Friday Finals: Bulls back into 1st place tie
February 14, 2015
Cleveland 1 @ Toledo 4 - The Toledo Cherokee relied on the sparkling performance of Glen Bates in net to grab a 4-1 win against the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks. Toledo was led by Zach Swanson, who finished with one goal. Swanson scored 6:33 into the third period to make the score 2-1 Toledo. Austin Turner provided the assist. The Cherokee kept Cleveland's goalie busy throughout the game, and Alec Rounds made 41 saves on 45 shots. Toledo also got points from Dominic Pisanti, who also registered one goal and one assist. Toledo also had goals scored by Tristin Snyder and Kyler Omey, who each put in one. More assists for Toledo came via Cody Estrel, who had three and Tyler Zalecki and Cam Schwartz, who each chipped in one. The Jr. Lumberjacks were led by Patrick Briggs, who scored the team's only goal. Briggs scored on the power play 8:47 into the first period to make the score 1-1. Cleveland had taken the advantage when Toledo's David Bogart got sent off for elbowing. Tyler Dalton assisted on the tally. Glen Bates made 25 saves for the Cherokee on 26 shots.
Chicago 3 @ West Michigan 5 - The West Michigan Wolves survived a determined comeback attempt by the Chicago Junior Bulldogs on the way to a 5-3 win. West Michigan made the score 5-1 on a goal by Tait Aptakin at 14:49 in the second period, and Chicago got as close as 5-3 when Michael Howard scored 13:23 into the third period. The Wolves were helped by Devin Farkas, who finished with one goal and one assist. Farkas scored on the power play 13:12 into the second period to make the score 4-1 West Michigan. West Michigan had taken the advantage when the Junior Bulldogs' Mike Holmes got sent off for hooking. Michael Tratar provided the assist. West Michigan also got points from Tratar, who also racked up one goal and two assists to lead the team in points and Dakota Ulmer, who also registered one goal and one assist. Steven Rhodes also scored for West Michigan. Other players who recorded assists for West Michigan were Brandon Mezuk, Taylor Burdorf, Mike Difranco, Kyle Keeder, and Shawn Adam, who contributed one each. Chicago also got a goal from Toms Taurins as well. In addition, Chicago received assists from Tyler Seltenriech, Noah Carter, Henry Hearon, Nathan Iaciancio, and Ryan Maksimovic, who each chipped in one. Hunter Vorva made 27 saves for the Wolves on 30 shots.
La Crosse 5 @ Alexandria 2 - The La Crosse Freeze's Tyler Gorniak had a big offensive game, scoring two goals and contributing two assists in his team's 5-2 win over the Alexandria Blizzard. Gorniak found the back of the net 7:32 into the second period to make the score 1-1 and again while 19 seconds into the third to make the score 3-2 La Crosse. La Crosse also got points from Hunter Breza, who also grabbed one goal and one assist and Chong Hyun Lee, who also finished with one goal and two assists. La Crosse also got a goal from Jake Lipski as well. More assists for La Crosse came via Luke Bing, Daniel Toycen, Hunter Smith, Dan Marotz, and Travis Hall, who each chipped in one. The Blizzard kept La Crosse's goalie busy throughout the game, and Andrew Wagner made 33 saves on 35 shots. Alexandria was forced to rely heavily on their penalty kill unit throughout the game, as it racked up 26 penalty minutes. The Blizzard were helped by Bo Gronseth, who racked up one goal and one assist. Gronseth scored on the power play 12:33 into the second period to make the score 2-1 Alexandria. Alexandria had gotten the advantage when the Freeze's Blake Olinyk was sent off for high sticking. Joe Carney provided the assist. Alexandria additionally got points from David Becker, who also had one goal and one assist. In addition, Alexandria received assists from Trent Olson, who had one.
Topeka 2 @ Point Mallard 1 - The Point Mallard Ducks tried to dig themselves out of a two-goal hole, but the Topeka Capitals held on for a 2-1 victory. Topeka made the score 2-0 on a goal by John Crusinberry at 16:17 in the second period, and Point Mallard got as close as 2-1 when Josh Hamilton scored seven seconds into the third period. The Capitals were paced by Crusinberry, who finished with one goal. Topeka also got a goal from Tre Kautzman as well. Other players who recorded assists for Topeka were Alex Sauer, Steve MacIver, and Richard Yusa, who contributed one each. In addition, Point Mallard received assists from Jake Champaign, who had one. Ryan Lund rejected 14 shots on goal for the Capitals.
Breezy Point 3 @ Granite City 2 (SO) - Three periods of regulation and an overtime session were not enough to settle matters as the Breezy Point North Stars defeated the Granite City Lumberjacks in a shootout 3-2 (4-1 SO). The two teams needed seven turns to complete the shootout. Granite City got a shootout goal from Michael Orke. Breezy Point's other shootout goals were scored by Sean Viti, Brooke Evans, and Tyler Larwood. The North Stars came back from a one-goal deficit to capture the victory. Breezy Point trailed 2-1 after a goal by the Lumberjacks' Spencer Nelson at 11:55 in the second period. The North Stars knotted things up at 2-2 on a goal by Ryan Mezera at 17:06 in the second period. Yegor Paliy also scored for Breezy Point. More assists for Breezy Point came via Jack Anderholm, Ryan Herbert, and Jordan Carey, who contributed one each. The Lumberjacks were helped by David Kenney, who grabbed one goal. Kenney scored 7:27 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Granite City. Sam Zweiner picked up the assist. Other players who recorded assists for Granite City were Luke Richardson, Tanner Skaja, and Alek Groth, who each chipped in one. Jaxson Gosnell recorded 35 saves for the North Stars.
Minnesota 0 @ North Iowa 8 - The Minnesota Flying Aces allowed the North Iowa Bulls to net four goals during the second period and fell, 8-0. North Iowa got the win on the strength of a great game by Johnny Panvica, who had two goals and three assists. Panvica scored the first of his two goals at 19 seconds into the second period to make the score 2-0 North Iowa. Joe Burgmeier picked up the assist. Panvica's next tally made the score 7-0 North Iowa with 7:50 left in the third period. Brett Gravelle assisted on the tally. The Bulls were boosted by David Johnson, who turned in a shutout with 30 saves. Johnson certainly lowered his goals against average, which was 1.56 entering the contest. North Iowa additionally got points from Tommy Heinzman, who also tallied one goal and one assist, Carmen Dalesandro, who also racked up one goal and one assist, Gravelle, who also had one goal and three assists, and Burgmeier, who also registered two goals and three assists to lead the team in points. Ryan Durant also scored for North Iowa. In addition, North Iowa received assists from Robert Click, Connor Bump, Sam Naegele, and Jack Stang, who contributed one each.
Helena 1 @ Billings 3 - The Billings Bulls relied on the sparkling performance of Cole Semchak in net to grab a 3-1 win against the Helena Bighorns. Billings was led by Tristan Henrichs, who tallied one goal. Henrichs scored 15:44 into the second period to make the score 2-1 Billings. Josh Neumann assisted on the tally. Others who scored for Billings included Reed Kaiser and TJ Theodosopoulos, who each put in one. Other players who recorded assists for Billings were Ian Wiljanen, who had two and Steven Thompson, Bryce Jensen, and Nick Rizzo, who each chipped in one. Helena was led by Daniel Liberko, who scored the team's only goal. Liberko scored 13:43 into the first period to make the score 1-1. Nick Trefry provided the assist. Cole Semchak made 25 saves for the Bulls on 26 shots.
Great Falls 2 @ Yellowstone 1 - The Yellowstone Quake tried their best to erase a two-goal deficit, but the Great Falls Americans would not be denied the victory and hung on to win, 2-1. Great Falls made the score 2-0 on a goal by Dylan Garton at 8:28 in the first period, and Yellowstone got as close as 2-1 when Mike McCullen scored 5:47 into the third period. The Americans were paced by Garton, who finished with one goal. Great Falls also got a goal from Brendan Jester as well. In addition, Great Falls received assists from Arseny Ivanov and Austin Krantz, who each chipped in one. More assists for Yellowstone came via Kevin Froelich and Nick Ligocki, who contributed one each. Lauren Massie recorded 20 saves for Great Falls.
Bozeman 3 @ Glacier 2 - In a game where neither team could get a cushion, the Bozeman Icedogs escaped with a 3-2 victory over Glacier. Each team kept the other at bay throughout the game, and Devin Panzeca secured the win for Bozeman with a goal in the third period. The Icedogs were led by Panzeca, who had one goal. Panzeca scored 6:57 into the third period to make the score 3-2 Bozeman. Liam Millar picked up the assist. Bozeman also got points from AJ Odell, who also racked up one goal and one assist to lead the team in points. Bozeman also got a goal from Jonnathan Carpenter as well. More assists for Bozeman came via Ryan Erickson and Gunnar Mogck, who contributed one each. Glacier was helped by Tyler McMahon, who racked up one goal. McMahon scored 4:15 into the third period to make the score 2-2. Dawson Glover assisted on the tally. Marvin Simmons also scored for Glacier. In addition, Glacier received assists from Mitch Tulk and Tommy Kaddatz, who each chipped in one. The Icedogs' Denijs Romanovskis stopped 17 shots out of the 19 that he faced.
