Defending champ Bulls back in division finals

March 8, 2015

 

 

The Toledo Cherokee could not hold down the Pittsburgh Vengeance, and Vengeance erased a two-goal deficit en route to a 3-2 win. Pittsburgh never led in the game until netting the game winner. The Vengeance was down 2-0 after a goal by Toledo's Brody Duncan at 13:29 in the first period. Pittsburgh tied things up at 2-2 on a goal by Michael Straub at 6:57 in the third period. The Vengeance got the game winner at 17:32 in the third period on a goal by Straub. The win by Pittsburgh clinched the best of three series at 2-0. The Vengeance were sparked by Parker Henry, who registered one goal and one assist. Pittsburgh also got points from Eli Lynn, who also racked up one goal and one assist and Straub, who also had one goal and one assist. In addition, Pittsburgh received assists from Adem Arifi, who had two. The Cherokee were helped by Kyle Downey, who tallied one goal. Downey scored 5:54 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Toledo. Cam Schwartz picked up the assist. Other players who recorded assists for Toledo were Dominic Pisanti, Zach Swanson, and Eathan Resetar, who each chipped in one. Jacob Stack recorded 27 saves for Pittsburgh.

 

 

The Metro Jets' Jason Newel scored 7:57 into overtime to beat the Southern Tier Xpress, 2-1 (OT). The win by Metro clinched the best of three series at 2-0. The Jets' Kameron Limburg was a brick wall in net, as he came up with 30 saves and let only one puck past him.  Metro was led by Newel, who finished with one goal. Metro kept the Xpress' goalie busy throughout the game, and Cody Gibson made 38 saves on 40 shots. Evan Wilson also scored for Metro. More assists for Metro came via Alex Holm, Ryan Bloom, and Graham Day, who each chipped in one. The Xpress were led by Victor McCutcheon, who scored the team's only goal. McCutcheon scored 3:29 into the second period to make the score 1-1. Curtis Carlson picked up the assist.

 

 

The Helena Bighorns gutted out a close 4-2 win against the Gillette Wild. No lead was more than two goals during the contest, and the winning goal was scored by Brandon Mills at 15:41 of the second period. The win by Helena clinched the best of three series at 2-1. Jay Forbes was all over the ice for the Bighorns, as he tallied two goals in the win. Forbes scored at 13:54 into the second period to make the score 2-2 and again while 18:57 into the third to make the score 4-2 Helena. Helena additionally got points from Mills, who also finished with one goal and one assist to lead the team in points. Helena also got a goal from Kendall Bolen-Porter as well. Other players who recorded assists for Helena were Brandt Miller, Liam McDonough, and Blake Babineau, who contributed one each. Gillette was helped by Ryan Bochert, who registered one goal. Bochert scored 3:19 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Gillette. Mitchell Huffman also scored for Gillette. In addition, Gillette received assists from Trevor Ruiz, who had one. Grant Martens made 28 saves for Helena on 30 shots.

 

 

The Wisconsin Whalers took the lead against the La Crosse Freeze in the first period and maintained it until the end of the game to secure a tight 4-2 victory. A goal 14:25 into the first period by Adam Schoenfeld proved to be the game winner, and powered Wisconsin to the victory. Connor Morgan provided the assist. The win by the Whalers clinched the best of three series at 2-0. Schoenfeld had two goals to lead Wisconsin to victory. Wisconsin additionally got points from Peter Henderson, who also grabbed one goal and one assist. Wisconsin also got a goal from Alex Anderson as well. Other players who recorded assists for Wisconsin were Isaac Hale, who had two and Caleb Voster, Ryan Martin, Michael Tish, and Dan Addie, who each chipped in one. La Crosse was led by Jake Lipski, who racked up one goal and one assist. Lipski scored 7:19 into the third period to make the score 3-2 Wisconsin. Ben Henderson picked up the assist. Hunter Dragosh also scored for La Crosse. In addition, La Crosse received assists from Luke Bing and Hunter Breza, who contributed one each. Wisconsin's Evan Moyse stopped 27 shots out of the 29 that he faced.

 

 

In a game where neither team could get a cushion, the North Iowa Bulls escaped with a 5-3 victory over the Twin City Steel. North Iowa gained the winning advantage on a goal by Joe Kleven 11:09 into the third period and hung on until final buzzer. The win by the Bulls clinched the best of three series at 2-0. Dylan Zins had two goals to lead North Iowa to victory. Zins found the back of the net 10:29 into the first period to make the score 1-0 North Iowa and again while 10:55 into the second to make the score 3-2 Twin City. North Iowa additionally got points from Jake Johnson, who also had one goal and one assist. North Iowa also got a goal from Sam Naegele as well. Other players who recorded assists for North Iowa were Robert Click, Conor Durgan, and Joe Burgmeier, who each chipped in one and Tommy Heinzman and Jake Mullendore, who contributed three each. The Steel were helped by Jake McGlocklin, who grabbed one goal. McGlocklin scored 15:53 into the first period to make the score 2-1 Twin City. Tristan Mayer assisted on the tally. Twin City also got points from Tom Reilly, who also finished with one goal and one assist to lead the team in points. Aharon Lara also scored for Twin City. More assists for Twin City came via Mathias Ahman, Joe Costello, Mikko Aho, and Russel Barone, who each chipped in one. Chris Amsden made 30 saves for North Iowa on 33 shots.

 

 

The Texas Jr. Brahmas gutted out a close 5-3 win against the Topeka Capitals. Texas gained the winning advantage on a goal by Paolo DiGenova 13:31 into the third period and hung on until final buzzer. The win by the Jr. Brahmas clinched the best of three series at 2-0. Texas additionally got points from Mykyta Sheptytsky, who also grabbed one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Texas included Jon Grimm, Devin Pierce, and Nick Ford, who scored one goal each. In addition, Texas received assists from Brock Brown, who had one and Nick Nitta, Ryan Dunner, and Sam Gagnon, who each chipped in two. Topeka forced Texas goalie Tristan Canter to work between the pipes, taking 34 shots. The Capitals were helped by Colin OConnor, who had one goal. OConnor scored on the power play 19:28 into the second period to make the score 3-3. Topeka also got points from Trey Opack, who also finished with one goal and one assist and Richard Yusa, who also registered one goal and one assist to lead the team in points. Other players who recorded assists for Topeka were Drew Kelly and Benton Deanovich, who contributed one each. The Jr. Brahmas' Canter stopped 31 shots out of the 34 that he faced.

 

 

Michael Tratar gave the West Michigan Wolves the lead in the first period, and the Peoria Mustangs was never able to catch up in a close game that ended 3-2. West Michigan took over the lead for good with a goal by Tratar at 12:07 in the first period. Dakota Ulmer assisted on the tally. With the win, the Wolves avoided elimination to make the series score 1-1 in the best of three series. West Michigan was led by Shawn Adam, who racked up one goal. Adam scored 3:27 into the second period to make the score 3-1 West Michigan. Ian Rolfsen provided the assist. West Michigan also got points from Tratar, who also finished with one goal and one assist. West Michigan also got a goal from Corey Siwula as well. Other players who recorded assists for West Michigan were Devin Farkas, who had one. Peoria was helped by Thomas Kolaz, who grabbed one goal. Kolaz scored 11:10 into the first period to make the score 1-1. Austin Wisely picked up the assist. Kai Barber also scored for Peoria. In addition, Peoria received assists from Levi Armstrong and Mitchell McPherson, who contributed one each. Hunter Vorva recorded 28 saves for the Wolves.

 

 

The Point Mallard Ducks beat the Nashville Jr. Predators, 2-1, in a contest where the winning goal was scored in the first period but the game remained close throughout. Justin Dunn provided Point Mallard with the game-winning tally when he scored 7:22 into the first period. Justin Provencher provided the assist. With the win, the Ducks avoided elimination to make the series score 1-1 in the best of three series. Dunn had a great game for Point Mallard, netting two goals. The Ducks' Cooper Seedott was a brick wall in net, as he came up with 33 saves and let only one puck past him.  In addition, Point Mallard received assists from Brad Reitter and Killian Gray, who each chipped in one. The Jr. Predators were led by Jacob Lainesse, who scored the team's only goal. Lainesse scored 15:30 into the first period to make the score 2-1 Point Mallard.

 

 

In a game where neither team could get a cushion, the Alexandria Blizzard escaped with a 4-2 victory over the Granite City Lumberjacks. Each team kept the other at bay throughout the game, and Trent Olson secured the win for Alexandria with a goal in the third period. With the win, the Blizzard avoided elimination to make the series score 1-1 in the best of three series. Alexandria was led by Olson, who finished with one goal. Olson scored 13:55 into the third period to make the score 3-2 Alexandria. Tom Schmidt provided the assist. Others who scored for Alexandria included Joe Carney, Austin Kilian, and AJ Gullickson, who each put in one. Other players who recorded assists for Alexandria were David Becker, who had three and Tyler Sworsky, Bo Gronseth, and Aaron Ryback, who each chipped in one. The Lumberjacks' offense rang up 51 shots on Alexandria's net. Granite City was helped by Will Mix, who racked up one goal. Mix scored 1:47 into the first period to make the score 1-1. Michael Orke assisted on the tally. Luke Richardson also scored for Granite City. In addition, Granite City received assists from Spencer Nelson, Jared Sprink, and Dallas Marvin, who contributed one each. Evan Bisek recorded 49 saves for the Blizzard.