Carroll wins Metroplex title in OT

By Rick Mauch
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

IRVING -- Carroll's Dan Vollmer said he could sense a change in momentum heading into the final period of Thursday night's Southwestern Bell Metroplex High School Hockey League championship game against Plano East at the Dr Pepper StarCenter.

Vollmer capitalized on that momentum change at 1:54 of overtime. He took a pass from teammate Brian Jacobowski and scored from eight feet in front of the net to give the Dragons a 2-1 victory and the first league championship in their five-year history.

"As time went on, we had to adjust from certain mistakes that we were making and giving them chances to score," Vollmer said. "When we did, it made a difference."

Jacobowski took the puck in the corner and waited. When several Panthers approached to battle him for the puck, he skipped it over a Plano East player, who had fallen down, to a waiting Vollmer.

"I stole the puck and let all of their guys come to me," Jacobowski said. "That left Dan wide open."

Jacobowski had tied the score when he took a pass from Jeff Luther at 8:19 of the second period. The goal came 1:02 after Ryan Osterheldt had given the Panthers a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal.

After being outshot in the first two periods, 14-9, the Dragons (20-1-1) dominated the third period by a 9-2 margin. In the overtime, they had a 4-0 advantage in shots.

"In the third period, we started taking more chances," Carroll coach Laddy Tresl said. "When you kill two five-on-three power plays, you gain a lot of confidence."

For the 16th time this season, Carroll goaltender B.J. Cotton (19-1-1) surrendered one or fewer goals. He has faced 312 shots and has 293 saves.

The Dragons withstood a two-player deficit for 1:26 of the first period and 32 seconds in the second period. They took themselves out of a five-on-three advantage late in the opening period with a hooking penalty 30 seconds into the power play.

Plano East (19-3) finished 1-for-5 on power plays, and the Dragons were 0-for-6. Four of Carroll's power plays came in the third period as it took Plano East out of its game..

The Dragons, after being called for four penalties in the opening period, finished with 12 minutes in penalties to 14 for the Panthers. In the final period and overtime, Carroll was not called for a penalty.

The victory was the 10th consecutive for the Dragons and their 20th consecutive game without a loss since a 3-1 loss to Richland on Oct. 19. Plano East had a 17-game winning streak snapped.

Both teams will compete in the Texas High School Hockey Association State Tournament today through Sunday at the Chaparral Ice Center in Austin. They will be joined by Arlington (18-2-1), Lewisville (10-7-4), four teams from Houston (Klein, Clear Lake, Clements and Cypress Fairbanks), Round Rock and Midland/Odessa.

Carroll will open the tournament against Midland/Odessa at 2 p.m., while the Panthers will play at 5:30 against the winner between Clements and Arlington, which begins at 10:30 a.m. Lewisville will play Cypress-Fairbanks at 12:15 p.m.