Friday Finals: Capitals win cross-division battle over Steel
January 10, 2015
Cleveland 2 @ Toledo 5 – Tyler Zalecki racked up two points to lead the Toledo Cherokee to a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks. Cleveland was unable to stop Toledo from sending pucks towards the net, and the Cherokee eventually piled up 47 shots on goal. Toledo additionally got points from Zach Swanson, who also registered one goal and one assist and Aaron Roschinsky, who also tallied one goal and one assist. Toledo also had goals scored by Cam Schwartz and Brody Duncan, who scored one goal each. In addition, Toledo received assists from Evan Heldt, Blake Mullins, and Mark McGee, who each chipped in one and Dominic Pisanti and Cody Estrel, who contributed two each. The Jr. Lumberjacks were helped by Ryker Barber, who finished with one goal. Barber scored 4:10 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Cleveland. Vince Nero picked up the assist. Cleveland also got a goal from Buddy Rose as well. More assists for Cleveland came via Avery Huibregtse and Tyler Dalton, who each chipped in one. Glen Bates recorded 22 saves for Toledo. Alec Rounds made 42 saves for Cleveland on 47 shots.
Granite City 5 @ Breezy Point 2 – Mitchell Gwost finished with one point to lead the Granite City Lumberjacks to a 5-2 victory over the Breezy Point North Stars. Granite City put up an impenetrable defensive front on the penalty kill, and did not allow Breezy Point to score on any of its five power plays. The Lumberjacks forced the North Stars goalie Jaxson Gosnell to work between the pipes, taking 33 shots. Granite City also got points from Jared Sprink, who also tallied one goal and one assist. Granite City also had goals scored by Brady Bernhardson, Cameron Brown, and David Kenney, who each put in one. More assists for Granite City came via Tanner Skaja, who had one, Kevin Finley, who had two, and Michael Orke, who had three. The North Stars were helped by Alex Mimmack, who registered one goal. Mimmack scored 11:54 into the first period to make the score 1-1. Brooke Evans also scored for Breezy Point. In addition, Breezy Point received assists from Joe Costello, who had one. Kendall Meyer recorded 14 saves for Granite City. Jaxson Gosnell made 28 saves for Breezy Point on 32 shots.
Cincinnati 0 @ Nashville 8 – Kyle Van Wyk had four goals and one assist to lead the Nashville Jr. Predators to an 8-0 victory over the Cincinnati Swords. Van Wyk notched his first tally 11:20 into the first period. He then added goals at 5:28 into the third, at 8:28 into the third, and at 15:58 into the third. Nashville put up an impenetrable defensive front on the penalty kill, and did not allow Cincinnati to score on any of its three power plays. The Jr. Predators kept the Swords' goalie busy throughout the game, and James Schroeder made 42 saves on 50 shots. Nashville surpassed its usual scoring output this season. This season, the Jr. Predators average 5.2 goals per contest. Nashville additionally got points from Ben Falk, who also grabbed one goal and one assist. Nashville also got a goal from Topi Samuli Aheristo as well. In addition, Nashville received assists from Dominic Costello and Spencer Marchand, who each chipped in one, Zach Greenwood and Nathaniel Chiarizzio, who contributed two each, and Matiss Gelazis and Nickolas Tandeski, who each chipped in three. Cincinnati excelled on the penalty kill, not giving up a single goal in four chances. The Swords were held below their usual level of production. Cincinnati averages 2.1 goals per game. Nathan Klebe made 17 saves for Nashville on 17 shots.
North Iowa 4 @ Alexandria 3 – The North Iowa Bulls survived a determined comeback attempt by the Alexandria Blizzard on the way to a 4-3 win. North Iowa took a 4-1 lead during the second period, only to have Alexandria storm back on a Jake Wasem goal 4:49 into the third period to pull to one goal down. Dylan Zins had two goals and one assist to lead the Bulls. Zins scored the first of his two goals at 9:15 into the first period to make the score 2-1 North Iowa. Tom Lindgren provided the assist. Zins' next tally made the score 4-1 North Iowa with 16:44 left in the second period. Sam Naegele assisted on the tally. North Iowa kept the Blizzard's goalie busy throughout the game, and Evan Bisek made 41 saves on 45 shots. Others who scored for North Iowa included Tommy Heinzman and Carmen Dalesandro, who scored one goal each. More assists for North Iowa came via Connor Bump and Joe Burgmeier, who each chipped in one. Alexandria's penalty kill was spotless, allowing no goals on three North Iowa power plays. The Blizzard were helped by Nate Mettenburg, who tallied one goal. Mettenburg scored 1:28 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Alexandria. Tony Arias picked up the assist. Alexandria also got points from Aaron Ryback, who also had one goal and one assist to lead the team in points. Other players who recorded assists for Alexandria were Trent Olson, Kyle Jones, Tyler Sworsky, and Tom Schmidt, who contributed one each. David Johnson recorded 18 saves for the Bulls.
Helena 4 @ Gillette 0 – Adam Ranck recorded a shutout against the Gillette Wild as the Helena Bighorns picked up a 4-0 win. Brandt Miller was all over the ice for Helena, as he tallied two goals and one assist in the win. Miller scored the first of his two goals on the power play at 4:57 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Helena. The Bighorns had gotten the advantage when Gillette's TJ McMinn was sent off for elbowing. Miller's next tally on the power play made the score 3-0 Helena with 7:54 left in the second period. Johnny Bonta picked up the assist. Helena stifled the Wild's power play, and did not give up a single goal while down a man. The Bighorns' defensive play was more effective than usual against Gillette. Helena allows 2.2 goals per game. Helena additionally got points from Kendall Bolen-Porter, who also grabbed one goal and one assist. Brian Skillicorn also scored for Helena. More assists for Helena came via Matt Mohar and Blake Babineau, who contributed one each. The Wild could not produce up to their normal offensive output. Gillette puts an average of 3.7 pucks into the net per game. Adam Ranck made 29 saves for the Bighorns on 29 shots. Helena registered two goals on five power play opportunities. Alex Feese recorded 20 saves for the Wild. Gillette registered zero goals on seven power play opportunities.
Yellowstone 5 @ Glacier 3 – In a game where neither team could get a cushion, the Yellowstone Quake escaped with a 5-3 victory over Glacier. Neither team gained more than a two-goal lead, and Max Doner's goal in the third period proved to be the difference maker. Yellowstone was sparked by Sean Pilet, who grabbed one goal and one assist. Pilet scored 12:48 into the third period to make the score 4-2 Yellowstone. Sawyer Scanlan picked up the assist. The Quake were paced by Pilet, who tallied one goal and one assist. Yellowstone's offense rang up 41 shots on Glacier's net. The Quake found the back of the net more times than it usually has this season. Yellowstone has scored at the pace of 2.2 goals per game during the current campaign. Yellowstone also got points from Scanlan, who also registered one goal and one assist, Doner, who also finished with one goal and one assist, and Will Landsverk, who also grabbed one goal and one assist. Brandon Blaszczyk also scored for Yellowstone. Other players who recorded assists for Yellowstone were Mike McCullen, who had two and John Scherer, Carter Johnson, Ross Mullen, and Nick Ligocki, who contributed one each. Glacier kept the Quake's goalie busy throughout the game, and Lance Knudson made 36 saves on 39 shots. Glacier was helped by Dustin Foran, who racked up two goals. Foran scored the first of his two goals at 10:30 into the third period to make the score 2-2. Brett LeBeau assisted on the tally. Foran's next tally made the score 4-3 Yellowstone with 3:34 left in the third period. Joshua Larson picked up the assist. Glacier additionally got points from Larson, who also had one goal and one assist to lead the team in points. More assists for Glacier came via Tyler McMahon and Karson Frisk, who each chipped in one. Ryan Lund rejected 36 shots on goal for Glacier.
Topeka 5 @ Twin City 2 – The Topeka Capitals relied on the scoring touch of Mike Pedersen, who netted two goals, to beat the Twin City Steel, 5-2. Pedersen scored at 15:28 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Topeka and again while 19:40 into the first to make the score 2-0 Topeka. Topeka forced Steel's goaltenders to work between the pipes, getting 34 shots and forcing 29 saves. Darien Jones made 12 stops and Robbie Goor made 17. Topeka also got points from Tre Kautzman, who also racked up one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Topeka included Steve MacIver and Richard Yusa, who scored one goal each. Other players who recorded assists for Topeka were Alex Sauer, who had two and Joe Stoneburner, James Bohan, Hank Roers, Trey Opack, and Colin OConnor, who contributed one each. Twin City excelled on the penalty kill, not giving up a single goal in four chances. The Capitals were unable to stop the Steel from sending pucks towards the net, and Twin City eventually piled up 42 shots on goal. The Steel were helped by Jared Erickson, who had one goal and one assist. Erickson scored 12:49 into the third period to make the score 4-2 Topeka. Mathias Ahman assisted on the tally. Twin City additionally got points from Ahman, who also grabbed one goal and one assist. More assists for Twin City came via Aharon Lara and Jay Paul, who each chipped in one. Topeka's Brett Malkmus stopped 40 shots out of the 42 that he faced.
Peoria 4 @ Wisconsin 7 – The Wisconsin Whalers' Adam Schoenfeld had a big offensive game, scoring two goals and contributing one assist in his team's 7-4 win over the Peoria Mustangs. Schoenfeld's tallies came on the power play at 3:58 into the second period to make the score 2-0 Wisconsin and 14:23 into the third to make the score 6-2 Wisconsin. Wisconsin forced Peoria goalie Ross Lipic to work between the pipes, taking 38 shots. The Whalers bested their season scoring average. Wisconsin has scored at the pace of 3.8 goals per game during the current campaign. Wisconsin also got points from Alex Anderson, who also grabbed one goal and one assist. Wisconsin also had goals scored by Nathan Viberg and Nolan Kepler, who each put in two. More assists for Wisconsin came via Peter Henderson, who had three, Caleb Voster, Yves Leemann, and Kaleb Morley, who contributed one each, and Connor Morgan, Dan Addie, and Isaac Hale, who each chipped in two. The Whalers were unable to stop the Mustangs from sending pucks towards the net, and Peoria eventually piled up 32 shots on goal. The Mustangs were helped by Jacob Coovert, who registered one goal. Coovert scored 7:55 into the third period to make the score 4-2 Wisconsin. Tyler Shures assisted on the tally. Kai Barber also scored for Peoria. Other players who recorded assists for Peoria were Nick Conner, who had one and Levi Armstrong and Marshall Gevers, who each chipped in two. Chris Johansen recorded 28 saves for Wisconsin. Ross Lipic made 31 saves for Peoria on 38 shots.
Billings 1 @ Bozeman 4 – Kyler Chartier was all over the ice for the Bozeman Icedogs, as he tallied two goals in Bozeman's 4-1 win over the Billings Bulls. Chartier scored at 18:34 into the first period to make the score 1-1 and again while 14:56 into the third to make the score 3-1 Bozeman. The Icedogs excelled on the penalty kill, not giving up a single goal in four chances. Others who scored for Bozeman included Gunnar Mogck and Brandon Endres, who scored one goal each. Other players who recorded assists for Bozeman were Jake Nicks, Steven Nisbet, Ryan Erickson, Kegan Couture, Austin Charnholm, and Cole Blatter, who contributed one each. Billings' penalty kill was spotless, allowing no goals on three Bozeman power plays. The Bulls could not produce up to their normal offensive output. Billings puts an average of 3.2 pucks into the net per game. The Bulls were led by Nick Rizzo, who scored the team's only goal. Rizzo scored 5:49 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Billings. Austin Lange picked up the assist. Denijs Romanovskis recorded 17 saves for Bozeman. Ray Smith made 14 saves for Billings on 18 shots.
