SYLVANIA — The Perrysburg-Anthony Wayne rivalry extended to hockey when the two programs were promoted to the Northwest Hockey Conference’s upper tier Red Division this past decade.
This year, Perrysburg (16-17-3) owned that rivalry, sweeping AW (5-29-1), 3-0, and outscoring the Generals by a combined score of 15-5.
That included Perrysburg’s 4-1 tournament win Wednesday over AW at Tam-O-Shanter, giving the Yellow Jackets the right move on to the district quarterfinals, where they will meet NHC Red champion Findlay (20-9-5).
Jackson Baltzell scored a three-goal hat trick to lead the Yellow Jackets over the Generals Wednesday.
“The first goal was a lucky bounce that got around the defender and I just tucked it into the five-hole. The second goal I just shot it from the blue line and hit his glove and trickled in,” Baltzell said.
“The third was a power play goal — just a good rebound in the right spot and in the right moment.”
On Baltzell’s first two goals, AW defenders were trying to gather the offense in their own defensive zone, but Baltzell and his teammates were right there to harrass them, intercepting a lazy pass in front of the net.
“You’ve got to play offense, too, because all they are trying to do is play offense, but if you play offense, too, you can catch them slacking,” Baltzell said.
Baltzell got Perrysburg on the board first off a steal and scoring unassisted four minutes and 15 seconds after the opening faceoff.
Baltzell’s second goal, which took a little more guts and anticipation, saw Perrysburg forwards harassing AW’s defenders deep in the Generals’ zone, even though the Generals were on a power play.
Baltzell scored on an assist from Troy Pisula just 18 seconds after the second period faceoff, putting the Jackets up, 2-0. That’s one of the places Baltzell is at home at — on the penalty kill unit.
“He’s one of our senior leaders for a reason,” Perrysburg coach Kevin Fisher said. “He’s not afraid of the big moment.
“He’s been real good on the penalty kill the last two years — something he prides himself in and he spends a lot of time watching film to put himself in that position to know how to make a play. I’m real proud of the way he played tonight.”
Baltzell’s goal securing his hat trick gave the Jackets a 4-1 lead with 4:03 remaining in the game. He was assisted by Perrysburg starting center Anthony Pinski and forward Ryan Butler.
Perrysburg defender Trey Haney scored Perrysburg’s other goal, giving the Jackets a 3-0 lead with 12:29 remaining, on assists from Ryan Butler and Nate Butler.
AW’s only goal was scored by freshman defender A.J. Roth when the Generals had a two-man advantage (5-on-3) with 8:18 remaining in the game. Roth was assisted by junior forward Seth Kirby and junior defenseman Carter Baker.
Perrysburg outshot AW, 25-13, as Jake Dombek got the win in goal with 12 saves, but the Generals only had a combined three shots on goal the first two periods.
AW’s offense was having success penetrating into Perrysburg’s zone, but shots were repeatedly deflected before they could reach Dombek.
“Collectively, all five guys seemed to buy in together and really pick up the play defensively,” Fisher said. “They didn’t give them a lot of lanes, they didn’t give them a lot of good looks. It was just a good team win.”
AW did outshoot Perrysburg, 10-9, in the third, but not only did the Generals score on a 5-on-3, but had a 6-on-4 advantage most of the final three minutes after pulling their goalie. Perrysburg had four potential empty-net goals that just missed finding the net.
Now, it’s on to the bigger task at hand Saturday — facing eighth-ranked Findlay at 6 p.m. at Tam-O-Shanter for the right to advance to the district semifinals, two wins away from a trip to the state frozen four.
“It feels good and now we have to prepare for Findlay on Saturday,” Baltzell said.
Perrysburg hockey has only reached the district semifinals twice in program history, so it would be a historic feat. During NHC Red games this season, Findlay defeated Perrysburg by 4-0 and 3-1 scores.
“We’ve played Findlay well the last couple of years,” Fisher said. “They are a solid team and they are solid from the goaltending on out.
“We know its going to be a low scoring game regardless, so it’s up to us to really tighten things up defensively and give us a shot so that we are in it coming into the third period.”
On Saturday, the Perrysburg-Findlay showdown follows the 4 p.m. tournament game between seventh-ranked Bowling Green (25-8-2) and Toledo St. John’s (5-27), who will also play for a spot in the district semifinals.
