Saturday Scores: Alexandria, Minnesota, Sheridan and Wisconsin Clinch Playoff Spots

Rochester 6 @ St. Louis 1 - Six separate goal scorers powered the Rochester Grizzlies to a series opening victory over the St. Louis Jr Blues on Saturday by a final of 6-1. In the first, Gavin Black would open the scoring for the Grizzlies, but just over five minutes later, Brady Cook would answer for the Jr. Blues. The game would not stay tied for long, as 14 seconds later, Andrew Bastian scored to give the Grizzlies the lead once again. With just over eight minutes to go, Lennard Habeck would tally to double the visitors lead heading into the first intermission. In the second, another three goals were scored by the visitors, coming from Mason Decker, Brody Olson, and Noah Gillette to seal the series opening victory.

Austin 5 @ Texas R 3 - A pair of goals from Georgii Tokarskii powered the Austin Ice Bats to a series sweep of the Texas RoadRunners, winning by a final score of 5-3 on Saturday night. In the first, teams would trade goals, Tokarskii and Arys Perardi for the Ice Bats, and Cutter Daniel and JT Brugaletta for the RoadRunners. In the second, it would be all Austin, as goals from Tokarskii, Garrett Morris and Kaiden Gordon sparked the visitors to a 5-2 lead after 40 minutes. In the third, William Heskett would get one back for the RoadRunners, but it would be too little too late.

New Jersey 1 @ Norwich 2 (OT) - 60 minutes would not be enough to settle this East Division battle between the New Jersey Titans and Norwich Sea Captains, but Jake Wilkerson would be the overtime hero for Norwich, scoring to give the Sea Captains a 2-1 win on Saturday night. In the second, Nicholas Bianco would open the scoring for the Titans, and the Titans led by a goal heading into the final frame. In the third, Ryan Janik would tie the game for the Sea Captains, and send the game to overtime, where Wilkerson would score with just over two minutes to go to secure the win.

New Hampshire 3 @ Binghamton 8 - Two goals each from Cole Brown and Brody Bess powered the Binghamton Buzz to a 8-3 victory over the New Hampshire Jr. Mountain Kings in a penalty filled matchup, securing the Buzz a weekend sweep. In the first, goals on the man advantage from Brown and Griffin Gagnon for the Buzz, and Bess shorthanded, and Jayson Audette for New Hampshire, and the Buzz led by a pair after one period. In the second, the teams would trade goals, 70 seconds apart from Brown and Tyler Hamlin on the man advantage for the Buzz, and Auburn Burlison and Jacob Landry on the man advantage, and the game skidded into the second intermission with the Buzz leading by a pair. In the third, goals from Keegan Elliott, Bess, and Ethan Miller would seal the victory

Willmar 1 @ Minnesota M 4 - A night after falling to the Wilderness in a shootout, the Minnesota Moose responded by defeating a fellow Minnesota squad in the Willmar WarHawks by a final of 4-1. In the second, goals roughly five minutes apart from Owen Meyer and Will Biggar gave the home squad a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes. In the third, Meyer and Brady Johnson would each tally goals for the Moose. Henry Schultz would get one back for the WarHawks, but it would be too little too late.

Tulsa 1 @ Texas B 7 - A Joseph Crowley hat trick powered the Texas Brahmas to a weekend sweep of the Tulsa Jr Oilers, winning Saturday by a final of 7-1. The lone goal of the first belonged to Crowley, as his goal with 3.5 seconds left gave the home squad the lead after 20 minutes. In the second, a pair of goals from Zane Mazzola and Tyler McGowan expanded the Brahmas lead to three goals after 40 minutes. In the third, Luke Yahola opened the scoring for Tulsa, but goals from Kaden Spaniol, Nicholas Catalano, and a pair of Crowley goals sealed the dominant win for the Brahmas.

Peoria 0 @ Wausau 7 - A pair of John Kriz goals powered the Wausau Cyclones to a weekend sweep, defeating the Peoria Mustangs by a final of 7-0 on Saturday. In the first, goals from Frank Goodman, Connor Dvorak, and Mario Savino staked the Cyclones out to an early lead, and they would not look back. A pair of goals from Kriz, along with goals from Owen Gohm and Landon Bechtolt would be more than enough for the Cyclones.  

Minnesota W 3 @ Alexandria 5 - A hat trick from Eli Fletcher propelled the Alexandria Blizzard over the Minnesota Wilderness. The first period saw the Wilderness run with a 2-0 lead. John Scott led the scoring with his first of the season, and Kaden Rocheleau followed late in the period. Heading into the second period, Fletcher in the first seven minutes tied the game with two goals. The Avalanche took the lead late in the second, with John Dube scoring off a quick assist from Jacob Simpson. Markus Olson at 19:06 would double the lead. While the Wilderness cut the lead back down to one with Jake Hodd-Chlebeck scoring in the early third, Fletcher secured his hat trick with the game-winner to end regulation in the Avalanche’s favor.

Wisconsin 3 @ West Bend 8 - The West Bend Power’s scoring prowess was on full force against the Wisconsin Woodsmen in a win for a series sweep. The Woodsmen’s Hugh Deinema and Power’s Jackson Hoem each cemented their status as their team’s scoring leaders, each scoring a goal in the first period to make it 1-1. The Power took the lead early in the second thanks to Brayden Graning, but Brandon Slasor tied the game two minutes after. It was then that the Power ran with a lead, Lucca Weinkauf unassisted at 10:32, followed by two goals from Mike Sobaski. The Power with a three-goal lead extended it to six goals with a goal each from Michael Maillette, Danny Jurcich, and Andrew Browe in the third period. With the game out of hand, Vincent Greene of the Woodsmen cut the lead late by one goal to end regulation.

Mason City 3 @ Granite City 6 - A tight first period spiraled out of hand after for the Mason City Toros, falling to the Granite City Lumberjacks. The final ten minutes of the first period saw 2 goals apiece from each team. Parker McInroy drew first blood for the Toros. Caleb Alderson tied the game minutes later, but the Toros took the lead back 17 seconds later from kellen Kantaris. On the power play, Seth Terhell tied it once again, making it 2-2 after 20 minutes. The second period was all Lumberjacks, an early goal from Ty Smith followed by a late goal from TJ Lepisto gave the Lumberjacks a two-goal lead going into the final period. Despite the Toros going down two more goals in the third with scores from Finn Greeley and Dominic Thomas, they got some reprieve thanks to Teis Larsen, but it would be the last goal of the game as the Lumberjacks’ defense held strong late.

Butte 7 @ Gillette 4 - The Butte Irish’s powerplay was a crucial part in their victory Saturday over the Gillette Wild, going 5/9. The Wild took the early 1-0 lead in the first period thanks to Dante Hunziker, who then scored his second of the game midway through the second period. The first Irish goal to cut the lead came from Bobby Anselmo, who then five minutes later on the power play tied the game with his second of the night. Another late powerplay opened up Kazden Stineff with only six seconds left in the period to give the Irish their first lead. A five minute fighting penalty for the Wild brought three more goals for the Irish. Anselmo scored the first for the hat trick, followed by Rocco Watson and Easton Langemo. The Wild attempted a comeback, getting two goals from Rocco Corl and Riley Schmidt, but Loghan Weber unassisted furthered the Irish’s lead putting the game out of reach for the Wild.

Great Falls 4 @ Badlands 2 - Four unanswered goals in the third period secured the comeback victory for the Great Falls Americans over the Badlands Sabres. The Sabres held the lead for most of regulation, getting a goal in each period. The first from Keenan Howard, and the second from Ryan Jordan on the power play. The Americans finally found the back of the net with Ty O’Bey at 3:50 into the third period. He would be followed by Aiden Kennedy seven minutes later by Aiden Kennedy. O’Bey would follow with his second power play goal of the night to take the lead, while John Lang’s goal with five seconds left in regulation sealed the comeback win.

Bozeman 1 @ Helena 6 - The Helena Bighorns further cement themselves at the top of the league with a statement sweep over the Bozeman Icedogs. Finn Theriault began the scoring with a goal just after one minute of play, but the Icedogs a two minutes after tied the game with Devin Bruns scoring. The Bighorns offense picked up steam, and in 21 shots in the first period registered two more goals from Ty Shcell and Hunter Coulombe. The Bighorns wouldn’t score again until 6:19 in the third period, getting two goals in three minutes off power play goals from Marcus Fritel and Coulombe. For the cherry on top of the sweep, Maddux Hale scored the final goal with 1:38 left in regulation. The Bighorns special teams greatly impacted the game, leaving the Icedogs scoreless on nine trips to the power play.

Sheridan 6 @ Yellowstone 1 - The Sheridan Hawks swept the Yellowstone Quake on Saturday, outshooting the Quake 40-16. Josh Serino scored the lone goal of the first period for the Hawks, with Vincent Leaf extending that lead midway in the second period. The Quake’s only goal came at 15:25 into the period from team-leading scorer Max Goulden. The Hawks would end the period with a 3-1 lead however after Vlad Zubriichuk scored with 18 seconds left in regulation. The third period further entrenched the Hawks lead, with three goals in the first ten minutes. Cody Hogan struck first, followed by Leaf for his second of the night. Daniel Shelden ended the scoring at 7:12 into the period, ending the night for a Hawks victory. 

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