Co-Op Ice Force Hockey Team Opens Season with a Victory

The co-operative Ice Force Varsity tem, made up of Greendale, Franklin and Oak Creek, opened up their season with an 8 to 4 victory over the North Shore conference’s Grafton, Port Washington & Ozaukee's Ice Hawks co-op team.

Saturday evening’s opener was an away game held in the Ozaukee Ice Center in Cedarburg.

 “This is not only a re-building year, but a re-retooling year for the Ice Force”, said head coach John Kennedy.  

The program picked up nine new skaters this year replacing five senior graduates, including the varsity goalie.  

“Filling a specialty position like goal tender is not an easy one”, added assistant coach Steve Hardin.  

Franklin junior forward Jared Hoffmann stepped up and volunteered to occupy the crease for this season. Step up he did. The Ice Force defense held the Ice Hawks scoreless after the opening period including five saves by Hoffmann in goal.

The first period ended with 1-0 lead thanks to Franklin senior Jake Hardin's acrobatic moves and top shelf goal.  The Ice Hawks came out strong in the second period playing a more physical game.  Franklin sophomore Brian Kennedy (assist: Kahler Cox) leveraged that by skating around a hard neutral zone check and quickly scored one of his two goals of the evening.  

The end of the second period would result in a 3-2 deficit; however, a last minute Ice Hawks high stick penalty gave the Ice Force a one minute power play advantage to open the third period.  

“Penalties have a huge impact in this game”, said assistant coach Jim Paull. "While we may have lost the battle in the second period we could see their players were tired, which usually results in penalties.” 

Brian Kennedy opened the third period Ice Force barrage with his second goal after a nice assist by Oak Creek’s Wes Agg.  Greendale’s Patrick O’Donnell followed up with his first Ice Force goal thirty seconds later after being fed an assist by Franklin junior Joe Jensen. 

Jensen capitalized on the momentum swing with his own acrobatic moves and scored unassisted shortly after. A few third period line adjustments and the momentum swing resulted in three more goals by Hardin (assists: Kennedy/Jensen), Kyle Hoffmann (assists: Ian Nelson, Hardin) and Jensen (empty net).   

The Ice Force is slated for tournament play in Sheboygan next weekend, then will host Germantown for the home opener at Wilson Park on Saturday Dec. 3 at 6 p.m.