Friday Finals: Euless, Rochester and Billings get first wins
La Crosse 0 @ Wisconsin 5 - Max McConnell made 28 saves to complete the shutout and led Wisconsin to a 5-0 win against La Crosse. Wisconsin was sparked by Nathan Viberg, who registered one goal. Viberg scored 5:24 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Wisconsin. Ben Ratner picked up the assist. Wisconsin additionally got points from Thomas Hanson, who also tallied one goal and one assist, Clayton Brown, who also had one goal and one assist, and Austin Lewis, who also racked up one goal and one assist. Wisconsin also got a goal from Ethan Luck as well. More assists for Wisconsin came via Matthew Carr, who had two and Taylor Dickert and Russel Barone, who each chipped in one. Andrew Wagner recorded 22 saves for La Crosse.
West Michigan 4 @ Toledo 5 (SO) - Three periods of regulation and an overtime session were not enough to settle matters as Toledo defeated West Michigan in a shootout 5-4 (1-0 SO). Toledo came back from a four-goal deficit to capture the victory. Toledo trailed 4-0 after a goal by West Michigan's Connor Henderson at 10:41 in the second period. Toledo knotted things up at 4-4 on a goal by Nolan Stanley at 13:34 in the third period. Toledo additionally got points from Isaiah Crawford, who also finished with one goal and one assist. Toledo also got a goal from Ricky Kwapich as well. In addition, Toledo received assists from Tyler Zalecki, Austin Turner, Ben Hamilton, Alec Walny, and Nick Nappi, who contributed one each. West Michigan forced Toledo's goalies to work hard to keep the puck out of the net, finishing with 41 shots and forcing 37 saves. Jeremy Hamerquist made 21 stops and Glen Bates made 16. West Michigan was helped by Brendon Block, who grabbed one goal. Block scored 3:30 into the second period to make the score 1-0 West Michigan. Henderson provided the assist. West Michigan also got points from Henderson, who also had one goal and one assist and John Hayward, who also registered one goal and one assist. Zach Hand also scored for West Michigan. More assists for West Michigan came via Mitch Kalleward, who had two and Josh Somers, Kyle Nikles, and Gavin Cline, who each chipped in one.
Metro 5 @ Wooster 1 - Metro had a two-goal lead after two periods and cruised the rest of the way en route to a 5-1 win over Wooster. Metro's Trevor Kalinowski was a brick wall in net, as he came up with 31 saves and let only one puck past him. Metro was led by Chase Sereno, who racked up one goal. Sereno scored 19:09 into the first period to make the score 2-0 Metro. Devin Kelly picked up the assist. Others who scored for Metro included Michael Tratar, Jason Newel, Matt Dempsey, and Kevin Shand, who each put in one. In addition, Metro received assists from Mark Vansaw, Cam Schwartz, Pearce Vance, Jacob Gleason, Jacob Drinkard, Dylan Naumovski, and TJ Krajewski, who contributed one each. Wooster was led by Mike Zenone, who scored the team's only goal. Zenone scored 5:48 into the second period to make the score 3-1 Metro. Jason Watts assisted on the tally.
Minnesota 5 @ Twin City 6 (OT) - Fritz Belisle gave Twin City a 6-5 (OT) victory over Minnesota when he scored 2:25 into the extra period. Twin City came back from a two-goal deficit to capture the victory. Twin City trailed 4-2 after a power play goal by Minnesota's Jesse Brown at 5:55 in the third period. Twin City knotted things up at 5-5 on a goal by Jared Erickson at 19:56 in the third period. Twin City kept Minnesota's goalie busy throughout the game, and Dakota McDonald made 53 saves on 59 shots. Twin City was led by Alex Egle, who racked up two goals. Egle scored the first of his two goals at 17:29 into the second period to make the score 3-2 Minnesota. Tom Reilly assisted on the tally. Egle's next tally made the score 4-3 Minnesota with 13:24 left in the third period. Reilly picked up the assist. Twin City also had goals scored by Ryan Hartzell and Joe Costello, who scored one goal each. More assists for Twin City came via Tristan Mayer, who had two and Ben Hersman, Cory Martinez, Kyle Wagner, Adam Vannelli, James Hale, and Bennett Witta, who each chipped in one. Minnesota was helped by Jacob Aberwald, who had two goals. Aberwald scored the first of his two goals at 11:47 into the first period to make the score 1-1. Tyler Leverty assisted on the tally. Aberwald's next tally made the score 5-4 Minnesota with 4:14 left in the third period. Talon Medure picked up the assist. Minnesota also got points from Jace Cseter, who also finished with one goal and one assist. In addition, Minnesota received assists from Kyle Wendorf, who had one and Alec Skar and Ty Ennis, who each chipped in two. Jon Albers recorded 20 saves for Twin City.
Louisiana 3 @ Euless 4 - Louisiana tried its best to erase a two-goal deficit, but Euless would not be denied the victory and hung on to win, 4-3. Euless made the score 4-2 on a goal by Benjamin Kraus at 15:02 in the third period, and Louisiana got as close as 4-3 when Davis VanGemerden scored 15:12 into the third period. Kraus had a great game for Euless, netting two goals. Others who scored for Euless included Cody Gottfreid and Anthony Chavez, who each put in one. In addition, Euless received assists from Brandon Wade, Kayne Fedor, Kyle Dudley, Trent Wolter, and Wyatt Gentry, who contributed one each. Louisiana forced Euless goalie Thomas Bailey to work between the pipes, taking 45 shots. Louisiana was led by Tucker Alspaugh, who registered one goal and one assist. Alspaugh scored 10:12 into the second period to make the score 2-1 Louisiana. Dante Juris assisted on the tally. Jacob Istre also scored for Louisiana. More assists for Louisiana came via Mitch Dolese and Brayden Hutchinson, who each chipped in one. Logan Quebedeaux made 35 saves for Louisiana on 39 shots.
Bozeman 5 @ Gillette 3 - In a game where neither team could get a cushion, Bozeman escaped with a 5-3 victory over Gillette. Bozeman gained the winning advantage on a goal by Kegan Couture 10:17 into the third period and hung on until final buzzer. Bozeman also got points from Dylan Michaud, who also grabbed one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Bozeman included Kyle Klatt, Elliott Hopkins, and Kyle Amundson, who each put in one. In addition, Bozeman received assists from Nicholas Thompson, who had two and AJ ODell, Gunnar Mogck, and Casey Gobel, who contributed one each. Gillette was helped by Tyler Tennant, who had one goal. Tennant scored 12:43 into the second period to make the score 2-2. Mitchell McEwan assisted on the tally. Gillette also had goals scored by Tim VanTuinen, Gennadi Zabeline, and Cade Boreing, who scored one goal each. More assists for Gillette came via Kyle Traux and Alex King, who each chipped in one. Bozeman took out Benjamin Sakaria after he had made 10 saves and installed Stephen Frank in goal, where he finished with 11 saves and the win. Stephen Wroe made 31 saves for Gillette on 36 shots.
Glacier 4 @ Billings 7 - Behind a great game by Edward Hoppmann, who had two goals and two assists, Billings defeated Glacier, 7-4. Hoppmann found the back of the net 10:21 into the second period to make the score 4-1 Billings and again while on the power play 18:24 into the second to make the score 5-2 Billings. Billings additionally got points from Zach Heiser, who also finished with one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Billings included Austin Lange, Connor Melton, Jeremy Vandekerkhove, and Luke Erickson, who each put in one. Other players who recorded assists for Billings were Cameron Birklid, who had one and Tristan Henrichs and Mason Graves, who contributed three each. Glacier forced Billings goalie Gage Overby to work between the pipes, taking 34 shots. Glacier was led by Tyler McMahon, who grabbed three goals. Glacier also got a goal from Marvin Simmons as well. In addition, Glacier received assists from Ronald Robertson, Dustin Foran, and William Bostwick, who each chipped in one.
Yellowstone 2 @ Great Falls 1 - Yellowstone relied on the sparkling performance of Lance Knudson in net to grab a 2-1 win against Great Falls. Yellowstone was led by Vadym Nesteruk, who had one goal. Nesteruk scored 19:41 into the second period to make the score 2-1 Yellowstone. Hunter Ruschmeyer provided the assist. Nick Green also scored for Yellowstone. In addition, Yellowstone received assists from Matt Runyon, who had one. Great Falls was led by Stevan Goran, who scored the team's only goal. Goran scored 16:12 into the second period to make the score 1-1. Mitchell Ramstad picked up the assist. Lance Knudson made 25 saves for Yellowstone on 26 shots. Jake Stephan recorded 22 saves for Great Falls.
Rochester 7 @ Chicago 2 - Behind a great game by Dominik Bogdzuil, who had one goal and two assists, Rochester defeated Chicago, 7-2. Bogdzuil got on the board by slotting home a goal 6:15 into the second period to make the score 3-1 Rochester. Jiri Trubacik assisted on the tally. Bogdzuil dished an assist on Colby DeCarlo's goal that made the score 1-1 at 18:02 into the first period. He added another helper on Duell Buck's goal that made the score 2-1 Rochester at 2:23 into the second period. Rochester also got points from DeCarlo, who also grabbed one goal and one assist and Trubacik, who also racked up one goal and one assist. Rochester also had goals scored by Dan Trageser and Evan Sabo, who scored one goal each. Other players who recorded assists for Rochester were Nick Paulson, who had three and Vladislav Shipota, Hunter Heightland, Jon Roth, Griffen Buck, Jake Kelly, and Garrett Strom, who each chipped in one. Chicago was led by Timothy Hoffenkamp, who registered one goal and one assist. Hoffenkamp scored on the power play 14:15 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Chicago. Matt Bukovsky picked up the assist. Scott Coash Jr. also scored for Chicago. In addition, Chicago received assists from Anthony Podder, who had one. Rochester's Sam Nelson stopped 40 shots out of the 42 that he faced.
Alexandria 5 @ Granite City 2 - Alexandria relied on the scoring touch of Aaron Ryback, who netted four goals, to beat Granite City, 5-2. Ryback's first goal came 8:38 into the second period. He then added goals at 9:15 into the second, at 5:20 into the third, and at 18:48 into the third.
North Iowa 4 @ Breezy Point 0 - Tommi Ahlgren made 25 saves to complete the shutout and led North Iowa to a 4-0 win against Breezy Point. North Iowa was led by Adam Orn, who finished with one goal. Orn scored 1:51 into the first period to make the score 1-0 North Iowa. Tom Lindgren picked up the assist. North Iowa forced Breezy Point's netminders to work in net, ripping 38 shots and forcing 34 saves. Wes Paupore made 12 stops and Magnus Lindhe made 22. North Iowa also got a goal from Jack Stang as well. Other players who recorded assists for North Iowa were Kohei Sato, who had two and Tommy Hall, Brett Gravelle, and David Min, who each chipped in one.
Texas 3 @ Sugar Land 1 – Mykyta Sheptytsky scored twice and added an assist as Texas picked up a 3-1 road win in Sugar Land. After a scoreless 1st period, Ryan Dunner got the Jr. Brahmas on the board in the 2nd period. Sheptytsky then scored twice in the 3rd period. Matt DeNure scored the lone Sugar Land goal with :36 seconds remaining in regulation. Brandon Perrone made 11 saves in the win.
