Trojans find some answers, knock off Newark

Findlay High's hockey team entered Friday's season opener with some questions. The Trojans ended it with possibly the definitive answer. "Coming into this year, we knew it might be a little bit more of a struggle putting the puck in the net than years past," FHS coach Ben Patey said after the Trojans held off the Newark Generals 3-2. "But we showed that maybe defensively we're a little stronger, so we might win more of these 3-2, 2-1 games. "That's just the way we're going to have to win hockey games this season." Ethan Lammers, who scored Findlay's first goal and assisted on the second, agreed "We lost two of our top scorers," said Lammers, referring to the graduation of Michael Armstrong (24 goals, 18 assists, 42 points) and Ryker Featheringham (21 goals, 21 assists, 42 points) from last year's 20-9-4 team. "But we have a good young core of young guys, and we're basically building off what we did last year. We've got the size, we've got the speed, to be a really complete team. We think we have the roster to do that and hopefully be as good if not better than last year." In the Trojans do surpass their 2021-22 success, Patey feels a portion of the credit will go to those who laid the foundation. "Mike (Armstrong) and Ryker (Featheringham) were such a huge part of this team, not only on the ice but in the (lockerroom)," he said. "Their leadership was just phenomenal. They kind of got the program where it is today, and now these guys are going to take the torch and run with it." Findlay took 1-0 and 3-1 leads against Newark with stunning quickness. Just two minutes in to the game, freshman defenseman Lawson Bain slapped the puck to Ross Trenkamp, who saw Lammers breaking up ice. Trenkamp put a perfect pass on Lammers' stick and the senior forward, already a step ahead of two Newark defenders, went in one-on-one and beat goalie Aaron Johnson with a quick wrister. Lammers returned the favor with 1:14 left in the second period. Newark had just tied the match 1-1 on a goal by Logan Williams with 4:40 on the clock. Three minutes later, on a two-on-one breakout, Lammers took the puck up the right side, then fed Trenkamp speeding up the middle. Trenkamp got the puck 10 feet in front of the goal and sizzled a shot into the net. "Their D (defensemen) were pinching in and taking some risks, so we were fortunate enough to take advantage of it," Patey said of Findlay's ability to create breakaway opportunities in transition. "We were capitalizing on the opportunities when they were there." Findlay's third goal was the quickest of the bunch. The third period had just started when senior forward Kellen Wetz shot in, stole the puck and scored an unassisted goal just 11 seconds into the period. Newark answered right back, though, trimming the deficit to 3-2 when Mike Chaykowksi, on an extreme angle from the left of the net, rifled a shot past Findlay goalie Seth Russell. Both teams would have chances over the final 14 minutes, Findlay to expand the lead, Newark to erase it. Both teams also had power play opportunities in the final five minutes of play, but some clutch saves and some near misses kept the 3-2 final intact. Findlay outshot Newark 29-14, with Russell making 12 saves and Johnson 26. "We got caught back on our heels a little bit at the beginning, but I thought we came back and started to match them," Newark coach Patrick Brighton said of the Generals, who draw players from a number of areas (Granville, Newark, Heath and Lakewood among others) and compete under the auspices of USA Hockey. "It sucks we came out on the wrong end but it was a heckuva hockey game. Findlay is big, they're fast and they're physical, but it was a back and forth game kind of game and I was happy with that." Newark will remain in the area, playing Bowling Green today. Findlay will host Maryland's Bullis Academy on Wednesday, then take part in the Bowling Green Holiday Tournament Nov. 25-27. "Obviously there are always things we can improve on," Patey said. "But I liked our work ethic and we were consistent through all three periods, so it was a good first game. It's still only the first game, but these guys have worked really hard and they're only going to get better."