Dashers Avoid Being Swept

By Nate Williamson

Danville, IL - The Danville Dashers and Mentor Ice Breakers went head-to-head once again in a battle of the bottom teams in the Federal Hockey League on Sunday evening at David S. Palmer Arena. The Dashers would get a much needed victory, taking the game by a score of 5-2.

The game started out quick as Fred Hein scored on a too many men penalty when the Ice Breakers bench was caught in the middle of a substitution. The Dashers offense wasted no time capitalizing, and they scored after a long stretch pass less than a minute into the period. Hein found the net for the second time of the night at 5:00 when he scored from an assist by Justin Brausen. Mentor fired back to pull within a goal when Ryan Koresky found the back of the net at even strength on a rebounded shot from Brett Oldaker at 7:37.

Danville that found the net again just a little over five minutes into the second period after some great puck possession when a Brausen shot spun its way past Mentor goaltender John Sellie-Hanson. Nathan Campbell and Hein assisted on the play, which put the Dashers up 3-1. 

Alexander Morrow scored at even strength on assists from Patrick Porkka and Tim Perks at 1:49 into the third period. That goal cut the Dashers lead to 3-2, but it was all Danville from that point on. They capitalized on multiple occasions, with Brausen scoring on assists from Aaron Atwell and Hein, followed by Brandon Contratto tickling twine on an empty net to give the game its final score of 5-2.

The Stars of the Game came out to be all Dashers with Fred Hein (2G, 2A), Justin Brausen (2G, 1A), and Aaron Atwell (2A) all having productive nights.

Photo credit: LMB Studios