Grizzlies, Bulls ride hot goalies to wins on Day 2
North Iowa Bulls forward Carson Jones scored both goals in a 2-1 overtime win on Friday.
Day 2 of the 2021 Fraser Cup did not disappoint thanks to a pair of low-scoring and tight games as the goaltenders showed their value and fortitude. The Rochester Grizzlies and North Iowa Bulls picked up wins, setting up an exciting and dramatic Day 3 on Saturday.
Rochester’s win on Friday clinched the top spot in Pool B with a 2-0 record. Meanwhile, the North Iowa Bulls edged the Sheridan Hawks in overtime on Friday. Despite the loss, Sheridan did earn a point for the overtime loss, giving them four points, which is enough to advance to the Semi-Finals out of Pool A. What is unknown is who will join them and what seed they will be.
On Saturday, the Bulls need any type of point (win, overtime/shootout win, overtime/shootout loss) to advance to the Semi-Finals. Meanwhile, the Northeast Generals need to win in regulation to advance. In Pool B, it is very simple… the winner of the final round-robin game between the Texas Brahmas and the Oklahoma City Blazers will advance to the semi-finals as the #2 seed out of Pool B.
The top two teams in each pool advance to the Semi-Finals on Sunday, where they will then cross over to play the other top two teams from the other pool. The winners of the Semi-Finals on Sunday will advance to the Fraser Cup Championship Game, which takes place on Monday.
Games can be seen live and in HD on HockeyTV
For more information about the Fraser Cup, please visit: http://na3hl.com/fraser-cup/
Day 2 recaps:
Fraser Cup Round-Robin, Pool A: North Iowa 2 vs. Sheridan 1 (OT) – Goaltending was the story in the opening game on Day 2 of the 2021 Fraser Cup as the North Iowa Bulls got two goals from Carson Jones to come from behind and beat the Sheridan Hawks in overtime, 2-1. Despite 43 combined shots in the 1st period, neither team was able to light the lamp thanks to the goaltending of Christian Wong-Ramos of the Hawks and Carsen Stokes of the Bulls. Midway through the 2nd period, the Hawks took a 1-0 lead as Luke Desmarais scooped up a rebound to put one behind Stokes for the first goal of the game. Early in the 3rd period, the Bulls equalized as Carson Jones wristed a shot through traffic as the Hawks failed to clear the zone and beat a screened Wong-Ramos to tie the game at 1-1. In the overtime, it took the Bulls just 1:20 into the extra frame to net the game-winner as Jones dangled his way through traffic and walked in unmarked to roof a backhand over Wong-Ramos for the game-winner. Stokes made 40 saves in the win, while Wong-Ramos made 45 saves in the loss. With the win, the Bulls need a win or loss in overtime/shootout against Northeast on Saturday to advance to the Semi-Finals. The Hawks earned one point for the OT loss, meaning they have guaranteed themselves a spot in the semi-finals, but await the North Iowa vs. Northeast result on Saturday to know their seed.
Fraser Cup Round-Robin, Pool B: Rochester 3 vs. Oklahoma City 1 – Grizzlies goalie Shane Soderwall made 29 saves to lead his team to a 3-1 win as Rochester won Pool B to advance to the Fraser Cup Semi-Finals. Rochester opening the scoring midway through the 1st period as Joey Fodstad didn’t quit on a loose rebound that finally snuck underneath Blazers goalie Olivier Charbonneau after several saves. Later in the period, the Blazers equalized in a similar fashion as Grizzlies goalie Shane Soderwall made several big stops while his team was shorthanded only to see Oklahoma City tie the game as Petr Philippov poked home a loose puck to tie the game at 1-1. Just over a minute later, the Grizzlies would regain their one-goal lead as Matthew DeRosa got free down the left wing and sniped a shot top corner on the far side over the glove of Charbonneau for a 2-1 lead. In the 3rd period, it was more good goaltending as neither team could find the back of the net. With just seconds remaining in regulation, Peyton Hart scored an empty-net goal to secure the 3-1 win. Soderwall ended up with 29 saves in the win, while Charbonneau made 35 saves in the loss. With the win, the Grizzlies won Pool B and will be the #1 seed out of the pool in the Semi-Finals. With the loss, Oklahoma City will play in a winner take all game against Texas on Saturday.
