December 5, 2009

HOOVER OUTLASTS BENEDICTINE TO WIN GCHSHL WHITE EAST OPENER

The Vikings opened the White East Division schedule with a nail-biter win over the Benedictine High Bengals on Saturday evening at Cleveland Heights.  The big ice at Cleveland Heights always seems to cause problems for the Vikings, who fell behind 1-0 after 1 period.  The Bengals scored at 1:10 into the period, and held the Vikes off the scoreboard despite a 6-3 shot advantage for the Vikings.

Things got worse for the Vikings in the 2nd period, with the Bengals scoring goals just 19 seconds apart at the midway point of the period to take a 3-0 lead.  But the Vikings rallied with 2 goals during a 4-on-4 situation, both by Kevin Deane.  Jordan Oblein assisted on the first goal, and combined with Neal Greenho to assist on the second.  A powerplay goal by Oblein just 29 seconds later pulled the Vikes into a 3-3 tie, with Deane and Greenho assisting.  It took the Bengals only 42 seconds to go back up by a goal.

The Vikings responded just 1:02 later, with 3:02 remaining in the 2nd period, on a 5-on-3 powerplay goal by T.R. Krucek that was again assisted by Oblein.  Eli Jones scored another powerplay goal with assists from Deane and Greenho with 2:19 remaining to put the ahead for the first time in the game at 5-4.

Benedictine came back to tie the game at 3:31 into the 3rd period, then retook the lead at 6-5 with 10:07 to go in the contest.  Krucek pulled the Vikings back even, with an assist from Jones with 9:28 remaining.  The Vikings scored what proved to be the game winner with 3:17 remaining when Krucek found Jones with a long pass to the Bengals blueline, and Eli scored the breakaway goal.  Ethan Bishop picked up his 1st GCHSHL win with 15 saves, as the Viking finished with a 26-21 shot advantage.

The Vikings host the Kenston Bombers at Center Ice tomorrow at 3:40pm.

November 29, 2009

HOOVER TO OPEN GCHSHL REGULAR SEASON ACTION THIS COMING WEEKEND

The Hoover Vikings will open the GCHSHL White Division regular season on Saturday, December 5th at 5:00pm against the Benedictine Bengals at the Cleveland Heights Recreation Center.  The Bengals are new to the White Division this season, having dropped down from the Red Division in the off-season.  The Vikes will have their home opener on Sunday, December 6th at 3:40pm against the Kenston Bombers, who are also new to the White Division, having moved up from the Blue Division in the off-season.

November 29, 2009

VIKINGS DROP FINAL GAME AT FROZENCREEK TO SPRINGBORO

The Springboro Panthers knocked off the Vikings by a 3-2 margin in the final game of the Beavercreek "Frozencreek" Tournament on Sunday morning.  The Vikings put out a respectable effort, despite playing without senior center Kevin Deane; and got a excellent effort in goal from freshman Kirk Greenho - who came up with 32 saves in his high school hockey debut.

Springboro took a 1-0 lead in the first period, scoring at the 7:41 mark.  The Panthers extended their advantage to 2-0 at 5:50 of the second period, and to 3-0 with 1 minute remaining in the second.  T.R. Krucek's unassisted goal with just 11 seconds remaining in the period gave the Vikings some momentum going into the final period.

The Vikings came out strong in the 3rd period, getting a goal from Mason Koonce (assisted by Jordan Oblein) just 56 seconds in to pull within 3-2.  However, the Vikes could not score the equalizer.  The Vikes were outshot by the Panthers 35-23, as the Vikings ran all 4 lines throughout the game.

November 28, 2009

VIKINGS COME UP SHORT IN GAME 3 VERSUS BEAVERCREEK

The Vikings went into game 3 needing a victory and 4 points to make it to the tournament championship game.  Things looked promising after Dave Piero assisted Eli Jones on a goal at the 5:19 mark of the 1st period to put the Vikings up 1-0 over the tournament host Beavercreek Beavers.

The Beavers came back to take the 2nd period by a 3-2 margin.  Kevin Deane put the Vikes up 2-0 at 1:29 into the 2nd, with Jordan Oblein and Mason Koonce assisting, but Beavercreek tied it at 2-2 with goals at 5:24 and 6:28.  An unassisted goal by T.R. Krucek put the Vikings back on top at 10:33 of the period, but the Beavers scored 1 minute later to tie the game at 3-3 and win the point for the period.

The Beavers put the game, and a spot in the championship game, away with 2 goals in the 3rd period.  The Vikings could not manage to find the back of the net, despite 12-7 for the period, and 40-19 for the game.

The Vikings will face the Springboro Panthers in the 3rd place consolation game on Sunday morning at 10:40am.

November 28, 2009

VIKINGS LOSE TO CENTERVILLE IN GAME 2

The Centerville Elks outlasted the Vikings in Game 2 of the Frozencreek Tournament on Saturday morning by a score of 4-2, and also took 4 of 5 points, sending the Vikes to third place in the tournament standings.

The Elks took a 2-0 lead in the 1st period, getting a goal just 1:24 into the period and with just 25 seconds remaining in the period.  The Vikings were outshot 13-4.  The Vikings came back to win the 2nd period 1-0 to pull to within 2-1.  Eli Jones put the Vikes on the scoreboard with a powerplay goal at 12:41 of the period, getting assists from Mason Koonce and T.R. Krucek.  The Elks continued to outshoot the Vikings by a 12-5 margin in the 2nd period.

Hoover tied the game on a Kevin Deane powerplay goal at 6:05 into the 3rd period, with Krucek and Jordan Oblein getting the assists.  The Elks answered with a goal just 46 seconds later, and finished off the win with an goal at the 12:13 mark.  Ethan Bishop stopped 33 of 37 shots for the game.

The Vikings will have to win, and take at least 4 points in Game 3 against Beavercreek to earn a Championship Game rematch with Centerville on Sunday.

The November 27, 2009