Semi-Finals set after pool play wraps up on Friday

March 30, 2019

 

Fraser Cup Round-Robin, Game 5: North Iowa Bulls 8 vs. Helena Bighorns 2 – The North Iowa Bulls team that won the West Division and have been known for so many memorable Fraser Cup post-season performances, showed up when it mattered in an elimination game on Friday as they scored an event-high eight goals in an 8-2 win over the Helena Bighorns in the final game of pool play in Pool A. Jarod Blackowiak had two goals and Carter Wagner had three assists in the win. It was all Bulls from the start as the opened up a 2-0 lead with 1st period goals from Nick Johnson and Cam Fagerlee. The lead swelled to 4-0 early in the 2nd period with goals from Harrison Stewart and Blackowiak. The Bighorns showed a brief glimpse of hope as Ian Zaleski put Helena on the board later in the period to make it 4-1, but a power play goal from North Iowa’s Peter Verstegen in the last minute of the period made it 5-1 at the end of 40 minutes. In the 3rd period, the Bulls scored three more times, including another from Blackowiak and others from Matt Rozman and Jordan Roo. Elliot Plourde had the other goal for Helena. Dysen Skinner made 28 saves in the win for the Bulls, while Carver Thompson took the loss, making 16 saves. Alexander Rogers also played in the game for the Bighorns, allowing five goals on 32 shots. With the win, the Bulls claimed the #2 seed out of Pool A and will face the #1 seed from Pool B in Saturday’s Semi-Finals. Boxscore

 

Fraser Cup Round-Robin, Game 6: Texas Brahmas 3 vs. St. Louis Jr. Blues 1 – Texas goalie Thomas Held made 39 saves to lead the Brahmas to a 3-1 win in the final game of pool play at the Fraser Cup and secure the top seed from Pool B heading into the Semi-Finals. Both Texas and St. Louis knew they had a spot in the Semi-Finals heading into the game, but pride and the top seed was on the line on Friday. Texas was first to get on the board as defenseman Matej Palfy rocketed a blast from the point that eluded Jr. Blues goalie Jack Regan for a 1-0 lead. Just over three minutes later, the Jr. Blues tied the game as Ivan Galaguzov scored on the power play with a blast from the high slot to knot the score at 1-1. Late in the 2nd period, Texas took a 2-1 lead with the eventual game-winning goal from Stuart Pearson, whose shot bounced off of Regan’s glove, over his head and into the net. Brahmas forward Findlay Wood put the game on ice, converting on a 2 on 1 with a nice shot to the far post to make it a 3-1 final. Regan would make 39 saves in the loss for St. Louis. With the win, Texas won Pool B with a 2-0 record and will face North Iowa in the Semi-Finals, while St. Louis finished 1-1 and in 2nd place in Pool B and will face the L/A Nordiques in the Semi-Finals. Boxscore