Hockey vs. SJJ Recap

It was Teacher Night at The Cube Arena for a match-up of two highly ranked teams in the state between #11 Findlay and #10 Toledo St. Johns (15-11-3 7-1-2 NHC). And all in attendance were given a proper education in goaltending from yet another spectacular effort from Trojans goalie Junior Seth Russell (36 saves) and his counterpart from St. Johns Zach Lojewski (33 saves), in the battle that was a 0-0 tie in the end.

Findlay came out pumped up and ready for the battle between the two powerhouse programs. Having early game problems were a concern for the Trojans lately, but they turned things around and rattled off the first four shots of the game after some early intense high pressure offense. St. Johns would quickly wake up and go on an attack of their own and get some good looks in front of Findlay goalie Russell, he would make the routine saves of the Titan chances. Declan Loisel would get a breakaway for St. Johns with 1:33 left in the first period and Russell would come up huge and stick out his right pad and save the Titans shot. The Trojans would get a good look from Senior Kellen Wetz with 2 seconds left in the period off of a great pass from Senior Ethan Lammers, but the effort was stopped by St. Johns. Sending the teams to the first intermission 0-0.

St. Johns would control the tempo and momentum of the first 8 minutes of the second period outshooting the Trojans 6-2 in that time frame. Chances by former Findlay players Lucian Chan and Justy VonLehmden for the Titans went saved by the Trojan net minder. After Findlay started to press offensively more they were given the first power-play of the night at 6:14 of the second period. Chances in the middle by Senior Mason Greenawalt and Freshman Draven Wilson went saved by the Titans and St. Johns killed off the penalty. The Titans would end the second period with a barrage of shots of Russell, but tonight Russell was building a stone wall in goal. The game would head into the third period scoreless.

St. Johns would take a penalty early on in the third period. The Trojans special teams again went to work on the Titans defense. Findlay was able to open up the St. Johns defense and get 3 good chances at goal during the power-play that all went saved by the Titans goalie. Shortly after St. John's killed off that penalty the Trojans would give up a penalty of their own. The Titans would get 6 shot on goal during the ensuing power-play play but Findlay was able to kill off the penalty thanks to the play of Russell in goal and the defensive effort by Junior Kaleb Haubert. During the final minutes of play in the third period Findlay and St. Johns traded chances back and forth looking for the game winner. A breakaway late for the Trojans Ethan Lammers went saved and Will Lowery had an opportunity with :53 seconds left in the game that Russell was able to see the whole way and make the save to keep the game scoreless and send the game to Overtime.

During the overtime period again the goalies were stopping all of the shots. Findlay got 2 good looks with a minute left in the game after a shot form the point by Junior Nate Reigle went saved and the rebound was found by Wetz for the Trojans but again the Titans goalie came up strong. St. Johns would get the last chance of the game after a scrum in front of the Findlay goal, but Russell made the save and the game ended at 0-0.
Findlay Junior Seth Russell post game "Props to the Titans tonight. They came out battling, but we were prepared for that." "A tie….I can't believe it still. We had good looks on goal, we just need them to start going in the back of the net, the goals will come." "The entire roster trusts each other and our team chemistry is unlike any other teams."

Findlay Junior Kaleb Haubert post game "Let's keep playing man" he said after the game "After blocking all of those shots I still feel good. Probably have another two or three periods left in the tank." "Great team effort all around…shout out to Freshman Draven Wilson man, when he blocks shots and gets a good check on a guy it pumps me up to do better out there."

Coach Ben Patey post game "We played a strong game tonight, we played sound defensively and the team went out and performed how we asked of them." "I've been proud of the team all year, we've had our ups and downs but with our current effort going into the playoffs we will be a difficult team to knock out of the tournament." "We knocked St. Johns out of contention for the league title so it was a victory to the team."
The Trojans (15-11-1 3-5-1 NHC) now will travel up to Sylvania Tam-o-Shanter to play league opponent Perrysburg at 3pm today.
3 Stars of the Game

Third Star: Findlay Draven Wilson 4 blocks
Second Star: Findlay Kaleb Haubert 5 blocks
First Star: Findlay Seth Russell 36 saves shut out

JV Findlay 4 St. Johns 6

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Players Mentioned

#1 Seth Russell: 6' 3"; Junior

#10 Kellen Wetz: 5' 8"; Senior

#12 Ethan Lammers: 5' 11"; Senior

#41 Draven Wilson: 6' 1"; Freshman

#32 Kaleb Haubert: Junior

#26 Mason Greenawalt: Senior

Players Mentioned

#1 Seth Russell
: 6' 3"; Junior

#10 Kellen Wetz
: 5' 8"; Senior

#12 Ethan Lammers
: 5' 11"; Senior

#41 Draven Wilson
: 6' 1"; Freshman

#32 Kaleb Haubert
: Junior

#26 Mason Greenawalt
: Senior