JOHNSTOWN, Pennsylvania – Johnstown Tomahawks forward Holt Oliphant recently signed up to serve his country in the US Air Force.
It’s no surprise, then, that the Tomahawks captain enjoyed the presence of Vietnam veteran and four-time Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl champion Rocky Bleier during Friday night’s NAHL game against the Jamestown Rebels.
Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe not. Oliphant scored two second-period goals – one shorthanded and the other with just 1 second on the clock – to spark the Tomahawks into a 3-1 win over the Rebels in front of 2,095 fans at 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria Memorial Department of War.
“He defended his country and served in Vietnam,” Oliphant said of Bleier, who received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service. “It was definitely a special night and I’m happy to be able to offer two.”
The Tomahawks started with a push but produced no goals.
Braedon Ford and Zach Stoner both hit the post on net rushes within the first 29 seconds of play. Cole Bianchin skated through the slot and hit the far post with 12:30 left.
Meanwhile, Jamestown scored at 13:23, as John Lundy was credited with the goal after Johnstown goalkeeper Matt O’Donnell initially stopped an attempt that appeared to have been thrown.
“We hit two posts in the first quarter and we hit three in the first period,” Tomahawks coach Mike Letizia said.
“They have one that was flukey.
“We said to the guys, ‘There’s nothing you can do about it. They’re not going to change it. It’s how we react to it.
Oliphant scored both goals in the second period, including one at 19:59 to give the Tomahawks a 2-1 lead.
Oliphant’s 10th of the season at 4:04 of the second period came on a shorthanded breakaway.
“I saw he had his back turned to pick up a puck off the wall,” Oliphant said of a Rebels defenseman. “I thought to myself I was jumping up and getting the puck out. Obviously you don’t think of the shorthanded attack first, but I happened to jump up and the puck hit me.
“I ended up going down for a breakaway. Just a few good rebounds, of course.
Oliphant bounced back as time ticked into the second. Drew Jeffers and Stephen Kyrkostas got assists.
“Great forecheck from Schmitty (Egan Schmitt) and Steph (Kyrkostas),” Oliphant said. “They managed to spit the puck in Jamestown. A great shot from Jeffers that just put it on goal, giving us a chance to bring home a rebound.
The third-placed Tomahawks (24-13-5) have 53 points, six ahead of Jamestown (22-18-3) and Northeast (23-19-1), the teams tied for fourth in the East Division.
“We know the circumstances, where we are right now,” said Letizia, whose side will face the Rebels at 7 p.m. on Saturday. “That’s a big two points.”
Bleier was part of four Super Bowl championships for the Steelers during the 1970s dynasty.
He also played on a national championship team at Notre Dame in 1966.
The Steelers selected him in the 1968 NFL Draft, but the U.S. Army drafted him that year as well.
His platoon was ambushed in a rice paddy in Vietnam. Bleier was shot and later seriously injured by an exploded grenade.
He was told he would probably never play football again, but his determination and the support of owner Art Rooney Sr. and the Steelers led to a comeback that inspired a book and a movie.
Bleier dropped the ceremonial first puck. He signed autographs and posed for photos in the third period as fans formed a long line in the lobby.
“I told the guys after the game it was a great story when you have Rocky Bleier here, a guy who defended his country and was a professional athlete,” Letizia said. “Then you have our captain, who is going to defend his country after this year and he offers two huge goals.”
Mike Mastovich is a sports journalist and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
Mike Mastovich is a sports journalist and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at (814) 532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
