VALENCIA, Pa. — The Armstrong Riverhawks, playing in one of two temporary homes while the Belmont Complex undergoes repairs, hosted the Shaler Titans at Frozen Pond Arena on Thursday night.
Travis Lichanec proved to be the hero as he netted a shorthanded goal with just over four minutes in the second period, giving the Armstrong Riverhawks a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in a 4-2 victory.
Special teams was the name of the game. Specifically, it was a game that featured 24 minor penalties, a 10-minute misconduct, and the winning team scoring all of their goals on special teams.
Late in the first period, Shaler found itself on a 5-on-3 power play after two Armstrong penalties less than 30 seconds apart. A couple ill-advised penalties on the Titans part, however, put the game in a 3-on-3 for a few seconds. As Armstrong started to regain manpower, they peppered Titans netminder Anthony Hefferin with shots until Maddox Rearic broke through for the 5-on-3 goal to open the scoring and give the Riverhawks a 1-0 lead with 2:12 remaining in the first period.
Shaler responded early in the second with two goals less than a minute apart, the first a power play goal, from William Junker and Justin Newton.
Armstrong’s Lance Quinnell responded himself just over a minute later to tie the game 2-2 before Travis Lichanec gave Armstrong another lead, 3-2, with a shorthanded tally with 4:13 left in the second period.
Noah Oliver added the insurance goal with just over five minutes left in the game to seal the win for the Riverhawks, 4-2.
Armstrong goaltender Gavin Grafton stopped 33 of 35 shots. Shaler goaltender Anthony Hefferin stopped 20 of 24 shots.
Armstrong improves to 2-2 on the season and will face West Allegheny on Monday, Oct. 21 at 7:15 p.m. at RMU Island Sports Center.
Shaler falls to 0-3 and will next face Penn-Trafford at Alpha Ice Complex on Oct. 22 at 9 p.m.
MAJOR FOCUS: Armstrong uses strong special teams play to defeat Shaler, 4-2
