Saturday Scores: Sharks punch ticket to Fraser Cup Playoffs
Harlan Wojtusik had a hat-trick to lead Helena to a weekend sweep and stay tied for 1st place in the Frontier Division.
Long Beach 4 @ Norwich 3 (OT) - The Long Beach Sharks edge the Norwich Sea Captains in a 4-3 overtime final score. The Sea Captain struck first with cam Hultin (2:38). Soon after, Long Beach found the back of the net with Devin Carney (3:26) to even the game 1-1. The Sharks took the lead after Ryo Yamamoto (9:16) scored for a 2-1 score. In the middle period, Brian Essing (0:36) tied the game 2-2. Late in the frame, Jake Weikel (16:21) buried the puck for a 3-2 Sharks lead. In the third, Trevor Souza (7:58) scored to even the game 3-3 to force overtime. In the extra frame, Devin Carney (2:47) scored the game winner for a 4-3 Sharks win.
Helena 5 @ Butte 2: The Bighorns extended their win streak to five straight games in a heated battle with Gillette for top spot in the Frontier Division. Tylor Greene gave Helena an early lead with an unassisted goal in the opening period. In the 2nd, Harlan Wojtusik added three goals to further the lead and secure a natural hat trick. Butte’s Tamer Billman found the back of the net late in the middle frame to keep the lead at three. In the final period, Cade Wessman helped cut the lead to two goals but Corbin Skinner would answer with a powerplay goal late in the period to seal the victory. Eric Buccholz made 29 saves in the winning effort while Braylon Rogers took the loss making 51 saves.
TX Brahmas 4 @ El Paso 3: Jeremiah Snyder’s score with 4:26 remaining in the 2nd period would prove to be the deciding factor in El Paso’s victory over the Brahmas. El Paso grabbed an early lead thanks to Caden Butler’s first goal of the night 4:42 into the period. Michael Imala scored a pair of goals consecutively to provide the visiting team with their first lead of the contest. Blake Polifka and Matej Palfy both buried goals to give the Brahmas a 3-2 lead heading into the 2ndl period. In the middle frame, Jeremiah Snyder and Butler each found the back of the net to provide what would be the final score of 4-3 in the Brahmas’ favor. Brandon Shantz snagged the victory keeping out 29 of 32 shots faced. Camden Pedleton made 30 saves for the Rhinos.
Badlands 2 @ Gillette 3: Sky Skolig’s goal with 47 seconds remaining in regulation would prove to be the decider in Gillette’s victory over the Sabres in consecutive nights. Seth Stock opened the scoring with a powerplay goal late in the 1st period to give Badlands the first lead. Saizha Norwegian evened the scores in the 2nd with a goal. In the final frame, Keagon Holloway retook the Sabres lead while lighting the lamp but Alex Duchemin’s goal 13 minutes into the period would provide the Wild enough momentum to take the victory on home ice. Jack Orchard made 19 saves for Gillette while Maxim Currie was dealt the loss making 52 saves on 55 shots.
Northeast 5 @ Danbury 2 - The Northeast Generals swept the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks in another 5-2 final score on Saturday night. After a scoreless first period, Nolan Zotter (4:27) scored to get the Generals ahead. Payton Felix (14:01) scored to add to the Generals lead 2-0. Soon after, Daniel Khatib (15:45) scored to get the Hat-Tricks on the board. Nearing the end of the period, Roman Winicki (19:43) evened the game 2-2. Seconds into the third, Nolan Murphy (0:40) found the back of the net for a 3-2 Generals lead. Nolan Zotter (1:14) added to the lead, scoring his second of the night. Caiden Hess (1:53) scored the final goal of the night for a 5-2 Generals win.
TX RoadRunners 5 @ Oklahoma City 2 - In the second game of three this weekend, the Texas RoadRunners took a win against the Oklahoma City Ice Hawks after being defeated in overtime last night. The Ice Hawks got on the board first in the contest with a goal from Vincent Anderson (0:21). The RoadRunners evened the game 1-1 with a goal from Samuel Bourdon (17:07). In the second, Texas took the lead with a goal from Jack Klunk (8:24). In the third period, the RoadRunners got to work early, scoring two early goals with Tyler Singpradith (1:21) and Kyle Portlock (1:51) for a 4-1 lead. Daniel Flodman (6:47) found the back of the net for the Ice Hawks making the score 4-2. Gabe Stone (19:08) scored for a RoadRunners win, 5-2.
Wausau 0 @ Rochester 8 - The Rochester Grizzlies shut out the Wausau Cyclones, 8-0. In the first period, Logan Kroyman (11:15) and Kyle Brown (15:23) scored for a 2-0 Rochester lead. In the second, Adam Johnson (3:52), Logan Kroyman (4:11), and Lincoln Bielenberg (6:07/14:03) scored making it 6-0. In the third, Lincoln Bielenberg (1:51) scored his third of the night followed by Justin Wright (4:05). Goaltender Zach Wiese was perfect stopping all 24 shots he faced in the 8-0 win.
New Ulm 3 @ Willmar 5: Enzo Tarducci scored his 4th goal of the season and the eventual game-winner 11:02 into the final period to push the WarHawks past New Ulm and capture a fifth straight victory. Nolan Grier scored midway through the opening period to give Willmar the lead but Gus Cantwell answered with a goal minutes later to keep the scores even through 20 minutes. The two teams traded goals in the middle frame as Cantwell and Jack Laser scored for the Steel and Marcus Mack and Tate Hammitt buried goals for Willmar. In the 3rd, Tarducci found his goal and two minutes later, Blake Keller lit the lamp to provide an insurance goal and secure the victory at home. Cooper Olson had an impressive performance in net for the WarHawks, saving 62 of 65 shots that came at him in the victory. Nolan Lacosse saved 17 shots for the Steel.
St. Louis 0 @ Granite City 12: Forward Brett Reed scored a hat trick and six points in Granite City’s dominant outing versus the Jr. Blues. Thirteen skaters found the points sheet in the Lumberjack’s victory with nine of them recording multiple point performances. Luke Delzer scored once while dishing four assists and Hayden Walters potted a pair of goals and provided three assists. Defenseman Kyle Mortenson also added a goal and two assists while Nick Mountain provided a goal and an assist. It was a relatively quiet night in net for Quentin Sigurdson, stopping all 8 shots faced to secure the shutout. Ethan Jourden made 72 saves for the Jr. Blues.
Minnesota 0 @ Mason City 10: The Toros secured their fifth consecutive victory in an emphatic win over the Loons at home. Mason City grabbed the lead early as Cal Levis and Carter Newpower added goals in the 1st period. Shota Kaneko, Levis, Derek Humphrey, Andy Llarsen, and Sota Isogai furthered the Mason City lead with goals in the middle frame. Kaneko, Newpower, and Andy Larsen each lit the lamp in the 3rd period to extend the lead. Erik Chaffe stopped all 12 shots that came at him to secure his 2nd shutout of the season. Owen Reeve kept out 38 of 48 for the Loons.
Alexandria 2 @ Milwaukee 3 (SO): Milwaukee’s Mason Ausmus and Patrick Toomey both found the back of the net in the shootout to give the Power the edge over Alexandria. Justin Wasvick gave the Blizzard the first lead with a power play goal in the opening period. Riley Planey evened the scores with his 7th goal of the season five minutes into the 2nd period. Marshall Walker scored his first goal of the season to give the Power their first lead of the contest but Matt McIntyre’s goal minutes later brought the contest to extra time. Kaden Grant secured the victory stopping 41 of 43 shots and keeping out both of Alexandria’s shootout attempts. Joey Greilich took the shootout loss saving 30 shots faced.
Peoria 4 @ Oregon 2: Peoria forwards Perry Lagatuz and Jaycob Bland each deposited a goal and an assist in the Mustangs’ 12th straight victory. Jared Wisely and Jackson Gram both buried goals in the 1st period to give Peoria a quick lead. Oregon fought back to tie the game as Dillon Schmidt and Jason Tenezaca each scored goals in the middle frame. In the 3rd period, Lagatuz would score 47 seconds into the period to retake the Peoria lead and Bland sealed the victory with a score 4:03 remaining in regulation. Nahuel remained sturdy in Peoria’s crease, keeping out 37 of 39 shots in the victory. Evan Wittchow made 42 saves for the Tradesmen.
