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Gems cap special night with victory page

Season’s largest crowd watches; portion of gate goes to Tipp City family.

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By David DiCenzo, Contributing Writer 11:33 PM Saturday, January 28, 2012

TROTWOOD — Dayton Gems coach Brian Gratz said his team has had some “galvanizing moments” lately. None was more memorable than the latest victory at Hara Arena on Saturday.

With a season-high 5,187 fans in attendance on Jam it for Jimmy Night, Dayton finally defeated the Evansville IceMen 4-3 thanks to two goals from Jonathan Ornelas, including the winner.

Ornelas completed an unlikely comeback at 7:39 of the third period, moments after Brandon Naurato left the ice with a leg injury. The Mississauga, Ontario, native pounced on a loose puck down low and roofed it past goaltender Pier-Olivier Pelletier to cap a special night. The old Hara barn was near capacity with the Gems donating a portion of the gate to Tipp City resident Tina Jenks and her teen son Jimmy, who is undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

“This was about more than hockey,” said Gratz. “We wanted to give Jimmy something to remember. It was a big night for a young man battling something terrible.”

The Central Hockey League-leading IceMen, who had beaten Dayton in all seven previous meetings this season, built a 3-1 lead on two goals by Josh Beaulieu.

But the Gems (15-19-7) showed the kind of fight appropriate for the occasion. Naurato’s ninth power-play goal of the year at 9:20 of the second cut the margin to one and just 1:33 later, defenseman Matt Baxter showcased his offensive skills by beating Pelletier five-hole on a penalty shot. Baxter spotted Jenks in the front row and skated right over to him.

“I pointed at him and let him know that was for him,” said the 23-year-old from Courtice, Ont., who added that the belief on the bench was high.

“It gave me chills,” Gratz said of Baxter’s gesture.

Larry Sterling made 31 saves for his eighth win. In the dying seconds, with the IceMen adding an extra attacker, Sterling preserved the two points by robbing Steve Makway.

• Dayton fell behind just 2:28 in when Mike Sgroi was fortunate to sneak one behind Sterling from a bad angle. But the Gems equalized quickly. Ornelas flew down the right wing and fired in his 12th of the season. ... The Gems will make a donation of $5,187 to the Jenks family. ... Dayton’s Kyle Bochek sat out after receiving a one-game suspension for a kneeing major and game misconduct in Friday’s 3-2 win over Rapid City. ... Evansville had two goals waved off because of high sticks.

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