Friday Finals: Bulls, Americans lock up division titles
February 28, 2015
Granite City 4 @ North Iowa 6 –The game between the North Iowa Bulls and the Granite City Lumberjacks was tight through all 60 minutes, but in the end North Iowa emerged with a 6-4 win, which clinched the West Division regular season title for the Bulls. The Bulls gained the winning advantage on a goal by Jake Mullendore 3:15 into the third period and hung on until final buzzer. North Iowa got the win with help from a great game by Ryan Durant, who had one goal and two assists. Durant scored short handed 3:44 into the third period to make the score 5-3 North Iowa. North Iowa additionally got points from Johnny Panvica, who also had one goal and one assist, Brett Gravelle, who also registered one goal and one assist, and Zins, who also racked up one goal and one assist. North Iowa also got a goal from Tyler Johnson as well. In addition, North Iowa received assists from Kurt Halbach, Adam Orn, Connor Bump, Sam Naegele, Joe Burgmeier, and Jake Johnson, who contributed one each. The Lumberjacks were led by Michael Orke, who registered one goal and two assists. Orke scored 1:38 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Granite City. Jared Sprink assisted on the tally. Granite City also got points from Dallas Marvin, who also grabbed one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Granite City included Will Mix and Mitchell Gwost, who each put in one. More assists for Granite City came via Spencer Nelson and Luke Richardson, who each chipped in one. Chris Amsden rejected 25 shots on goal for the Bulls.
Glacier 1 @ Great Falls 5 - Erik Gatson registered one point to lead the Great Falls Americans to a 5-1 victory over Glacier. The win secured the 2014-15 Frontier Division regular season title and #1 seed for the Americans. Great Falls excelled on the penalty kill, not giving up a single goal in five chances. Glacier was unable to stop the Americans from sending pucks towards the net, and Great Falls eventually piled up 54 shots on goal. Great Falls also got points from Cody Page, who also tallied one goal and one assist and Brendan Jester, who also had one goal and one assist. Great Falls also had goals scored by Lucas Lomax and Reed Link, who scored one goal each. Other players who recorded assists for Great Falls were Robert Kalata, Tanner Dodd, Hunter Garris, and Joshua Larson, who each chipped in one and Lucas Stover and Austin Krantz, who contributed two each. Glacier was led by Trevor Jenson, who scored the team's only goal. Jenson scored 56 seconds into the second period to make the score 2-1 Great Falls. Marvin Simmons provided the assist. Jordan Moran made 21 saves for the Americans on 22 shots.
Peoria 5 @ Chicago 3 - The Chicago Junior Bulldogs could not stop the Peoria Mustangs' Mitchell McPherson, who tallied a hat trick in a 5-3 win. McPherson's first goal came 5:37 into the first period. He then added goals at 5:08 into the second and at 19:44 into the third. The Mustangs kept Chicago's goalie busy throughout the game, and Sam Harden made 56 saves on 61 shots. Peoria also got a goal from Kai Barber as well. More assists for Peoria came via Levi Armstrong, Nathan Scofield, and Nathan Marlow, who contributed one each and Marshall Gevers and Thomas Kolaz, who each chipped in two. Chicago was helped by Niko Moulakelis, who grabbed one goal. Moulakelis scored 2:28 into the second period to make the score 3-2 Chicago. Nick Rems provided the assist. Chicago also had goals scored by Kyle Barna and Scott Coash Jr, who scored one goal each. In addition, Chicago received assists from Scott Schroeder, Andrew Fattore, Michael Howard, and Mike Holmes, who contributed one each. Ross Lipic made 23 saves for Peoria on 26 shots.
Helena 5 @ Yellowstone 2 - The Helena Bighorns were firing on all cylinders against the Yellowstone Quake, and when the final buzzer sounded Bighorns emerged with a 5-2 win. Helena was led by Matt Mohar, who registered one goal. Mohar scored on the power play 17:05 into the second period to make the score 3-1 Helena. Helena additionally got points from Gavin Lubin, who also finished with one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Helena included Brandon Mills, Kyler Chartier, and Brandt Miller, who each put in one. More assists for Helena came via Johnny Bonta, who had three and Nick Trefry and Jay Forbes, who each chipped in one. The Quake were led by Will Landsverk, who had one goal and one assist. Landsverk scored short handed 13:24 into the second period to make the score 2-1 Helena. Sean Pilet also scored for Yellowstone. In addition, Yellowstone received assists from Max Doner, who had one. Grant Martens rejected 38 shots on goal for Helena.
Bozeman 5 @ Gillette 2 - Kegan Couture had one goal and two assists to lead the Bozeman Icedogs to a 5-2 victory over the Gillette Wild. Couture beat Alex Feese with a shot 13:29 into the second period short handed to make the score 3-1 Bozeman. A spearing call on John Dixon put Bozeman on the penalty kill. Jake Nicks picked up the assist. Couture dished an assist on Devin Panzeca's goal that made the score 2-1 Bozeman at 6:39 into the second period. He added another helper on Gunnar Mogck's goal that made the score 4-2 Bozeman at 12:00 into the third period. Bozeman also got a goal from Cole Blatter as well. In addition, Bozeman received assists from Steven Nisbet and Ryan Erickson, who each chipped in one. The Wild were helped by Brandon Beard, who finished with one goal. Beard scored 1:49 into the third period to make the score 3-2 Bozeman. Bryce Mitzel provided the assist. TJ McMinn also scored for Gillette. Other players who recorded assists for Gillette were Ryan Bochert, who had one.
Cleveland 0 @ Metro 3 - Tyler Layle registered one point to lead the Metro Jets to a 3-0 victory over the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks. Metro also had goals scored by Alex Holm and Cody Jones, who scored one goal each. In addition, Metro received assists from Cooper McLean, Pearce Vance, Jacob Drinkard, TJ Krajewski, Jake Sealy, and Graham Day, who each chipped in one. The Jets' Jake Stephan stopped 15 shots out of the 15 that he faced.
Minnesota 4 @ Alexandria 3 (SO) - Three periods of regulation and an overtime session were not enough to settle matters as the Minnesota Flying Aces defeated the Alexandria Blizzard in a shootout 4-3 (3-2 SO). The shootout featured 10 attempts between both teams. Alexandria's shootout goals were scored by AJ Gullickson and Aaron Ryback. Minnesota also got shootout goals from Blake Neumann and Jace Cseter. The Flying Aces overcame a two-goal deficit to capture the victory. Minnesota fell behind 3-1 after a goal by the Blizzard's Bo Gronseth at 4:15 in the second period. The Flying Aces tied things up at 3-3 on a goal by Matt Heim at 4:52 in the third period. Minnesota was helped by Ty Ennis, who tallied one goal. Ennis scored 16:36 into the first period to make the score 1-1. Cseter provided the assist. Minnesota also got a goal from Neumann as well. In addition, Minnesota received assists from Tyler Leverty, Bradee Thompson, Lucas Mutschelknaus, and Ryan Conybear, who each chipped in one. The Blizzard were helped by Austin Kilian, who had one goal. Kilian scored short handed 1:49 into the second period to make the score 2-1 Alexandria. Tyler Berginski picked up the assist. Joe Carney also scored for Alexandria. More assists for Alexandria came via Will Schwartz, who had two and Tyler Sworsky, Tom Schmidt, and Sean McAndrews, who contributed one each. Matt Douglas rejected 34 shots on goal for Minnesota.
Point Mallard 3 @ Nashville 1 - The Point Mallard Ducks took the lead against the Nashville Jr. Predators in the first period and maintained it until the end of the game to secure a tight 3-1 victory. Justin Dunn provided Point Mallard with the game-winning tally when he scored 17:04 into the first period. The Ducks had gained a power play chance when Spencer Marchand was whistled for holding. Noah Gilreath assisted on the tally. Point Mallard's Roman Bengert was a brick wall in net, as he came up with 25 saves and let only one puck past him. Bengert managed to improve on his goals against average, which stood at 2.16 prior to the game. The Ducks were led by Killian Gray, who finished with one goal and one assist. Gray scored 7:21 into the second period to make the score 2-0 Point Mallard. Justin Provencher provided the assist. Point Mallard also got points from Gilreath, who also grabbed one goal and one assist and Dunn, who also had one goal and one assist. In addition, Point Mallard received assists from Brad Reitter, who had one. The Jr. Predators were led by Ben Falk, who scored the team's only goal. Falk scored 2:05 into the third period to make the score 2-1 Point Mallard.
Breezy Point 4 @ Twin City 0 - Jordan Carey was all over the ice for the Breezy Point North Stars, as he tallied two goals in Breezy Point's 4-0 win over the Twin City Steel. Carey scored at 19:13 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Breezy Point and again while 12:36 into the second to make the score 2-0 Breezy Point. The North Stars were boosted by Jaxson Gosnell, who turned in a shutout with 26 saves. Gosnell managed to improve on his goals against average, which stood at 3.5 prior to the game. Others who scored for Breezy Point included Ryan Herbert and Benny Smieja, who each put in one. In addition, Breezy Point received assists from Seyia Hayata, who had two and Jack Anderholm, Sean Viti, Tyler Larwood, and Ryan Mezera, who contributed one each.
Southern Tier 2 @ Toledo 4 - In a game where neither team could get a cushion, the Toledo Cherokee escaped with a 4-2 victory over the Southern Tier Xpress. Each team kept the other at bay throughout the game, and Zach Swanson secured the win for Toledo with a goal in the second period. The Cherokee got the win with help from a great game by Swanson, who had one goal and two assists. Swanson scored on the power play 2:27 into the second period to make the score 3-2 Toledo. Toledo had gained a power play chance when Tobias Gabrielsen was whistled for tripping. Cody Estrel provided the assist. Toledo also got points from Brody Duncan, who also racked up one goal and one assist. Toledo also had goals scored by Dominic Pisanti and Kyle Downey, who each put in one. More assists for Toledo came via Michael Pisanti, Mark McGee, and Jimmy Howell, who each chipped in one. Southern Tier was helped by Mark Sunde, who grabbed one goal. Sunde scored 6:44 into the first period to make the score 1-1. Luke Sunde picked up the assist. Southern Tier also got a goal from Isaiah Crawford as well. In addition, Southern Tier received assists from Brandon Desrosiers, who had two. Glen Bates rejected 19 shots on goal for the Cherokee.
Sugar Land 2 @ Topeka 7 - The Topeka Capitals were firing on all cylinders against the Sugar Land Imperials, and when the final buzzer sounded Capitals emerged with a 7-2 win. Topeka got the win on the strength of a great game by Hank Roers, who had two goals and one assist. Roers scored the first of his two goals at 2:24 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Topeka. Drew Kelly picked up the assist. Roers' next tally made the score 6-2 Topeka with 10:57 left in the third period. Alex Sauer provided the assist. Topeka also got points from Joe Stoneburner, who also grabbed one goal and one assist, Mike Pedersen, who also had one goal and one assist, and Trey Opack, who also registered one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Topeka included Kyle Rimbach and Alex Johanson, who scored one goal each. Other players who recorded assists for Topeka were James Bohan, who had two and Andrew Cooley and Steve MacIver, who contributed one each. The Imperials were led by Frank Muscarella, who racked up one goal and one assist. Muscarella scored 11:47 into the first period to make the score 2-2. Josh Rocco picked up the assist. Sugar Land also got a goal from Frazer Ellis as well. More assists for Sugar Land came via Aksel Campbell, who had one.
