DASHERS of DANVILLE at MOTOR CITY ROCKERS
Gonzalez Collects Second Shutout Of December, Rockers Blank Dashers 3-0
by Brady Beedon
Fraser, MI - In the franchise's first 133 games, the Motor City Rockers recorded just two shutouts. Rico Gonzalez recorded his second in five games on Friday night.
The Motor City Rockers got back in the win column Friday evening when they beat Dashers Hockey 3-0 behind 45 Gonzalez saves.
The first period saw up and down action, but neither side w as able to score.
Then, 4:26 into the second period, Motor City forward Sam Gagnon found himself on a breakaway. He wound up for a slap shot between the hash marks. On the shot, his stick broke in half, but the puck still found its way to the back of the net for the night's first goal.
The Rockers added on to their lead right before the second intermission, when forward TJ Sneath tipped a puck past Dasher’s netminder Oscar Wahlgren, collecting a power-play goal and extending the lead to 2-0. The score stayed stagnant until Sneath struck again, with 2:56 left in the final period, the Rocker forward collected his second goal of the night, and 11th of the season to put the nail in the coffin and secure the 3-0 victory.
Motor City was out shot 20-11 in the first period, but in the final 40 minutes, out shot the Dashers 30-25.
“We didn’t start on time tonight, which we are all aware of,” said Rockers Head Coach Jameson Milam. “But then one chip, chase it out of the zone we get a goal. The next one is a chip off the boards with a hard forecheck, the [Dasher’s player] falls down, we almost get a goal on that, and then we get a power-play chance moving our feet.”
The Dashers could not capitalize off of early opportunities, in large part thanks to Gonzalez and his prowess between the pipes.
“Everything has been feeling pretty good lately,” said Gonzalez. “I’ve been trying to do my best and take things one day at a time, one practice at a time, and one game at a time.”
Gonzalez has taken it one shot at a time as well. He has faced a mammoth 735 shots over his 17 games played this season. He has faced 150 more shots than the next closest FPHL goalie, Danbury Hat Trick goalie Connor McCollum’s 585 shots against.
With the shutout win, Gonzalez became the first goalie in Motor City Rocker history to record two career shutouts, recording both just 14-days apart.
“I got a special spot in my heart for Ricky,” said Milam. “When he got here he was fresh out of college, and he wanted to learn and he wanted to work hard. Being an older guy you see that kind of mentality he has. He expects more out of himself and he will do what it takes to get better.”
While Gonzalez is pleased with his performance, he isn’t hanging his hat on anything.
“It feels great,” said Gonzalez. “I try not to get caught up on what's in the past or whats in the future, I’m just trying to take things one game at a time. I’ll enjoy the second shutout now, but tomorrow I’m wiping the slate clean and focusing up.”
Gonzalez and the Motor City Rockers rematch with the Dashers Hockey Club Saturday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05
Gonzalez’s 45-Save Shutout Propels Motor City
by Devin Dobek
Fraser, MI - After the holiday week, the Dashers looked to earn some points on the road against the Motor City Rockers. Rico Gonzalez’s 45 save shutout combined with a pair of tallies from TJ Sneath would be plenty to lift Motor City over the Dashers.
On the shortest road trip of the season at just over 6 hours, the Dashers seemed fired up for a competitive series with the Motor City Rockers. The game began with end to end action, and both teams exchanging quality chances. Making the start, Dashers rookie Yosuke Jumonji was inches away from his first tally as well as an assist on 2 grade A opportunities. It was a shot filled period, with the Dashers notching a whopping 20 shots in the frame to just 11 for Motor City. In net for the Rockers was Rico Gonzalez while the Dashers countered with Oscar Wahlgren. All 31 shots were turned aside, despite both squads getting a crack on the man advantage. AJ Tesoriero’s group had many reasons to be optimistic heading in to the room, but still nothing to show for their efforts.
The Dashers looked to strike quickly in period 2 and continue their pressure from period 1. In his Dasher debut, defenseman Jonatan Wik made a bad step at the blue line, leading to a breakaway for Sam Gagnon. Gagnon fired a slapshot past Wahlgren to open the scoring just past the 16 minute mark. An opportunity to tie the game emerged when Sotirios Karageorgos was given 22 total penalty minutes and an ejection for abuse of officials and unsportsmanlike conduct. The ensuing powerplay brought no luck for the Dashers, who continued to chase a 1 goal margin. Bad luck turned worse when the Deer were given a too many men bench minor. Motor City took the chance and ran, with TJ Sneath tipping home a shot from Carson Baptiste to make it 2-0. A frustrated visiting group was outshot 18-11 in period 2, but still led 31-29 in the game. The contest proved to be a game of inches, with 3 the Dashers ringing 3 posts. It would be a manageable hill to climb but with quick production needed if the Dashers wanted to force an upset on the road.
With work to do, period 3 would provide minimal positives for the Dashers. The games intensity skyrocketed out of nowhere. Lester Brown and Tristan Wells dropped the gloves just 35 seconds before Avery Smith challenged Jonatan Wik. With everything sorted out, hockey continued. A late powerplay for the visitors couldn’t get them on the scoresheet. The Dashers once again led in the shots department in period 3 14-12. The story of the night would prove to be Rico Gonzalez, who stopped all 45 shots he was tasked with for his second goose egg of the season. TJ Sneath planted the dagger on the breakaway right around the 3 minute mark to lift the Rockers to a 3-0 shutout win.
The two teams will square off once again tomorrow at 7:05 EST inside Big Boy Arena.
| 
FPHL 
