Friday Finals: Norwich Claims Last East Division Playoff Spot

Norwich is into the playoff field while the Wilderness won a crucial game to keep their playoff chances alive

Norwich 3 @ Maine 2 - The Norwich Sea Captains defeated the Maine Nordiques by a final of 3-2 on Friday night. In the first, the lone goal belonged to Norwich, and it came off the stick of Ryan Bernard, and the visitors led by a goal after 20 minutes. In the second period, goals from Connor Morrisette and Genrikh Rozhkov for Maine flipped the score, and the home squad led heading into the final frame. Goals just three minutes apart from Glen Farmer and Chase Leivian early in the 3rd gave the visitors the lead. Maine would desperately fight for an equalizer, but seven saves in the final frame from Lucas Vellequette, part of 21 saves on the night, shut the door on a comeback.

Austin 3 @ Texas R 2 (OT) - 60 minutes would not be enough, but Paul Wiese would be the hero for the Austin Ice Bats in overtime as they defeated the Texas RoadRunners by a final of 3-2. In the opening frame, plenty of chances were had by both sides, but no goals as six saves from Bryson Frazee for Austin and Jimmy Packee brought the game to the first intermission scoreless. That would not last long, as just 90 seconds into the middle frame, JT Brugaletta opened the scoring, and then less than two minutes later, William Heskett would double the RoadRunners lead. But, the Ice Bats would not go down without a fight, and they would get rewarded with a pair of goals, one each from Guhnar Hillman and Kaiden Gordon, and the game would head to the final frame tied. In the third, plenty of chances, but strong netminding brought the game to the extra session, where Wiese would be the hero on a solo effort to give the Ice Bats the ever-important win.

New Hampshire 1 @ Binghamton 6 - A Brody Bess hat trick powered the Binghamton Buzz to a 6-1 win over the New Hampshire Jr. Mountain Kings on Friday night. In the first, Daniel Tirendi would score for Binghamton shorthanded, but a Gabriel Leclerc goal would send the game to the first intermission tied at a goal apiece. In the second, goals two minutes apart from Trent Midura and Bess, both of them on the man advantage, gave the home squad a two goal lead heading into the final frame. In the final frame, goals two minutes apart from Bess and Joey Roselli on the man advantage broke the game open, and a late goal from Bess on the man advantage would seal his hat trick and the game for the Buzz.

Minnesota W 2 @ Minnesota M 1 (SO) - Tyler Webb would be the shootout hero for the Minnesota Wilderness, defeating the Minnesota Moose by a final of 2-1 on Saturday. In the first, 10 saves from Jay Svaren for the Wilderness and 11 from Gabe Otis for the Moose kept the game scoreless after 20 minutes. In the second, another eight saves from Svaren and eight for Otis kept the game scoreless heading into the final frame. The scoreless trend would finally be broken less than two minutes in, as Cooper Ellena would convert a feed from Tyler Starich, and the Wilderness took the lead. Late in the third, Reid Watson would score on the power play to send the game to overtime. No goals were had in the extra session, so the game progressed to the shootout, where the lone goal belonged to Webb, securing the win for the Wilderness.

Tulsa 1 @ Texas B 6 - Six separate goal scorers powered the Texas Brahmas to a 6-1 win over the Tulsa Jr Oilers on Friday. In the second, goals from Nicholas Catalano and Zane Mazzola jumped the Brahmas out to the lead heading into the final frame, and they weren’t done scoring. Goals from Carter Kotrba, Ryan Glomboske, and Kaden Spaniol blew the game open. Caden Voss would get one back for Tulsa, but that would be the closest they got, as Jayani Benson would get one late to seal the win for the Brahmas.

Peoria 0 @ Wausau 8 - Four-point nights for Thomas Gerum and John Kriz powered the Wausau Cyclones to a dominant 8-0 win over the Peoria Mustangs on Friday. Goals in the first, a pair from Davis Polifka and one for Kriz, sparked the Cyclones to an early 3-0 lead after 20 minutes. In the third, a pair of goals from Kriz completed the hat trick, and Wausau was not done, as Jake Garrow, Landon Bechtolt, and Brady Knutsen would all tally goals to seal the win for the Cyclones.

Willmar 4 @ Alexandria 5 - The Willmar WarHawks lost a close match against division rival Alexandria Blizzard. The first period was marked by a 2-0 lead for the Blizzard, beginning with an Ashton Collings power play goal and a one-timer from Reece Hubmer. Despite Henry Schultz cutting the lead in half early in the second, the Blizzard struck with two more goals in four minutes from Kaden Roness and Jack Carter. With the score 4-1 Blizzard, both team’s traded goals in 13 seconds from Aidan Callaghan and Easton Schmit to make it 5-2 going into the final period. With 20 minutes left in regulation, the WarHawks got some life from Scott Woltman scoring 12 seconds into the period, and bringing the game within one score thanks to Kaiden Jackson. The Blizzard held strong however, and closed the game out in regulation for the win.

Wisconsin 3 @ West Bend 8 - Fans watching the Wisconsin Woodsmen and West Bend Power face off weren’t disappointed in the third period, nine goals scored in the final period. The first two periods were uneventful for scoring, the game tied 1-1 with the Woodsmen’s Hugh Deinema and the Power’s Mike Sobaski each scoring early in the first. The third period was when the offensive onslaught began. Justin Funk gave the Woodsmen a 2-1 lead, but six straight Power goals would follow. Back-to-back goals from Micahel Maillette with two, Jackson Hoem with two, and Odin Klebba and Brody Josselyn each with one apiece. Vincent Greene scored the final Woodsmen goal to try and stop the torrent of goals, but Lucca Weinkauf struck for the Powers eighth and final goal at 15:58 into the third period.

Butte 4 @ Gillette 3 - The Great Falls Americans took the first game of the series against the Badlands Sabres with a shutout. The first goal came 30 seconds after the puck was dropped, Aiden Kennedy with his 22nd of the season. The next goal came on an early power play in the second period, Chase Hapka credited with the goal. Kennedy would then follow halfway through the second with his second of the night. The final goal to cap the night was scored by Jurzy Allard. Kaden Rhyder with all 31 shots saved was credited with the shutout.

Great Falls 4 @ Badlands 0 - The Butte Irish survived a late comeback Friday night against the Gillette Wild. Dantae Hunziker of the Wild drew first blood early, but the Irish tied the game back in the final minutes of the period with a goal from Riley Erickson. Four minutes into the second period, the Irish quickly expanded their lead with two goals in 21 seconds, both from Bobby Anselmo. The Wild weren’t going down without a fight, and Rocco Corl brought them within one 8:30 into the period. The final goal of the second came from Easton Langemo for his 33rd of the season, bringing the Irish’s lead back to two scores. Hunziker early in the third period put the pressure on with his second of the game, but the Irish held on strong to secure the win.

Sheridan 15 @ Yellowstone 2 - Multiple hat tricks and outshooting the Yellowstone Quake 86-19 saw the Sheridan Hawks dominate Friday night. In the first five minutes, the Hawks ran with an early 2-0 lead, Kiefer Dunham and Logan Sidlauskas with the first and second goals, respectively. Vincent Leaf late in the period with two power play goals gave the Hawks a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes. Three more Hawks goals in the second period from Zach Longnecker, Deagan Watson and Josh Serino would raise the lead until the Quake first scored at 14:33 from Sam Goulden. Longnecker would cap off the period with his second of the game. The final period has seven straight Hawks goals. Ernest Allen, Derrek Laite, Dunham, and Watson all scored within the first four minutes, Kadin Edwards following at 8:45 in the period. The last two Hawks goals from Leaf and Watson secured their hat tricks, and the Quake got the last score from Cassius Hook, ending a forgettable night for the Quake.

Helena 7 @ Bozeman 1 - Trey Pareja began the scoring for the Helena Bighorns 3:59 into the first period, with the next goals coming with three minutes left from Caden Fenstein and Pareja again for his second. The Bighorns’ lead extended to 4-0 in the second period, with Ty Schell finding the back of the net. Kelton Chadwick and Chase Berg each joined the scoring with their firsts of the game in the third period, and while the Bozeman Icedogs prevented the shutout with Andrew Kaunas scoring his 19th of the season, Schell got the last punch in with his second of the game, and last for the Bighorns with seven minutes to go in the third. 

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