Saturday Scores: Americans sweep Bighorns to advance in playoffs

March 8, 2020

Frontier Division Quarter-Finals, Game 2: Great Falls Americans 3 @ Helena Bighorns 0 (Great Falls wins series, 2-0) - Thanks to a shutout from Trever Mellen the Great Falls Americans won against the Helena Bighorns, 3-0. The Americans put up two goals in the 1st from Brody Boyce and Kellen Harris. In the second the only goal came from Dylan Olson of the Americans. Goalie Trever Mellen of the Americans made 31 saves in the shutout while Bighorns goalie Ethan Racz made 42 saves of 45.

 

Texas Brahmas 5 @ Mid Cities Jr. Stars 2 - The Texas Brahmas secured the NA3HL’s regular season title as they beat the Mid Cities Jr. Stars, 5-2. In the 2nd the Brahmas put up three goals from Findlay Wood, Benjamin Mondou, and Blake Rothstein before Logan High of the Jr. Stars could score. The Brahmas answered with two goals from Tyler Blanchard and Jack Cooper before the end of the period. The only goal of the 3rd came from Jr. Stars forward RJ Muckensturm. Brahmas goalie Bryce Runyan made 34 saves of 36 while Kenton Kim of the Jr. Stars made 49 of 54. 

 

North Iowa Bulls 5 @ Granite City Lumberjacks 2 - The North Iowa Bulls beat the Granite City Lumberjacks, 5-2 on Saturday, completing a weekend sweep. In the 1st the Lumberjacks scored twice with goals from Bailey Sommers and Carson Simon, only to be answered by a goal from Joey Petronack of the Bulls. The Bulls took the lead in the 2nd with goals from Lucas Wahlin and Nico Aguilera. In the 3rd the Bulls put up two points from Sota Isogai and Wahlin. Goalie Evan Babekuhl of the Bulls made 23 saves of 25 in the win while Nate Johnston of the Lumberjacks made 28 of 33 in the loss. 

 

Elmira Jr. Soaring Eagles 3 @ Danbury Colonials 5 - The Danbury Colonials stayed in the hunt for the top spot in the Northeast Division as they won at home against the Elmira Jr. Soaring Eagles, 5-3. In the 1st period the Colonials managed two goals from Brandon Cope and Misha Mshar before J Kosa of the Soaring Eagles could score. The Colonials added to their lead in the 2nd with goals from Dylan Webber and Cope only to be followed by a goal from Soaring Eagles defenseman Antonio Balestra. Kyle McEnany of the Colonials scored with :11 left in the period. Goalie Shane O’Brien of the Colonials made 20 saves of 23 while Soaring Eagles goalies Nick Konkel made 7 of 11 and Andrew Engel made 27 of 28. 

New England Knights 2 @ New England Stars 3 (OT) - Thanks to an overtime goal from Derek Lovejoy the New England Stars won against the New England Knights, 3-2. With the point, the Knights secured the fourth and final playoff spot in the Coastal Division. The only goal of the 2nd came from Josh Boyd of the Stars. In the 3rd period the Stars added a goal to their lead from Henry Beguelin before the Knights could tie the game with goals from Leevi Kervinen and Jake Willis. D Lovejoy of the Stars scored 1:40 into overtime. Stars goalie Cam Carpenter made 25 saves of 27 while Patrick Gribbin made 32 of 35.

 

Louisiana Drillers 5 @ Texas RoadRunners 3 - The Louisiana Drillers traveled to defeat the Texas RoadRunners, 5-3. The Drillers got on the board in the 1st with a goal from Zach Smith before Blake Elliot of the RoadRunners could score. In the 2nd the RoadRunners scored twice with goals from Christian Spearman and Trevor Borlace before the Drillers could tie it up with two goals from Brandon Morgan. The Drillers took the lead in the 3rd with two goals from Ben Cope and Timothy Miller. Goalie Daniel Sprague of the Drillers made 52 saves of 55 in the win while Cole Garver of the RoadRunners made 46 of 51 in the loss. 

 

Skylands Kings 9 @ Maine Wild 1 - The Skylands Kings stayed in the race for the Northeast title as they defeated the Maine Wild, 9-1. The Kings took the lead in the 1st with four goals, one each from Joseph Arnold and Thomas Hoffman, and two from James Clarke. In the 2nd the Kings added five to their lead with goals from Trevor Chirstopher, Jeremy Brassard, Hoffman, and Clarke. The Wild got on the board in the 3rd with a goal from Gavin Dempsey before Hoffman could score for the Kings. Goalie Tyler Robertson of the Kings made 22 saves of 23 while Wild goalies Tom Spero made 17 of 21 and Ricardo Alvarez made 20 of 25. 

 

New Ulm Steel 4 @ Peoria Mustangs 0 - Thanks to a shutout from Igor Samokhvalov the New Ulm Steel beat the Peoria Mustangs, 4-0. In the 2nd period the Steel had two goals from James Spaargaren and Jacob Halvorson. The Steel added two to their lead with goals from Halvorson and Stanislav Danaey. Steel goalie Igor Samokhvalov made 28 saves while Jaden Gardner of the Mustangs made 28 of 32.

 

St. Louis Jr. Blues 1 @ Rochester Grizzlies 2 - The Rochester Grizzlies won at home against the St. Louis Jr. Blues, 2-1. The only goal of the 1st came from Sean Hofstetter of the Jr. Blues. In the 2nd the Grizzlies got on the board with a goal from Nic Leisen. The Grizzlies took the lead early in the 3rd with a goal from Matthew DeRosa. Grizzlies goalie Shane Soderwall made 23 saves of 24 in the win while Brett Tome of the Jr. Blues made 30 0f 32 in the loss. 

 

Coulee Region Chill 3 @ Alexandria Blizzard 7 - The Alexandria Blizzard won against the Coulee Region Chill, 7-3. In the 1st Marco Escobar scored for the Chill only to be answered by a goal from Wesley Johnson of the Blizzard which was followed by a goal from Chill forward Brenden Fehlig. The Blizzard took the lead in the 2nd with two goals from Austin McNeil and one from Michal Trejbal. The Chill managed a goal from Parker Severson in the 3rd before the Blizzard could put up three goals from Evan Sivets, Jack Taylor, and Brandon Connett. Blizzard goalie Bailey Rosch made 21 saves of 24 while Chill goalie Devin Naidow made 40 of 47. 

 

Wausau RiverWolves 3 @ Willmar WarHawks 2 (SO) - Thanks to a shootout goal from Robert Carlson the Wausau RiverWolves beat the Willmar WarHawks, 3-2. In the 1st period Brandon Holt of the WarHawks scored. The RiverWolves got on the board in the 2nd with a goal from Jack Piskula before Christopher Drews of the WarHawks could score. Piskula scored for the RiverWolves again in the 3rd to tie the game. Robert Carlson had the game winning goal in the shootout. Goalie Tyler Klatt of the RiverWolves made 53 of 55 saves while Gunnar Banks of the WarHawks made 28 of 31.