Friday Finals: Wild get big win in Great Falls

December 13, 2014

Texas 2 @ Topeka 4 – The Texas Jr. Brahmas tried to dig themselves out of a four-goal hole, but the Topeka Capitals held on for a 4-2 victory. Topeka took a 4-0 lead during the second period, only to have Texas storm back on a Mykyta Sheptytsky goal 2:00 into the third period to pull to two goals down. The Capitals were helped by Dylan Wattles, who finished with one goal. Wattles scored 5:11 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Topeka. Alex Johanson picked up the assist. Topeka also got a goal from Kyle Rimbach as well. More assists for Topeka came via Benton Deanovich, who had two and Igor Valko, Alex Sauer, Steve MacIver, and Trey Opack, who contributed one each. Chase Deacon also scored for Texas. Other players who recorded assists for Texas were Jon Grimm, Nick Nitta, Kurt Thiele, and Ryan Dunner, who each chipped in one. Topeka's Bailey Aust stopped 26 shots out of the 28 that he faced. The Jr. Brahmas' starting goalie, Quinton Reynolds, made 13 saves and finished with the loss before he was taken out in favor of Joe Hacker, who stopped 10 shots. Texas registered one goal on three power play opportunities.

 

Southern Tier 2 @ Toledo 1 – A stellar performance between the pipes by Tyler Geloneck helped the Southern Tier Xpress defeat the Toledo Cherokee, 2-1. Southern Tier was led by Victor McCutcheon, who grabbed one goal. McCutcheon scored short handed 19:10 into the third period to make the score 2-1 Southern Tier. Southern Tier excelled on the penalty kill, not giving up a single goal in four chances. Southern Tier also got a goal from Cody Maulsby as well. More assists for Southern Tier came via Justin Andriaccio and Elijah Williams, who each chipped in one. Toledo's penalty kill was spotless, allowing no goals on five Southern Tier power plays. The Cherokee did not reach the goal total they have come to expect this season. Toledo averages 3.4 goals per game. The Cherokee kept the Xpress' goalie busy throughout the game, and Geloneck made 31 saves on 32 shots. Toledo was led by Evan Heldt, who scored the team's only goal. Heldt scored 12:43 into the third period to make the score 1-1. Kyle Downey picked up the assist.

Glen Bates recorded 25 saves for the Cherokee. 

 

Metro 1 @ West Michigan 4 – Chase Stanford stood on his head and made 25 saves to lead the West Michigan Wolves to a 4-1 victory over the Metro Jets. West Michigan was led by Dakota Ulmer, who had one goal. Ulmer scored 14:12 into the second period to make the score 2-1 West Michigan. The Wolves' penalty kill was spotless, allowing no goals on five Metro power plays. Metro was unable to stop West Michigan from sending pucks towards the net, and the Wolves eventually piled up 38 shots on goal. West Michigan additionally got points from Tait Aptakin, who also tallied one goal and one assist to lead the team in points. Others who scored for West Michigan included Steven Rhodes and Brandon Benaglio, who each put in one. Other players who recorded assists for West Michigan were Zack Lloyd, Corey Siwula, and Kyle Keeder, who contributed one each. The Jets excelled on the penalty kill, not giving up a single goal in four chances. Metro's offense operated below its season average. The Jets average 3.8 goals per game. Metro was led by Matt Dempsey, who scored the team's only goal. Dempsey scored 13:03 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Metro. Alex Holm picked up the assist.

 

Sugar Land 2 @ Dallas 3 – The game between the Dallas Jr. Stars and the Sugar Land Imperials was tight through all 60 minutes, but in the end Dallas emerged with a 3-2 win. Each team kept the other at bay throughout the game, and Blake McIntyre secured the win for the Jr. Stars with a goal in the third period. Dallas got the win behind a great game by McIntyre, who had two goals and one assist. McIntyre scored the first of his two goals at 14:41 into the second period to make the score 2-2. Tommy Estenes picked up the assist. McIntyre's next tally made the score 3-2 Dallas with 12:39 left in the third period. Tyler Valentin assisted on the tally. The Jr. Stars excelled on the penalty kill, not giving up a single goal in five chances. Dallas also got a goal from Travis Hall as well. Other players who recorded assists for Dallas were Alex Williams, who had one. Sugar Land kept Dallas' goalie busy throughout the game, and Anthony Galliart made 46 saves on 48 shots. The Imperials were led by John Cuni, who had one goal and one assist. Cuni scored 18:14 into the first period to make the score 1-1. Matthew Winkle picked up the assist. Frazer Ellis also scored for Sugar Land. In addition, Sugar Land received assists from Ryan James and Tyler Sands, who contributed one each. Colton Anderson made 27 saves for Sugar Land on 30 shots. 

 

Chicago 5 @ Wisconsin 4 (SO) – Three periods of regulation and an overtime session were not enough to settle matters as the Chicago Junior Bulldogs defeated the Wisconsin Whalers in a shootout 5-4 (1-0 SO). The two teams needed 16 turns to complete the shootout. Chicago overcame a two-goal deficit to capture the victory. The Junior Bulldogs fell behind 2-0 after a goal by Wisconsin's Ryan Martin at 14:46 in the first period. Chicago tied things up at 4-4 on a power play goal by Nathan Viberg at 12:17 in the third period. In the losing effort, the Whalers were led by Viberg, who registered two goals. Viberg scored the first of his two goals on the power play at 13:15 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Wisconsin. Viberg's next tally on the power play made the score 4-4 with 7:43 left in the third period. The Whalers earned a power play opportunity when Michael Howard was put in the box for roughing. Martin picked up the assist. Chicago's offense rang up 56 shots on Wisconsin's net. The Junior Bulldogs got an offensive boost from their blueliners, who contributed two goals during the game. Chicago was helped by Chris Fiordirosa, who grabbed one goal. Fiordirosa scored 15:24 into the first period to make the score 2-1 Wisconsin. Max Piper provided the assist. Chicago also got points from Piper, who also had one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Chicago included Matthew Adams and Ryan Maksimovic, who scored one goal each. In addition, Chicago received assists from Tyler Seltenriech, who had two and Taylor Hamilton and Jordan Pitlick, who each chipped in one. The Whalers kept the Junior Bulldogs' goalie busy throughout the game, and Sam Harden made 52 saves on 56 shots. Wisconsin additionally got points from Martin, who also tallied two goals and one assist. Other players who recorded assists for Wisconsin were Caleb Voster, Thomas Hanson, and Adam Schoenfeld, who contributed one each.

 

Gillette 5 @ Great Falls 0 – Alex Feese was superb between the pipes for the Gillette Wild, as he did not allow a goal in a 5-0 victory over the Great Falls Americans. Alex King was all over the ice for Gillette, as he grabbed two goals in the win. King's tallies came at 2:17 into the second period to make the score 1-0 Gillette and 17:56 into the third to make the score 5-0 Gillette. The Wild was steadier on the defensive front than they have been for much of this season. Gillette gives up 2.3 goals on average per game. Great Falls was unable to stop the Wild from sending pucks towards the net, and Gillette eventually piled up 33 shots on goal. Gillette also got points from Kyle Traux, who also racked up one goal and one assist and Brandon Beard, who also tallied one goal and one assist. Gillette also got a goal from TJ McMinn as well. In addition, Gillette received assists from Bryce Mitzel, who had two and Lance Pennington, RJ Yusko, and Mitchell McEwan, who each chipped in one. The Americans' offense operated below their season average. Great Falls puts an average of 3.9 pucks into the net per game. The Americans forced the Wild goalie Feese to work between the pipes, taking 37 shots. Great Falls' defense was uncharacteristically lax during the game. The Americans average 1.7 goal allowed per game. Gillette's Feese stopped 37 shots out of the 37 that he faced. Lauren Massie made 28 saves for Great Falls on 33 shots. 

 

Granite City 4 @ Alexandria 1 – David Kenney lifted the Granite City Lumberjacks to a 4-1 victory with a hat trick against the Alexandria Blizzard. Kenney's first goal came 10:39 into the first period. He then added goals at 10:11 into the second and at 15:47 into the second. Granite City was led by goalie Jesse Garcia, who finished with 35 saves while allowing one goal. Garcia certainly lowered his goals against average, which was 1.82 entering the contest. The Lumberjacks put up an impenetrable defensive front on the penalty kill, and did not allow Alexandria to score on any of its three power plays. Granite City also got a goal from Jared Sprink as well. Other players who recorded assists for Granite City were Will Mix, who had one and Blake Phenow and Tanner Skaja, who contributed two each. The Blizzard did not reach the goal total they have come to expect this season. Alexandria averages 4.0 goals per game. The Blizzard forced Granite City goalie Garcia to work between the pipes, taking 36 shots. Alexandria was led by Gavin Mindt, who scored the team's only goal. Mindt scored 6:48 into the third period to make the score 3-1 Granite City. Bo Gronseth assisted on the tally. Evan Bisek recorded 24 saves for the Blizzard.

 

Breezy Point 1 @ North Iowa 3 – Joe Burgmeier had one goal and two assists to lead the North Iowa Bulls to a 3-1 victory over the Breezy Point North Stars. Burgmeier scored 13:34 into the third period to make the score 3-1 North Iowa. Austin Jackson assisted on the tally. Burgmeier dished an assist on Evan Mills's goal that made the score 1-0 North Iowa at 17:11 into the first period. He added another helper on Brett Gravelle's goal that made the score 2-1 North Iowa at 10:20 into the third period. North Iowa stifled Breezy Point's power play, and did not give up a single goal while down a man. The Bulls were held below their usual level of production. North Iowa puts an average of 5.1 pucks into the net per game. The Bulls' offense rang up 36 shots on the North Stars' net. North Iowa additionally got points from Gravelle, who also racked up one goal and one assist. Other players who recorded assists for North Iowa were Carmen Dalesandro, who had one. Breezy Point was led by Jordan Carey, who scored the team's only goal. Carey scored 3:48 into the third period to make the score 1-1. Alex Mimmack picked up the assist. Tommi Ahlgren recorded 21 saves for North Iowa. Jaxson Gosnell rejected 33 shots on goal for the North Stars.

 

Helena 2 @ Bozeman 3 (SO) – Three periods of regulation and an overtime session were not enough to settle matters as the Bozeman Icedogs defeated the Helena Bighorns in a shootout 3-2 (2-0 SO). The two teams needed eight turns to complete the shootout. Bozeman's other shootout goal was scored by Kegan Couture. The Icedogs saw a two-goal lead disappear, but was able to secure the win in a shootout. Bozeman made the score 2-0 on a goal by Ryan Erickson at 17:10 in the second period. Helena evened things up at 2-2 on a goal by Bryan Knesel at 15:14 in the third period. Kyler Chartier also scored for Bozeman. In addition, Bozeman received assists from Steven Nisbet, Thomas Benedict, Gunnar Mogck, and Couture, who each chipped in one. The Bighorns stifled the Icedogs' power play, and did not give up a single goal while down a man. Helena could not produce up to its normal offensive output. The Bighorns put an average of 4.4 pucks into the net per game. Bozeman was unable to stop Helena from sending pucks towards the net, and the Bighorns eventually piled up 31 shots on goal. Helena was helped by Georgy Ostapchuk, who finished with one goal. Ostapchuk scored 11:40 into the third period to make the score 2-1 Bozeman. Brandt Miller provided the assist. More assists for Helena came via Elliot Hopkins, who had one. Denijs Romanovskis made 29 saves for the Icedogs on 31 shots. Bozeman registered zero goals on three power play opportunities. Grant Martens rejected 18 shots on goal for the Bighorns. 

 

Billings 2 @ Yellowstone 4 – In a game where neither team could get a cushion, the Yellowstone Quake escaped with a 4-2 victory over the Billings Bulls. No lead was more than two goals during the contest, and the winning goal was scored by Max Doner at 12:21 of the second period. Doner had a great game for Yellowstone, netting two goals. Billings was unable to stop the Quake from sending pucks towards the net, and Yellowstone eventually piled up 54 shots on goal. Others who scored for Yellowstone included Sawyer Scanlan and Nick Ligocki, who scored one goal each. More assists for Yellowstone came via Ross Mullen, Mike McCullen, and Sean Pilet, who contributed one each and Mason Jobe and Will Landsverk, who each chipped in two. The Bulls' offense rang up 42 shots on the Quake's net. Billings was helped by TJ Theodosopoulos, who grabbed one goal. Theodosopoulos scored on the power play 7:55 into the second period to make the score 1-1. An interference penalty on Ligocki had put the Bulls on the power play. Tristan Henrichs provided the assist. Steven Thompson also scored for Billings. Other players who recorded assists for Billings were Wolfgang Davis and Nick Rizzo, who contributed one each. Lance Knudson recorded 40 saves for Yellowstone. Alexander Meagher made 50 saves for Billings on 54 shots.