Writeup of California Cougars 9-5 loss to PeeWee AA Jr. Sharks on 2/12/12

The California Cougars prepared for their upcoming Phoenix tournament with a tilt against the PeeWee AA Jr. Sharks in San Jose on Saturday, Feb. 12, but came up short as the youngsters claimed a 9-5 victory.

The Jr. Sharks jumped to a 2-0 lead after one period and added another early in the second, before the Cougars clawed back.  Just :09 after falling behind 3-0 into the second period, the Cougars answered as Captain Nash Berkowitz hoisted the team on his ample shoulders and carried it toward the net, as he launched a high forehand missile that found nothing but net.  After the Jr. Sharks restored the 3-goal lead, the defense clamped down.  Chase Bolling made several of his game-high 8 takeaways and Kyle Tanaka stole 7 more.

John Bohac then led the special teams unit into the scoring column, as he rattled home the rubber on a powerplay with 1:31 remaining, after pressure around the crease from Tal Horovitz and Pace Farbstein, and the team skated to the bench for the second intermission down 4-2.

After a turnover resulted in a Sharks score, Bohac made a fearless end-to-end rush that showcased some slick stickhandling skills but was denied, as was Adam Rosenduft when he stole a puck and went coast-to-coast, only to get his daily fill of iron by sending a wicked wrister off the post.  The Cougars cut it to 5-3 when Farbstein drove to the net on a 2-2 with the fleet Horovitz, took a pass, and tipped the puck as he was falling over.

Nick Gary returned to active duty and certainly was active, facing 45 shots and turning aside several odd-man rushes by the young Sharks.

Netminder Carson Murison noted that the Sharks were able to apply pressure in front of Gary's goal with the Cougars forwards playing more toward the blueline, while Coach Rob Tenore urged the team to work on positioning and breakouts.

The Cougars experienced a lull midway through the final frame, allowing 4 goals in 4 minutes, interrupted only by another Berkowitz bullet, as the captain captured the faceoff, skated in and fired in a forehand past the goalie's glove to make it 7-4.

Tom Beebe laid out to save one Sharks scoring attempt, and Elliot Salazar was listed with 8 takeaways in the defensive zone.  Matthew Lydon continued to dominate in the faceoff circle, but he and his line couldn't penetrate the Sharks defense.

Daniel Schmidt fought for pucks along the board but was prevented from checking due to special rules pertaining to facing the Jr. Sharks.  Max Frenkel also forechecked well but the team was unable to score when he forced turnovers.

Ryan Bockholt was effective on the blueline when he was on the ice, leading the team with a +2 Plus-Minus rating.

Farbstein ended the game on a high note, as he visited the Red Light District for a second time by skating past some benders, taking a pass from Shura Boz, and powering the puck through the defender's feet and past the sprawling goalie to make it a 9-5 final score.

On a positive note, in this game the Cougars scored more than they had in the previous 3 games combined, and the offensive outburst bodes well as the team heads to Phoenix for the Presidents Day Invitational Hockey Tournament.

Game notes:
The Cougars scored on their only power play, and did not face any shorthanded situations.  The team went 12-4 in first period faceoffs and continued that theme throughout.  Berkowitz dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 13 of 18 draws.  Lydon also was overpowering with the stick, winning 12 of 17 faceoffs.  Farbstein won 8 draws in his first extensive centering experience.  Farbstein scored on 2 of his 3 shots and had the team's only penalty, a coincidental minor.  Despite the 9-5 final score, 7 players finished with a plus +/- rating.  Bockholt finished +2, and Berkowitz, Bohac, Boz, Farbstein, Horovitz and Rosenduft finished +1.

Goals:
2: Berkowitz (26,27), Farbstein (15,16)
1: Bohac (7)
Assists:
2: Horowitz (7,8)
1: Bockholt (4), Boz (6), Farbstein (7)