Published: February 22, 2009 12:13 am      

Chiefs squander early lead in OT loss to Jackals

Mike Sgroi was a fan favorite when he wore the Johnstown Chiefs jersey during parts of the past two ECHL seasons.

Sgroi, now with the Elmira Jackals, was surprised when those who once cheered him instead booed him in Saturday’s game at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

Unfortunately for his former teammates, Sgroi found extra motivation.

The colorful and often fiery Sgroi assisted on Elmira’s first goal and scored the Jackals’ pivotal third goal as the Chiefs squandered a game they appeared to have in hand, 5-4 in overtime.

Johnstown had led 3-0 through 20 minutes.

“I didn’t have a chip on my shoulder until the fans started giving it to me,” said Sgroi, who was traded to Utah on Jan. 24 and later dealt to Elmira. “It upset me a little bit to be quite honest with you. The fans are the ones who got me fired up by being so negative like that.”

During his time in Johnstown, Sgroi played an emotional game and, especially last season, used his physical style to win over blue-collar Chiefs fans. Not on Saturday.

“I was really surprised,” Sgroi said. “Every time I put on a Johnstown Chiefs uniform the last couple years, I put everything I had on the ice. To come back here and have everyone booing me and hissing me and stuff like that, I thought it was terrible. That was classless.

“It’s unfortunate that’s the way it’s got to be. I was looking forward to playing here. I liked being here and the fans always treated me well. I just can’t believe this. That’s what lit the fire under my (butt). I have nothing against any of those guys. I like everyone on that team. The fans can take credit for getting me (teed) off tonight.”

The Chiefs played with intensity in the first period, as Trevor Hendrikx converted a power play 3:35 into the game, and Andrew Sarauer and Petr Pohl added goals at 10:20 and 19:09 to make it 3-0.

“We came out in the first period the way we needed to,” Chiefs coach Ian Herbers said.

“We played sharp. We were smart. We were moving our feet. We were getting pucks first. We got a power play right off the bat and we capitalized on it.”

Sgroi’s cross-ice pass enabled Steve Yetman to hit an open net 23 seconds into the middle period. But Johnstown’s Pohl scored his 24th of the season 21 seconds later, apparently putting the momentum back in Johnstown’s favor.

Elmira’s Moises Gutierrez and Sgroi added second period goals to close the gap, and the Jackals’ Wes Cunningham scored with 3:26 left in regulation to tie it at 4-4.

“The second period we stood and watched,” Herbers said.

“Our guys weren’t sharp there. We let guys in behind us. We were standing still. We were not winning the puck battles. We were going for the easy game and maybe going for extra points, which we haven’t had that problem before.”

Nathan Lutz scored 47 seconds into overtime against Ian Keserich. Elmira goalie Mitch O’Keefe, who entered the game in the second period, won in relief of Michael Teslak.

“We need to be able to play a lot smarter (today),” Herbers said. “We need to play the game we need to, like we did in the first period. When we play that way, we’re a tough team to handle.”