2017-18 T4 Champions: The Cincinnati Rollerdactyls, The Comeback Kids!

The Cincinnati Rollerdactyls entered the T4 Championships as the #7 seed.  They just lost the championship game in Buffalo to the Buffalo Spartans 8-7 by giving up 3 goals in the last minute and a half.  They learned that weekend that games can be won in the final minutes when all hope seems lost.  They took this knowledge with them to Championships.

Saturday their first game was against the Chicago Rampage.  They found themselves down 4-1 with 7 minutes left in the game. 

6:40 remaining, goal by Lee Allen, now down 2-4

5:21 remaining, goal by Braeden Bowra, now down 3-4

1:54 remaining, goal by Lee Allen to tie the game 4-4

1:26 remaining, goal by Braeden Boward, game winning goal, 5-4

Saturday second game - against the Grand Rapids Brewsaders. Down 4-2, Dan Ickes scored with 1:22 remaining to cut the lead down to one.  As time was running out, Adam Noschang took a long hail mary shot from their side of center near their own bench.  The shot went through heavy traffic and found a way behind Brewsaders goalie Ed Harris to force a shootout.  In the shootout Jon Ohearn was the only one to score, winning the game 6-5.

Sunday Quarter Final Game - Early morning Sunday is difficult for many teams.   When the Rollerdactyls woke up sometime in the 2nd period, they were down 8-4.  They battled back and forth and found themselves down 9-6 with only 5 minutes left in their season.  

4:35 remaining, goal by Dan Ickes, now down 9-7

4:04 remaining, goal by James Weaver, now down 9-8

0:08 remaining, goal by Adam Noschang, to time the game

1:31 remaining in OT, game winner by James Weaver, 10-9.

Sunday Semi Final Game - The heavily favored IIP Damage came into this game on a 16 game winning streak.  They were also the T4 defending champs.   The Rollerdactyls found themselves down again in the third period, 3-4.   Matt Eger tied the game with 10 minutes remaining.  Kevin Williams put them up 5-4 and the team held off the Damage, defeating them 7-5 with the help of Adam Noschangs' empty net goal. 

Sunday Championships Game - This game was a rematch of a come-from-behind victory on Saturday vs. the Chicago Rampage.  It was a hard fought game with the Rollerdactyls taking a 2-0 lead into the 3rd period.  They held on to a 5-1 win and their first MIHA Championship!  They are the 5th different team to win the T4 division on 5 seasons.