Friday Finals: Leonhard's big night propels Stars

September 28, 2019

Mid Cities 3 @ TX Roadrunners 2 - It took a late second-period game-winner from Logan High, but the Stars just outlasted the Roadrunners for a 3-2 road win. Hunter Leonhard netted the other two goals for the victors, while Brenden Fehlig and Gabe Davis tallied for Texas. Noah Kensinger's 44 saves earned the win, while Jaeger Reed's 43 fell just short in the loss.

 

NE Stars 7 @ Danbury 3 - The Stars raced to a 3-0 advantage in the opening 20 and pressed on from there, ultimately taking a 7-3 win over the Colonials on Friday. Jon Natale led with a pair, with Henry Beguelin, Jake Harrison, Brandon Melanson, John Rynne and Dean Paquette hitting the scoresheet for New England as well. Casey Johnson took the win between the pipes, allowing goals only to Kyle McEnany, Brandon Cope and Dylan Webber of Danbury, while Colonials' netminder Shane O'Brien suffered the loss.

 

North Iowa 5 @ Granite City 2 - The Bulls rattled off three straight markers in the final 35 minutes to break a 2-2 deadlock and knock off the Lumberjacks 5-2 in an impressive road win. Lucas Wahlin led with two goals, Matt Dahlseide, Cam Fagerlee and Jack Kubitz found twine as well and Dysen Skinner posted 34 saves for the win. Granite City received goals from Nikolai Rajala and Blake Spetz, as well as a 21-save effort from Matt Fitzgerald. 

 

Elmira 3 @ NE Knights 1 - The scoring took 45 minutes to arrive, but the Jr. Soaring Eagles broke the ice early in the third and ultimately potted three in the final frame to take a 3-1 win over the Knights on Friday. Ethan Fuller, Nick Meyers and Geoffrey Wilson nabbed the late goals, outmatching a lone New England strike from Ethan Ranger. Nick Kronkel of Elmira and Zach Roncarati of New England were both stellar in net, stopping 28 and 38 pucks respectively in the contest. 

 

Willmar 4 @ Wausau 1 - Tyler Klatt's 55 saves in the Riverwolves' cage somehow weren't enough, as Willmar overwhelmed Wausau in a 4-1 decision on Friday. Jake Santarelli, Caleb Brownell, Brandon Holt and Marquez Ginger provided the Warhawks' attack, as Alexander Kelsall posted the only Wausau marker. Luc Haggitt stopped 31 pucks for the win. 

 

Rochester 6 @ Milwaukee 1 - Six different skaters scored for Rochester as the Grizzlies eased into a 6-1 win over the Power in Milwaukee. Ethan Noonan, Porter Haney, Lucas Newman, Joey Fodstad, Peyton Hart and Garrett Smith lit the lamp for the Grizzlies, while Nathan Walker grabbed a consolation goal for the Power in the third period. Shane Soderwall's 23 saves notched the win, while Joey Greilich and Ty Barnhill combined for 50 saves in the loss.

 

Bozeman 11 @ Butte 1 - It was a banner affair for the Icedogs' offense, as they found twine in bunches en route to an 11-1 win over the Cobras on the road. In total, Luke Hartge and Hazen McKay scored twice, Max Schumacher, Isaac Smoldon, Christian Veneruzzo, Will Kutch, Duncan McGarrah, Corey Miscovich and Luke McKay each netted once and AJ Ruskowski backstopped the win with 36 saves. For Butte, Hunter Varney scored and Casey Mattfeldt and Colton Marcy posted a shared 74 saves. 

 

Yellowstone 2 @ Sheridan 8 - Logan Syrup bagged a hat-trick and Justin Schwartzmiller added a pair of goals to lead the Hawks to an 8-2 win over the Quake on Friday. Blake Billings, Alex Kesler and Kamden Sengheiser rounded out the Sheridan scoring in front of Zach Hearn's 13-save winning effort. Dylan Rumpke and Jack Harris scored for Yellowstone, as Logan Cooksy stood tall with 51 saves in the loss.

 

Helena 1 @ Missoula 6 - Cayce Balk's hat-trick set the pace as the Bruins posted a surprising blowout of the defending Frontier Division Champion Bighorns, 6-1 at home on Friday. Balk nabbed two goals in the first period before adding a third in the final frame. Joining Balk on the Missoula side of the scoresheet were Trevor Prince, Henry Morrison and Connor Frye, while Abe Laggis potted Helena's lone tally. Larkin Dolan stopped 28 for the win, while Aidan Waal turned aside 29 in the loss.