The weekend of January 23rd and 24th proved to be a busy one as the Athens Bobcat squirt squad traveled to Newark to take on the Green team on Saturday and stayed in their own barn to face the Owensboro Puck Hogs in some BTHL play on Sunday morning. While the ‘Cats have been showing signs of improvement, they were unable to scratch out a victory in these hard fought contests.
The Bobcats started the weekend in a back and forth affair that saw the lead change hands on several occasions. Newark jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but cut into the lead late in the first by way of the slick puck handling of Chase Sammons who found the net to make the score 2-1. The ‘Cats came to life in the second by “putting the biscuit in the basket” four times, while Newark mustered just two goals. Sammons led the second period charge with three of the four goal with one assisted by Evan Adams. Nicholas Barga scored the final goal of the period on a rebound with a double assist from the sticks of Sammons and Gehrett Kerns. Athens led 5-4 at the end of the second. Newark tied the contest early in the third. The ‘Cats responded with two more quick scores when Evan Adams broke free from his defenseman position for a breakaway goal and Kerns found the back of the net with an assist from Sammons and Adams. Newark drew a little closer with a goal just before Sammons tallied the Bobcats last goal of the game to stretch the lead. However, Athens was unable to hold off a hard charging Newark squad for the rest of the game. The Green Team scored three late goals to take the game 9-8. Teagan Ries tended net for Athens and posted a stellar 37 saves on 46 shots.
After the game, both teams used the extra ice time to participate in a shootout. All parties enjoyed the shootout. Athens outshined the Newark squad in this contest with several ‘Cats scoring multiple goals. Once again, Ries shined making several great saves.
On Sunday morning, Athens met the hard charging Puck Hogs of Owensboro, KY. The Puck Hogs showed that names can be deceiving. This Owensboro team showed they were anything but puck hogs by displaying hard skating and slick passing skills that kept the ‘Cats on their heels all day. The Hogs got off to a fast start and never looked back in the first game. They tallied three goals in the first and held Athens to none. The Bobcats showed signs of life in the second when Sammons broke free for two goals with one of them assisted by Max Cook. However, the Hogs actually extended the lead with three goals of their own in the second. In the third, the Bobcats could draw no closer. However, Sammons completed a hat trick plus one with his brand of slick skating and puck handling. Final score 9-4. Once again Ries was under fire most of the game and was a solid force between the pipes, posting 30 saves.
The third game may have proved to be the Athens team’s best performance of the weekend. The ‘Cats looked determined to end this small losing skid as they played a smarter, more aggressive brand of hockey. Once again, Sammons led the charge early in the first posting an unassisted goal to give the ‘Cats an early lead. Owensboro answered later in the first to tie the game 1-1 at first horn. The Hogs grabbed the lead early in the second with two quick goals. But Sammons and the Bobcats answered the call with a goal with an assist from Cook and one unassisted goal. The Puck Hogs fought back with two goals. The Bobcats responded when Rhys Westenbarger sent a wrist shot under the goalie’s pads for another Athens goal. When the second goal sounded, the score favored the Hogs, 5-4. Both teams tightened up their defense in the third. The Bobcats allowed one goal, while the Hogs allowed none. The final score Owensboro 6, Athens 4. This time Anthony Koping tended goal for the Bobcats and produced a solid performance, 26 saves on 32 shots.
The Bobcats look to get back on track this weekend when they host the Troy Bruins in a pair of BTHL games on Saturday afternoon. The puck drops at 3:15 and 6:15. Also, they will travel to Newark on Sunday for a pair of non-league battles with Newark White at 11:00 and 4:50.
Photo: Teagan Ries carries the puck into the offensive zone while two Hogs pursue.