The week in the 3HL
As the calendar turns to October, the 3HL is in full swing. All teams have now played at least a weekend full of games and the cream is starting to rise to the top. Let’s take a look, team by team, at what is new in the 3HL:
Alexandria Blizzard: It was a rough weekend for the Blizzard who lost their first two games of the season in losses at Granite City and at Minnesota. It doesn’t get any easier this weekend for Alexandria as they go on the road to face Twin City on Friday and North Iowa on Saturday. Goaltender Kyle Miller has a 3-1-0 record with a 1.50 GAA.
Battle Creek Revolution: It was oh so close for the Revolution this past weekend as they dropped a pair of close games to the Quad City Jr. Flames. After falling 4-1 on Saturday, the Revoltion took a 3-2 lead into the 3rd period on Sunday, but could not hold the lead and were edged, 4-3. Forward Joey Lioy leads the team with 8 points. Battle Creek plays a home-and-home series with Michigan this weekend.
Breezy Point North Stars: The North Stars were swept this past weekend in Peoria. The North Stars continue to struggle to find offense, as they have only scored 10 goals in 5 games. Tim Taylor leads the squad with 4 points. This weekend, the North Stars return home looking for their first win as they battle Minnesota Saturday and Twin City on Sunday.
Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks: Cleveland was idle this past weekend, but still sit atop the East Division with a 5-1-0 record. This upcoming weekend they travel to Queen City for a pair of road games against the Steam. Cleveland’s 28 goals so far this season is 2nd in the league behind St. Louis.
Flint Jr. Generals: Flint split a weekend pair of home games against the Toledo Cherokee this past weekend. After a 5-2 win on Saturday, the Jr. Generals fell 5-4 on Sunday. Forward Andy Lay is tied for the 3HL’s scoring lead with 12 points. This weekend the homestand continues for Flint as they host the Three Rivers Vengeance.
Granite City Lumberjacks: The Jacks picked up another win to remain undefeated on the season as they beat Alexandria on Friday, 3-2. The Jacks lead the West Division with a perfect 5-0-0 record. Granite City is doing it with defense this season, as they have allowed just nine goals in five games. This weekend is a battle of the titans as the Jacks travel to St. Louis to take on the undefeated Jr. Blues.
Metro Jets: The Jets suffered a rare sweep at home by the Three Rivers Vengeance, falling by a goal on each night. This weekend, the Jets have a home-and-home series with the Toledo Cherokee. Forward Matt Stirling is tied for the 3HL’s scoring lead with 12 points. Teammate Doug Andrews is right behind with 11 points.
Michigan Moutain Cats: After another idle weekend, the Cats, who have only played two games thus far, ramp up their schedule with and home-and-home series this weekend with Battle Creek. Six of the next eight games for the Cats are on the road. Forward Guy Soulliere leads the team with three points.
Minnesota Flying Aces: The Aces posted two big wins over the weekend against Twin City on Friday and Alexandria on Saturday. Chase Myers-Beck did most of the offensive damage for Minnesota recording three goals over the weekend. Next up for the Flying Aces is one game this weekend at Breezy Point on Saturday.
North Iowa Bulls: North Iowa exploded for nine goals in their lone game last weekend, a 9-6 win at Twin City. The Bulls are in 2nd place in the West Division with a 3-1-1 record. Tim Santopoalo was the big offensive star in the game, recording three goals and an assist. North Iowa finally has their home opener, as they host Alexandria for their lone game of the weekend on Saturday.
Peoria Mustangs: Peoria picked up a weekend home sweep over the Breezy Point North Stars last weekend by a combined 10-2 score. Brennan Anderson, who leads the team in points with 10, had four points in the weekend wins. This upcoming weekend, it is a home-and-home series with cross state rival, the Quad City Jr. Flames.
Quad City Jr. Flames: Quad City picked up their first wins of the 2012-13 season over the weekend, as they swept a two-game set from the Battle Creek Revoltion. Defenseman Clayton Janecke had a three-point weekend including the game-winning goal in the 3rd period in Sunday’s game. Next up for the Flames is a home-and-home series with the Peoria Mustangs.
Queen City Steam: The Steam were humbled this past weekend as they dropped two games in a home series against the St. Louis Jr. Blues. The Steam were outscored 10-2 in the series. Forward Damien Lona, who is tied for the 2nd in 3HL scoring with 11 points, had one of the two goals over the weekend. Queen City hosts Cleveland for two games this weekend.
St. Louis Jr. Blues: It was another impressive weekend for the St. Louis Jr. Blues as they had their way with the Queen City Steam in another weekend sweep on the road. The Jr. Blues lead the Central Division with a perfect 8-0-0 record and have scored 47 goals in their eight games. Next up is their biggest series of the year so far as they host the undefeated Granite City Lumberjacks on Saturday and Sunday.
Three Rivers Vengeance: The Vengeance posted a weekend road sweep of the Metro Jets last week. Forward Tyler Stockwell earned the league’s #1 star of the week as he had four points over the weekend, which included both game-winning goals. This weekend, the Vengeance stay on the road for a pair of games in Flint against the Jr. Generals.
Toledo Cherokee: The Cherokee kept pace in the tough East Division with a weekend split of games in Flint. Defenseman Donnie Nagle had four assists (all on the power play) in the 5-4 win on Sunday. This weekend the Cherokee face-off against the Metro Jets in a home-and-home series on Saturday and Sunday.
Twin City Steel: The Steel are off to an 0-4-0 start this season. They suffered two close losses over the weekend as they fell 4-3 to Minnesota on Friday and 9-6 6o North Iowa on Saturday. The Steel are looking for more offense, as they have scored 11 goals in their four games. A chance for their first win continues this weekend as they face Alexandria on Friday and Breezy Point in Sunday.
