This week in the 3HL
The teams at the close to or at the top of their respective divisions in the 3HL kept on winning this past weekend in the 3HL as teams are getting close to the quarter-pole of the regular season. This upcoming weekend features some important divisional contests and some teams traveling outside their divisions to try and pick up some points. The 3HL is just over a month away from their first of two Showcase events, which takes place in Blaine, MN, from November 30-December 3.
Here is a look at each team’s update:
Alexandria Blizzard: The Blizzard, who sit in 3rd place in the West Division, split a pair of home games with the Breezy Point North Stars. After a 3-2 loss on Friday, the Blizzard rebounded for a 5-3 win on Saturday. Forward Garrett Skinner had four assists in the win. This weekend, Alexandria has just one game, a road contest on Saturday against Twin City.
Battle Creek Revolution: The Revs were swept away by the 1st place Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks this past weekend and were outscored 17-3 in the two games. Joey Lioy continues to be a shining light for Battle Creek has he factored in all three goals over the weekend. Battle Creek stays on the road this weekend with a pair of games against the Three Rivers Vengeance.
Breezy Point North Stars: The North Stars made history on Friday night as they posted their first win in franchise history by defeating the Alexandria Blizzard, 3-2. Ian Shidlofsky’s 45 saves was a big reason behind the victory. Although, the North Stars lost their next two games of the weekend, confidence is high as they head into their home-and-home series this weekend with Granite City.
Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks: The Jacks got back on track last weekend with a sweep at home of the Battle Creek Revolution, outscoring them 17-3 in the process. Cameron Dimmitt, who was one of the 3HL’s 3 Stars of the Week, had 8 points over the weekend, as did Fred West. This weekend, the 1st place Jacks have one game on the road against 2nd place Toledo.
Flint Jr. Generals: The Jr. Generals stayed in a tie for 2nd place in the East with a big weekend road sweep of the Peoria Mustangs. Forward Ed Osowski had four points and goaltender Ted Barile stopped a combined 54 of 59 shots in the two wins. This weekend, the Jr. Generals face two tough road tests against Metro on Friday night and in Toledo on Sunday.
Granite City Lumberjacks: The Lumberjacks remained atop of the West Division and also remained the 3HL’s lone undefeated team with weekend wins over Twin City and Minnesota. Forward Aidan Verbeke was the 3HL’s #1 star of the week thanks to his four-point weekend, in which he scored both game-winning goals. This weekend the Lumberjacks play two games against Breezy Point and one against North Iowa.
Metro Jets: The Jets were off last weekend at with a record of 4-6-0, are looking to pick up some much needed points as they get back into action. This weekend, the Jets host a very important game on Friday night against Flint. Doug Andrews leads the team in scoring with 17 points in 10 games played.
Michigan Mountain Cats: The Mountain Cats were swept over the weekend by Toledo, but also managed to pick up a point in Sunday’s 5-4 overtime loss. Dominic Juncaj made 47 saves in the loss. The schedule for the Mountain Cats doesn’t get any easier this weekend as they take to the road to face the Central Division-leading St. Louis Jr. Blues for a pair of games.
Minnesota Flying Aces: The Aces lost a pair of games over the weekend. On Saturday, they fell to North Iowa, 7-3. On Sunday, it was a heart-breaking loss to the 1st place Granite City Lumberjacks, 5-4, as Granite City scored with just :33 seconds remaining to win. This weekend, the Flying Aces host North Iowa on Saturday and travel to Twin City on Sunday.
North Iowa Bulls: The Bulls won their lone game of the weekend, a 7-3 home win over Minnesota on Saturday. Conor Jonasson had four assists in the game. The schedule for North Iowa, who also have the fourth best record in the league, really ramps up this weekend as they take to the road for games against Minnesota on Saturday and Granite City on Sunday.
Peoria Mustangs: The Mustangs suffered two close losses this past weekend at home against the Flint Jr. Generals, both by a goal. On Saturday, it was a 2-1 despite 27 saves from Michael Parda. Sunday, the Mustangs got a point, but lost 5-4 in overtime. This weekend, the Mustangs get some much needed time off before returning to the ice Nov. 3-4 in Battle Creek.
Quad City Jr. Flames: The Flames played strong, but fell twice to the St. Louis Jr. Blues in the Quad Cities last weekend. Goaltender Robby Vukelich made 27 saves in Sunday’s 3-0 loss. The Jr. Flames will look to snap their six-game losing streak this weekend as they travel to Ohio to face the Queen City Steam in a weekend road series.
Queen City Steam: The Steam have spent the last two weekends off from 3HL action. Despite that fact, forward Damien Lona remains one of the 3HL’s top scorers with 13 points in 10 games played. Queen City’s next four games will all be at home and all are against the Quad City Jr. Flames beginning this weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
St. Louis Jr. Blues: The Blues did not let their only two losses to Granite City a few weeks ago affect them, as they have now won four straight, including a road sweep last weekend of Quad City. In Sunday’s 3-0 shutout of Quad City, goaltender Mikael Broliden made 17 saves for his league-leading 2nd shutout of the season. The Jr. Blues host the Michigan Mountain Cats for a pair of games this weekend.
Three Rivers Vengeance: The Vengeance were off this past weekend, after completing a sweep of Michigan the week prior. Three Rivers now gears up for a two-game weekend home series against Battle Creek. Forward Alex Berardinelli is tied for 3rd in the 3HL with nine goals.
Toledo Cherokee: The Cherokee kept pace in the East Division with a weekend home-and-home sweep of the Michigan Mountain Cats. Forward Connor Crowe was named the 3HL’s #2 star of the week thanks in large part to his four points over the weekend, which included two game-winning goals. This weekend, Toledo hosts Cleveland on Friday and Flint on Sunday in two big divisional games.
Twin City Steel: The Steel split a pair of games last weekend. On Saturday, it was an 8-1 loss against the division-leading Granite City Lumberjacks. However on Sunday, the Steel rebounded with an 8-2 win over Breezy Point thanks to a hat-trick from Ryan McAloon. This weekend, the Steel continue their current 10-game homestand with games on Saturday against Alexandria and Sunday against Minnesota.
