Buchenic’s two goals help Canfield to tie

Cardinals goalie Brian Moore stopped 15 of
Brooklyn’s 17 shots.

By GREG GULAS

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

BOARDMAN — Tyler Buchenic scored two goals, goalie Brian Moore rejected 15 Brooklyn shots and the Canfield defense dictated the game’s tempo from the outset as the Cardinals battled the Hurricanes to a 2-all tie in a Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League game Sunday at the Ice Zone.

“We took the two-goal lead and had many other chances to capitalize, but couldn’t follow through,” Canfield coach Randy Emery said. “We played well overall but this has been typical of our season. We’ve had a hard time finishing what we started.

“[Brian] Moore has been steady for us all season in goal and he was outstanding once again tonight. He has held quite a few opponents at bay, time and again keeping us in games.

“There is only so much pressure, however, a goalie can take. He truly is a mainstay of our team,” Emery said.

On Alumni Day, the two teams battled to a scoreless first period as the Cardinals outshot Brooklyn, 6-1.

Buchenic’s first goal of the game at 1:53 of the second stanza, with assist from Riley Emery and Ryan Meditz, staked the Cardinals to the goal advantage heading to the final 15 minutes.

When he added his second goal (and ninth of the season) at 5:29 of the final frame, the Cardinals had a brief two-goal margin after capitalizing on the power-play opportunity.

“On my first goal, it was Riley [Emery] with the great pass while Greg Firestone led me with the puck on my second goal,” Buchenic said. “Neither goal happens without their help and teamwork.”

Brooklyn’s Ian Bruzek cut the Canfield lead in half with his goal at 8:24. When Brian Brown’s unassisted, power-play tally registered just 1:05 later, it proved to be enough to force the extra session.

Neither team was able to penetrate the crease in overtime as Canfield (4-11-2) outshot the Hurricanes (10-4-1), 27-17.

Moore, far from healthy and still feeling the effects of flu-like symptoms, missed the Cardinals’ game Saturday night at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, a 6-3 loss that was the team’s fifth in a row.

“We’ve played well at home this season and did so again today,” Moore said. “The game just didn’t turn out like we had hoped.”

Former Cardinals coach and current goaltenders coach Joe Villano was pleased with his prized pupil’s effort.

“Brian [Moore] is an amazing story,” Villano said. “Four years ago, he had never been on skates and today he is one of the top two or three goalies in our division.

“I’ve been able to catch all of home games thus far and there is no doubt that this is the best we have played overall,” Villano said.