Dayton, OH – Meeting for the first of three consecutive matchups with the Missouri Mavericks, the Dayton Gems would take control early and wouldn't look back as they leave the visiting Mavs in the dust by a final score of 4-1 on Thursday night on Cassano's Italian Ice inside the historic Hara Arena.

Box Score | Game Live

Dayton would waste little time in welcoming their guests inside the comfy confines of Hara Arena, hitting the ice full stride to begin the first period of a total of nine this weekend against the Mavs. Testing Mavericks netminder Charlie Effinger early with a barrage of shots, the Gems Damian Surma would help set up linemate Brett Lutes to bang in the rebound for the first goal of the game 6:32 into the stanza.

Missouri would match with the Gems in the period, earning a quality chance in front of Dayton netminder Bryan Hogan, ultimately
capitalizing on a shot that found it's way past Hogan to even the score at the 10:43 mark. As the period wore into the later minutes, a long headman pass through neutral ice would find Jon Ornelas who was able to speed past the Mavs defense to snap in a breakaway goal to reclaim the lead with under four minutes left in the opener, ultimately taking the 2-1 lead into the Gems dressing room after a thrilling twenty minutes of play. The Gems would edge the Mavericks in first period shots on goal 10-9.

The Gems kicked off the second period by picking up right where they left off, and electrifying the home faithful with Ornelas's second goal of the game only :17 into the period on the powerplay to take the 3-1 lead. The Goal, Ornelas's 7th of the season, was assisted by Lutes and netminder Hogan. Play settled down to an end to end flow as the period continued, but Dayton's offensive machinery would come back alive in the later half when Ornelas was hauled down from behind on yet another break towards the Mavs net, earning his his first penalty shot of the season. Despite his shot ringing off the near post, the Gems compensated with a good old fashioned twine-snapper, this time led by veteran captain Greg Labenski who lit the lamp from the slot for the team's fourth goal of the night, and Labenski's first of the season at 13:42.

Both teams would remain scoreless in the third, firmly locking in the Gems hard fought 4-1 win in front of the hometown crowd. Final shots on goal favored the Mavericks 42 to 26.

With the win, the Gems record improves to 7-5-4 for 18 points, and both teams travel to Independence, Missouri for the completion of the three game weekend series on Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm eastern.