JOKERS SCORE EARLY TO TOPPLE BLACKHAWKS

IHSA SENIOR A - ROUND 1 - GAME 1

Jokers 5 Blackhawks 2

The Jokers jumped to a 3 - 1 first period lead, then scored two more in the second, enough to claim a 5 - 2 win over the Blackhawks in the opening game of the 2017 Senior A competition.

Nathaniel Benson scored twice and added an assist to lead the way for the Jokers, with Tommy Hill, Andrew Smith, and player-coach Sami Mantere rounding out the scoring.

Liam York and Dylan Collier both scored for the Blackhawks.

The win was pleasing for Mantere who joined the Jokers after spending the last number of years in the Premier League with the Adelaide Redwings.

“I was really happy with how the team played. The big thing is we played as a team, everyone stepped up. It’s always great to see young guys like Nathaniel (Benson) take a leading role and grow in experience, even after just our first game”, said Mantere after the game.

GAME SUMMARY

1st PERIOD

SCORING - Jokers - 5:40 - Tommy Hill (M. Zobel): Blackhawks - 3:23 - Liam York (D. Hancock, M. Williams): Jokers - 2:31 - Nathaniel Benson (R. Kendall): Jokers - 5:40 - Andrew Smith (T. Hill, M Zobel)

2nd PERIOD

SCORING - Jokers - 14:18 - Nathaniel Benson (R. Kendall, N. Adamson): Jokers - 0:57 Sami Mantere ( N. Benson)

PENALTIES – Blackhawks - 0:16 Liam York (Tripping)

3rd PERIOD

SCORING - Blackhawks - 0:02 Dylan Collier (C. Wilson)

PENALTIES - Jokers - 3:37 Nick Adamson (Holding): Jokers - 0:57 Tim Freer (Tripping)

SHOTS ON GOAL 1st 2nd 3rd Total

Jokers 9 9 9 27

Blackhawks 10 9 9 28

GOALKEEPERS - Jokers - Mathew Peterson: Blackhawks - Charlie Wragg

GAME OFFICIALS - Referee - Ian Hunter Linesmen - Mitch Kelleher & David Gal

Scorer - Nicola Reese Time Keeper - Sarah Wise

All statistics for this game do not count as the game was deemed to be a forfeit by the Blackhawks due to playing an ineligible player. Final score for statistics Jokers win 5 - 0