Ice Miners lose game, ownership group

The Keystone Ice Miners suffered two losses on Friday. One hurt a lot more than the other.
On the ice, Keystone lost at Johnstown to the Tomahawks, 5-1.
Off the ice, the Ice Miners suddenly have no owners, but their season is expected to continue. In a statement released by the North American Hockey League (NAHL) Board of Governors, Hat Trick Hockey, Inc., the parent company of the Ice Miners, resigned and terminated its NAHL membership on Friday.
According to the league, the Ice Miners will complete their season.
In the statement, the NAHL said that its “staff and Executive Team has mobilized a plan in order to work with Keystone Ice Miners staff and volunteers in the Connellsville, Pennsylvania community to ensure a successful completion of the 2014-15 season. The team will continue to play as usual throughout the remainder of the regular season and playoffs, if necessary.”
With the Ice Miners playing in Johnstown, President, Head Coach and General Manager Michael Gershon was unavailable for comment Friday night.
The team relocated from Port Huron, Michigan, to Connellsville on May 9 as the Keystone Ice Miners.
As for Friday’s game, Johnstown’s Luke Lynch broke a scoreless tie late in the first period, scoring with 1:08 left, but the Ice Miners tied it on Taylor Fernandez’ goal 4:33 into the second.
Ian Spencer put the Tomahawks ahead to stay with a goal at 8:53 of the second, and Johnstown added third-period goals by Lynch, Cam Bleck and Tanner Barnes.