Photo taken by Titus Wilkinson. Ethan Del Mastro skates with the puck as Ryan Carpenter pursues (taken on 10/13/23.)

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

SAN JOSE- The Barracuda opened up their season at home against Rockford and let down the home fans losing 7-2.

Getting the start for San Jose was Magnus Chrona while Rockford had Drew Commesso in between the pipes.

The first period started tight as neither team was able to get many chances early.

The ice was broken at 9:13 by Rockford one the power play as Anders Bjork found himself wide open backdoor and tapped one home. The goal was assisted by Joey Anderson and David Gust.

With the momentum on their side the IceHogs pushed for another one and scored off the rush as Mike Hardman was the recipient of a backdoor feed. Assists were credited to Anderson and Bjork.

The Barracuda were able to end the period on a positive note though as Brandon Coe scored the first goal of the regular season. Ethan Cardwell and Jacob Peterson got the assists.

At the end of the first the shots favored San Jose 11-10.

For San Jose the second period needed to be a bounce back frame but it did not get off to a great start. As 3:12 into the period Ozzy Wiesblatt got a match penalty for a check to the head. That meant Rockford would have a five minute power play.

On the power play the IceHogs continued to be effective as first it was Michal Telpy who slapped one home on a broken play. Isaak Phillips and Mike Hardman got the assists. They weren’t done there as David Gust was allowed to walk right into the slot and deke out Chrona making it 4-1. This time Anderson and Brett Seney got the assists.

The Barracuda were given a golden oppurtunity to respond as Cole Cassels was tripped from behind on a breakaway meaning a penalty shot. On the penalty shot Cassels was unable to convert as the IceHogs still had a three goal lead.

At the end of the second the shots still favored San Jose at 29-23.

In the final frame things didn’t get much better as Gust scored his second of the game making it 5-1. Less than three minutes after that Ryder Rolston tacked on to the lead with a goal of his own.

With the score now 6-1 the Barracuda still pulled their goalie to try and get back into it but Bryce Kindopp put the dagger in as he scored.

The IceHogs took a couple of penalties late which resulted in a goal from Shakir Mukhamadulin assisted by Danil Gushchin and Ryan Carpenter.

That goal ended up being the last of the game as it ended 7-2 with Rockford convincingly on top.

Rockford was deadly on the power play in this one going 3/5 while San Jose went 1/4.

The three stars of the game were 1st: David Gust 2nd: Brandon Coe 3rd: Anders Bjork

San Jose will look to bounce back at home tomorrow against the IceHogs this time at 2. p.m.