Gems Shake Jacks In Shootout

By Bruce Kettelle

The Dayton Gems began there three night home stand in the positive column heading off a tie against the Muskegon Lumberjacks in a shootout for the 3-2 win.

After the scoreless first period Johnathon Ornelas made a great breakaway at mid-ice taking it all the way in for the first score of the match just 15 seconds into the 2nd. The Lumberjacks found their first opening just 30 seconds later to tie it up and moved ahead with another point 3 minutes later.

The Gems found the net again in the third with a goal by Preston Briggs setting up the shootout in Hara Arena. Dayton had 48 shots for the game to Muskegon's 37. Dayton's season now stands at 3-3-2-0.

The Gems do it again tonight at 7:30 against the Flint Generals and Sunday at 5pm against the Port Huron Ice Hawks. Saturday is report card night. Kids presenting a report card with an A at the door will get free admission.

Johnathon Ornelas breaks away for the first score of the game.

Phil Youngclaus looks for a way past the Lumberjacks as the Dayton Gems earn their second home win of the season.

John Snowden passes back to Joe Van Culin against the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

Lumberjack Matt Krug can't stop Gem Michael Mullins on this net attack leaving several players down on the ice.

Third Times A Charm For Gems

By Bruce Kettelle

The Dayton Gems proved the third time is the charm this weekend. In fact they did it twice.

The Gems first win of the season came on Friday night in Muskegon 7-5. That was their third game of the season. Then during their third home game of the season they picked up their second win on Sunday 5-4 against the Flint Generals.

Apparently more practice and a few lineup changes are having an effect since their opening weekend resulted in two losses.

This week Coach John Marks cut Mike Busto, Bobby Reed and Travis Winters. He added Matt Auffrey a former Dayton Bomber and Edgars Brancis of the Latvian Pro League.

The Gems also added another loss over the weekend making their record 2-3 falling in Bloomington 0-4 on Saturday night.

Friday in Muskegon goals were added by Joe VanCulin, Jonathon Ornelas, Mike Masklonka, John Snowden, Michael Mullin, AJ Maclean, and Mike Vaskivus.

Scoring in Hara against Flint Sunday for the Gems were Greg Labenski (2), John Snowden, Joe VanCulin, and Mike Vaskivo. The Gems trailed 3-2 at the end of the 1st period. Dayton took the lead for the rest of the game after a rally about 8 minutes into the second period.

This coming weekend the Gems will be on the road. They are back in Trotwood for a three game streak November 6, 7, & 8. A three game ticket is available for $33 at Hara or any Ticketmaster. The team is also expected to announce some changes in their regular ticket prices this week. For more information call 275-7777.

Gems Still Working On Polish

(photo) Goalie Ryan Mior had some great saves including this one against Cole Ruwe

By Bruce Kettelle

As expected there was a smaller crowd for the Dayton Gems first Sunday afternoon hockey game. In the confines of Hara Arena the fans sounded loud but on the ice the Gems were still trying to polish their game after Friday’s unsuccessful tiebreaker.

Despite Bloomington’s loss to Muskegon at their season opener earlier in the weekend they were able to muster a third period rally taking home a 4-2 win from this road trip.

Looks like the Gems may be working overtime in practice this week after failing to last in their first two third periods. Friday it appeared they ran out of gas and Sunday coach John Marks said they weren’t playing as a team.

Prairiethunder forward Jon Boras scored one of his two game points in the first period. Gem Jon Snowden answered back in the second to tie up the game going into the third period.

Bloomington was on fire in the third with goals from Brian Boulay, Ryan Finnerty and Boras.

Mike Vaskivuo drilled the only third period goal for the Gems.

The Gems go on the road visiting Muskegon Friday and Bloomington Saturday for a rematch. Audio for those games can be heard live on-line at www.DaytonGems.com
Sunday they are back in Trotwood with a 5pm start against the Flint Generals.

Jon Boras shoots his second goal past Dayton Gem Ryan Mior as the Bloomington Lumberjacks clinch the win 4-2.

John Snowden landed a second period goal for Dayton.

Gems Drop Opener In Tiebreaker

Dayton hockey fans easily drowned out the 300 or so Indiana commuters that made the three hour trek to Hara Arena Friday. That is until a 3rd period rally that erased the early Gems lead sending the season opener into overtime.

Two minutes later the Ft Wayne Komets claimed the 4-3 victory.

The Dayton Gems emerged strong scoring twice in the first period and again in the second. It was all there, puck handling, big checks on the boards, and 2800 new fans eager to enjoy the inaugural IHL season in the revamped Hara.

The Gems were game on during the first two periods chalking up a 3-1 lead with goals by Sam Bloom, Johnathon Ornelas, and Phil Youngclaus. But last seasons IHL champions controlled the third period effectively shutting down the Gem offense. The Komets kept most of the third period play in the Gems half of the ice.

Bobby Reed muscles by Ft Wayne Defenseman Matt Woodard in the second period of the Dayton Gems season opener.

Danny Lapointe takes a shot at Komet goalie Nick Boucher.

Reed gets a break away from a second period puck drop.

Reed takes a right jab from Komet Leo Thomas as things heated up in the third period.

Trotwood Dazzels Troy In Drizzle

The Trotwood Rams were so hot Friday night spectators forgot about hot chocolate in the cold raw drizzle that enveloped the Good Samaritan Sportsplex at Trotwood-Madison High School. Antwan Gilbert proved to be a football machine moving the ball nearly 250 yards. Troy could not control the offense leaving the drenced field with a 25-13 Trotwood win.

 

More details and more pictures tomorrow!

The Dayton Gems hockey team released their final roster late Thursday. Coach John Marks has created a young dream team with all the players between 22 and 31 years old. This final lineup will meet last year’s IHL Turner Cup Champs tonight for the regular season opener in Hara Arena at 8pm.

The old man of the first year franchise is a familiar name in Dayton following his 3-year run with the now defunct Dayton Bombers. Greg Labenski (31) will be a starting forward bringing a depth of professional experience since his 1995 debut in the OHL.

The young man on the Gems roster is goalie Ryan Mior (22). Mior comes to Dayton after last year’s impressive season with the IHL Port Huron Ice Hawks.

Bloom,Sam F McGill Univ, CIS
Briggs,Preston D Rocky Mountain,CHL
Busto,Mike D South Carolina ECHL
Labenski,Greg D Dayton, ECHL
Lapointe,Dan F Bakersfield, ECHL
MacIntyre,Derek G Danbury,EPHL
MacLean,A.J. F Arizona, CHL
Maslonka,Milan F Dayton, ECHL
Mior,Ryan G Port Huron, IHL
Mullen,Michael F Tulsa, CHL
Nathe,Bryan D Witchita, CHL
Oke,Nathan D Richmond, SPHL
Ornelas,Jonathan F Amarillo, CHL
Reed,Bobby F Tulsa, CHL
Snowden,John F Amarillo, CHL
VanCulin,Joe D Dayton, ECHL
Vaskivuo,Mike F South Carolina ECHL
Versteeg-Lytwyn,Mark F Fort Wayne, IHL
Winter,Travis F Bemidji, WCHA State
Youngclaus,Phil D Gwinnett, ECHL

Icemen Blow Fuse, Gems Win 9-1

By Bruce Kettelle

Even though an electrical failure on the Icemen’s bus delayed the game, the Icemen demonstrated some early electricity in the pre-season debut against the Dayton Gems scoring the first goal of the game just 10 minutes into the 1st period. But their power failure soon returned and that would be their only goal as the Gems cemented their second pre-season win 9-1 in preparation for Friday’s season opener against Ft Wayne at Trotwood's Hara Arena.

While the Evansville Icemen waited for the replacement bus to arrive in Louisville they probably spent more time together as a team than they have all season. Their training camp just opened Monday and they only had two practices under their belt. Their league, the AAHL, starts two weeks after the Gems’s IHL gets underway.

Dayton on the other hand made their last roster cuts after the game signaling they are at the end of their training camp. Coach John Marks watched the game from the upstairs press box for a different view of the players before making those final decisions.

On the ice coaching for the game was left up to starting defenseman Greg Labenski. Marks already knows he is a keeper. Sam Bloom, Chris Clark and Johnathon Ornelas each scored twice. Edgars Brancis, Mike Mullen, and Ohil Youngclaus each added one.

Ice hockey crowds are also proving to be keepers at Hara. Over 1400 were on hand last night, up from the 900 at last week’s pre-season game. Comments from the crowd were positive and tickets are selling fast to Fridays game against the Ft Wayne Komets starting at 8pm. For ticket info call the Dayton Gems Hockey office at (937)275-7777

 

The Gems out shot the Icemen 57-5. Icemen goalie Dave Desander takes a water break after fending off a barrage of shots in the second.

 

Even with the Gems ahead 6-1 in period 2 this young fan shows her displeasure with the referees call against her team.

 

And then it was 7-1 after the Gems slipped another one by the Icemen.

 

Gem Avery Wilson takes a swing at Ryan Ford after being slammed into the boards.