Divisional playoff finals in full swing

The U.S. National Team, Bismarck Bobcats, St. Louis Bandits and Wenatchee Wild all skated to wins in their respective best-of-five Robertson Cup Playoffs divisional finals series on Friday night.

Team USA evened its North Division series with the Mahoning Valley Phantoms at 1-1 with a 6-4 victory. Austin Czarnik recorded two goals in the win, and Frankie Simonelli added a goal and an assist. Between the pipes, Brandon Maxwell stopped 33 shots.

Four different players scored for the Bobcats and Tim Serratore chipped in two assists as Bismarck downed the Owatonna Express in Game 1 of their Central Division series, 4-1.  Kevin Harris connected for the game-winning goal, and netminder David Bosner stopped 25 shots.

The St. Louis Bandits opened the South Division finals with a 3-1 triumph over the Topeka RoadRunners.  Conor Allen, Clinton Bourbonais (game-winner) and Justin Kirchhevel scored for the Bandits, and goaltender Keith Kinkaid made 25 saves.

In the West, Michael Voran struck for a pair of goals and Evan Mosey and Nic Dowd each put home a goal and two assists as the Wild bested the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in the first game of their series, 6-4.  Mathieu Dugas steered aside 32 shots in goal for Wenatchee.

The winners of each series, along with the host North Iowa Outlaws, will represent their respective divisions at the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament, which will be held April 28-May 3 at the North Iowa Ice Arena in Mason City, Iowa.

For more information on the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament, visit RobertsonCup.com.