NA3HL Showcase a success

The NA3HL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota, wrapped up on Monday, with the last round of eight games being played at the Schwan Super Rink.  It concluding what was a very successful and competitive four days of hockey, which was played in front of over 80 scouts during the event.

In the end, four teams were left standing with undefeated records during the event, the Granite City Lumberjacks, North Iowa Bulls, St. Louis Jr. Blues and Twin City Steel.

Click here to see the complete standings and statistics after the Showcase.

Here is a look at the recap of the final day of action at the NA3HL Showcase:

Quad City 4 vs. Flint 2 – The Jr. Flames won their first game on the NA3HL Showcase and snapped a 17-game losing streak in the process with a 4-2 win over Flint.  Robby Vukelich made 45 saves in the win and Jake Wynd had a goal and three assists to pace the Jr. Flames, who finished the Showcase with a 1-3-0 record.  Meanwhile, the Jr. Generals got goals from Christopher Skordilis and Trevor Benaglio in the loss, which dropped them to 1-3-0 at the Showcase

Twin City 7 vs. Battle Creek 3 – The Steel completed a perfect NA3HL Showcase with a 7-3 win over Battle Creek to finish 3-0-0.  Nick Cerrato had two goals and an assist as did Marvin Powell.  Justin Brown also chimed in with three assists.  Battle Creek got goals from Joey Lioy, Kyle Ware and Austin Hill and finished the NA3HL Showcase with an 0-4-0 record.

St. Louis 6 vs. Metro 2 – The Jr. Blues moved their record to 24-2-0 with a 6-2 win over Metro, which completed a perfect 4-0-0 record at the Showcase.  Victor Gortz had two goals and an assist in the win and Cody Guidorzi, Lukas Daniels and Lucas Stewart also had multi-point games.  Mikael Broliden made 24 saves in the win.  The Jets, who finished the Showcase with a 1-3-0 record, got goals from Matt Stirling and Thomas Evans.

Three Rivers 3 vs. Minnesota 2 (OT) – The Flying Aces were an overtime goal away from finishing with a perfect record at the Showcase, but had to settle with a 3-0-1 record as Three Rivers got an OT goal from Gavin Cummings for the win.  Alex Berardinelli and Ian Wood scored goals in the regulation for the Vengeance, who finished the Showcase with a very respectable 3-1-0 record.  The Flying Aces goals came from Blake Williams and Payton Trammel.

Granite City 6 vs. Cleveland 2 – In a battle if NA3HL powerhouses, it was the Lumberjacks who came out on top with a 6-2 win over the Jacks and completed a perfect Showcase with a 3-0-0 record.  Nick Turbitt scored two goals as did Eric Miller.  Blake Phenow and Drew Otto had the other goal for the Lumberjacks.  Cleveland, who finished the Showcase with a 1-2-0 record got goals in the loss from Cameron Dimmitt and Scott Cuthrell.

Queen City 4 vs. Breezy Point 2 – Damien Lona had a hat-trick and an assist to the lead the Steam to a 4-2 win over the North Stars on the final day of the Showcase.  The Steam finished the Showcase with a 2-2-0 record.  Trevor Knoll had a goal and two assists and Nick Brusa had three assists in the win.  Meanwhile, the North Stars, who finished the Showcase with an 0-4-0 record, lost their four games by a combined total of seven goals.  Austin Williams and Bo Borowski scored goals in the loss.

North Iowa 5 vs. Michigan 1 – Arguable the most impressive team at the NA3HL Showcase was the North Iowa Bulls, who not only posted a perfect 4-0 record, but outscored their opponents 26-3 in the process.  On Monday, it was a 5-1 win over the Michigan Mountain Cats.  Five different players scored for the Bulls, including: Preston Blanek, Matt Kroska, Patrick Sivets, Eric Behrend and Taylor Brown. Matt Bartels made 19 saves in the win.  The Mountain Cats finished the Showcase with a 0-4-0 record.  Their lone goal in the 5-1 loss to the Bulls came off the stick of Guy Soulliere, who scored a shorthanded goal.  Spencer Craig made 36 saves in the loss.

Alexandria 3 vs. Peoria 0 – The Blizzard completed an impressive 3-1 run at the Showcase with a final day shutout of the Mustangs.  Kyle Miller had to make just 14 saves in the shutout victory.  Joe Anderson, Ian Ecklund and Tanner Duffney scored in the win for Alexandria.  The Mustangs finished the Showcase with a 1-2-1 record.  Both goalies, Michael Parda and Alex Reichle played in the game, facing a combined 41 shots on goal.