The Lightning High School Hockey League (LHSHL) Overtime recaps all eight of Week Thirteen’s matchups, which also entails the Game of the Week between the Plant Panthers and Durant Cougars.

PLANT-DURANT

Game of the Week

For the second and final time this season the Plant Panthers and Durant Cougars faced-off, and in the LHSHL Game of the Week. The out of conference foes ended up splitting the season series, as the Cougars walked away from the Brandon Ice Sports (ISF) Forum victorious on Friday night.

Durant defeated Plant by a final score of 4-1 and earned its ninth win on the season. The Cougars’ leading goal-scorer, Jordan Putnam, had a two-goal night and Durant also received scoring help from Eric Bowles and C.J. Comunale. Bowles also had an assist on the night to help lead Durant over the Panthers with two points. “Bob” Dillon Garasz stopped 17 of the 18 shots that he faced, and the youngster improved his record to 9-5-1 on the season. Durant is now 3-0-1 in its last four games and will take to the ice against Newsome this Friday night at ISF for another Modin Division matchup (9:45pm).

EAST LAKE-MITCHELL

For the second time in one week the East Lake Eagles defeated the two-time defending LHSHL champions in the Mitchell Mustangs (4-2). With the win, East Lake has now separated itself from Mitchell by nine points (first place) in the Bradley Division standings. The Eagles received scoring help from forwards Demitri Samarkos and Adrian Matosevic (two goals), as well as defenseman Kyle Kozlowski. Additionally, East Lake’s, James Belczyk, earned his eighth win on the year between the pipes.

As for Mitchell, Tucker Tassone recorded both the Mustangs’ goals on the night. Mitchell’s next game is this Friday night against River Ridge at Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI).

JENKINS-WIREGRASS

For the second time this season the George-Jenkins Eagles and Wiregrass Ice Hawks faced-off, but this time around the two teams skated to a 3-3 tie. Luke “Now Watch Me” Rouleau recorded a natural hat trick (a goal in each period) for the Eagles, and Daniel Donohue chipped in two assists on the night. Keep in mind that a win would have helped the Green and Gold get back into second place, and jump Wiregrass, in the Andreychuk Division.

Interestingly enough, Josey Davis was out of Wiregrass’ lineup, but the club still managed to collect a point. Matthew McGovern took over the scoring duties and posted two goals, and had the game-tying goal with less than five minutes remaining in the contest. It was also good to see Wiregrass netminder Carson Saunders back in the lineup – Saunders hadn’t dressed in a game since September due to an injury.

NEWSOME-WEST MANATEE

The Newsome Wolves snapped their five-game losing-streak, after the Wolves took down West Manatee by a final score of 4-1 on Friday night. Newsome had four different skaters find the back of the net in the contest, and Jacob Weaver earned the win in net. Andrew Mankowski and Xander Pivovarnik opened up the scoring for the Wolves during the first period, plus Matthew Harrity and Lucas Ciotoli scored during the game’s third period. As for Ciotoli, it was the junior’s first goal on the season.

West Manatee is currently two-points behind Newsome in the Modin Division, so masked man David Josephson and company will look to rebound and make a case that the “Fly Guys” are still playoff contenders. This was the first game of a back-to-back between these two teams, as they’ll take to the ice again Wednesday at TBSA (7:15pm).

PALM HARBOR-STEINBRENNER

There’s no letting down in the Steinbrenner Warriors, as of late. Steinbrenner continues to roll, as the Warriors defeated the Palm Harbor Hurricanes 7-2 on Friday night at the Tampa Bay Skating Academy (TBSA). Steinbrenner was one-for-four on the power play and received scoring help from Kevin Holman, Weston Caron, Logan Barton and Kyle Ciaccio. In fact, Ciaccio earned his second hat trick on the season and is now second on the team in scoring (15G-3A –18pts) behind Holman (11G-10A –21pts). Additionally, Jackson Barton turned away 17 of the 19 shots Palm Harbor threw his way to earn his fourth win on the season.

To no surprise, Palm Harbor’s Garrett “Toe Jam” Toenjes was the lone scorer for the team. Toenjes now has 11 mulit-goal games this season.

BLOOMINGDALE-EAST MANATEE

After losing their second game on the season earlier last week, the East Manatee Admirals got back to their winning ways after they defeated the Bloomingdale Ice Bulls 9-0 down in Ellenton on Friday night. East Manatee has officially won the Modin Division, and stands tall with a 16-2-0 record.

On the other hand, Bloomingdale is just one point ahead of Newsome for third place, and the final playoff spot, in the Modin Division. Additionally, Bloomingdale is 2-3-1 in division play this season.

RIVER RIDGE-BERKELEY

One could make the case that the River Ridge Knights were in need of a win last weekend, and the Knights did in fact collect the two points that were available on the table. River Ridge took down the Berkeley Buccaneers by a final score of 9-2. So, the hope of Berkeley going on a winning-streak will have to wait…for now.

Senior captain, Anthony Lioacano, recorded his first hat trick on the season and also added two helpers to have a five-point performance. But let’s not forget that River Ridge’s, Zachary “To Kill a Mockingbird” Killingbeck also posted a hat trick in the contest; it was the sophomore’s third multi-goal game and first hatty on the year. Still, one of the biggest stories from this game was the fact that one of the team’s goaltenders, Daniel McCarthy, not only skated out – but scored the game’s second goal. River Ridge is now just one point behind Mitchell for second place in the Bradley Division.

FREEDOM-JESUIT

Watch out, the Jesuit Tigers are one of the league’s hottest teams right. Jesuit took down the LHSHL’s top team in East Manatee on Wednesday night, and then defeated the Freedom Patriots on Friday night with a football score – 14-7. Per reports, Jesuit’s everyday starting netminder, Paul “Winter” Coats, was not in net for the Tigers either; Owen Forrest started between the pipes for the Blue and White, while stopping 21 of the 28 shots that he faced. Also, Forrest only allowed in two goals from Freedom’s offensive threat, Owen “Bar Down” Barno.

Additionally, Jesuit’s Trent Gephart earned his first hat trick on the season with a four-goal night. Tigers forward Joshua Burke also had a four-goal outing, and recorded four assists for an eight-point night. The other Forrest brother was busy for Jesuit, too; as Nolan Forrest had a seven point night (3G-4A – 7pts). With the win, Jesuit has also officially won the Andreychuk Division.

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