans just 43 seconds after Emans’ tally to tie the game 2-2. Martin took the puck one-on-one at Fausnaugh and blasted it past him to tie it. Roebke and Connor Curlis picked up the assists.
Both goaltenders had a busy night as Woolley recorded 27 saves Fausnaugh 26.
Findlay has come a long way this season. With a win in the NHC finale against St. Francis tonight at Tam-O-Shanter, the Trojans (15-14, 3-4 NHC) will claim the No. 3 seed in next weekend’s conference playoffs.
“We’re gearing up for the tournament and playing pretty good hockey right now,” said FHS hockey coach Joe Longo.
“A lot of people picked us to finish last in our division and some didn’t think we’d win a game. I think these kids have bought in, worked hard and have really proven themselves this year.”
Findlay’s junior varsity team tied Eastwood 2-2 on Friday night as Lucas Stump scored both goals. Joe Longo had 11 saves and Logan Bern 10 to lead Findlay in goal.
Baker, 419-427-8409
jamiebaker@thecourier.com