Final Buzzer: Sunday Edition

Photo Credit: Faith Healey

El Paso 3 @ New Mexico 5 - After their loss against the El Paso Rhinos the night before, the New Mexico Ice Wolves came back to earn their second win of this weekend series. The Ice Wolves had a fiery start in this game that would ultimately lead them right to a Sunday afternoon win. Calahan Butler brought the heat early, scoring his second of the weekend. Connor Hanley netted one late in the first before Butler added another goal with just one second left in the period, giving the Ice Wolves an early 3-0 lead. Ryan Hoogsteen continued the scoring streak for the Ice Wolves to start the first before Carter Tuplin got the Rhinos on the board. Shortly after, Tanner Ross would net New Mexico's final goal of the game making the score 5-1 at the end of the second period. The Rhinos kept the pressure on the Ice Wolves, though. The team made 19 shots on goal, scoring on two of them, in the third. These goals came from Cutter Daniel and Maxwell Wright, who scored on a man advantage. However, it was the New Mexico Ice Wolves who would ultimately earn the win, largely thanks to goaltender Nathan McFall. McFall played a strong game, keeping up with the Rhinos and making a total of 57 saves. 

Willmar 4 @ Minnesota (W) 8  - It was an exciting matchup between the Willmar Warhawks and Minnesota Wilderness on Sunday. Minnesota's Brant Tiedeman opened the scoring with two back-to-back goals. Willmar responded with two of their own, from Jett Wheeler and Max Jackson, to tie the game up at the end of the first. Toby Holtz added another for the Warhawks before the Wilderness took back the lead in the middle frame. Wyatt Mineheine and Tommy Perkins each scored one in the first half of the period before Jace Kampsula added another later. Gabe Adams wrapped up second period scoring for the Warhawks, making this a close game entering the final twenty minutes. The Wilderness stepped up the action even more in the final period, Ethan Jacobson scored first in the third. Mineheine added another tally for the Wilderness, before Tiedeman netted his third of the game with just four seconds left on the clock. While the Wilderness ended this game with more goals, they were outshot by their opponent 55-42. Minnesota goaltender Callum Keating was kept busy, making 51 saves to secure his team’s 8-4 win.