Boys Hockey: Tigers hang on to beat JM

Justin Novak scored twice in the season opener (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Farmington dominated play but feisty Rochester John Marshall hung around until the final horn in a 4-3 Tiger win Tuesday in the season opener at Schmitz-Maki Arena.

The home team outshot the Rockets by a one-sided 48-19 in the battle of Section 1AA rivals but the visitors stayed in the game largely on the efforts of goalie Patric Sedecki (44 saves).

"One of the things we knew we had to do this year was find ways to finish in close games, so that was a positive for us," Tiger coach Keith Revels said. "We took too many penalties but I liked our aggressiveness at both ends.

"We had a couple of breakdowns where we didn't play the body and it cost us, but overall it was a good way to start."

"Many more positives than negatives," chimed in veteran assistant coach Shawn Anderson.

The contest was actually three games in one with Farmington coming out buzzing with an overwhelming first period in which it outshot JM by a 17-4 count. 

John Siebenaler (from Grady Hauswirth and Tanner Grubb) and Justin Novak (from Eric Holmstrom and Dallas Tucker) each scored goals in the game's first 10 minutes but the Tigers still led by only a goal at the first break.

John Siebenaler netted the first Tiger goal (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The pace slowed considerably in the scoreless second frame as the Tigers played a man short for six minutes as punishment for a trio of costly penalties. The Farmington penalty kill unit kept the Rockets off the board but the rash of infractions didn't sit well with Revels.

"We have some guys who are much bigger and stronger than they were last year," Revels said, "and we are playing more aggressively. That's what we want to do, but we have to find a way to stay out of the box."

Things really opened up over the final 17 minutes. First, Austin Martinsen (from Holmstrom and Trippel) slapped in a power play play goal from the point to stretch the winners' margin to a more comfortable two scores. Martinsen's goal was the first of his varsity career.

That edge lasted less than two minutes, however, as the Rockets cut it back to one with a power play goal of their own.

Novak's second goal of the night (from Chris Fitzgibbons and Trippel) with five minutes to play in regulation gave the Tigers a little breathing room before the Rockets scored  their final goal of the night in the closing seconds. Farmington dominated the final period, out-shooting its guests 21-8. 

Junior Gage Overby had a relatively quiet night in the Farmington nets, finishing with 16  saves, including one on a breakaway with six minutes to play in the second period.

The Tigers won't have much time to savor the victory. Hastings visits Schmitz-Maki Saturday afternoon in another non-conference contest. The Raiders downed the Tigers 6-2 in last year's season opener in Hastings.

"They have a lot of guys coming back so that will be a good test for us," Revels said.

Gage Overby 16 saves (photo by Jim Lindquist)