Saturday Scores: Bulls stay perfect with close win
North Iowa Bulls 3 @ Alexandria Blizzard 2: The North Iowa Bulls pulled out another gritty win on the road as they came back from a two-goal deficit to beat the Alexandria Blizzard 3-2. Joe Anderson and Danny Pelzer scored for the Blizzard giving them the two-goal lead but it was the Bulls who dug deep and got goals from Dylan Zins and Tim Santopoalo to tie the game going into the final period. The game-winning goal for the Bulls came from the stick of Logan Murphy, who has now scored in three straight games for North Iowa. Alexandria forward Ian Ecklund picked up two assists on the night. Boxscore
Peoria Mustangs 6 @ St. Louis Jr. Blues 2: The Peoria Mustangs rode the hot goaltending of Marc Hayton, who made 41 saves, to beat the St. Louis Jr. Blues 6-2. Hayton faced 12 or more shots in all three periods including stopping 16 shots in the final period to hold off a late surge from the Jr. Blues. The Mustangs went into the 3rd period with a two-goal lead but it was Alex Klaesner cutting the lead to one with a goal at 6:21 into the period. The Mustangs blew open the lead when they received power play goals from Brennan Anderson and Chance Homerlin less than 40 seconds apart. The win is Peorias 14th of the season and they sit at the top of the Central division. Boxscore
Granite City Lumberjacks 6 @ Breezy Point North Stars 1: Zac Sikich put together a four point night as he led the Granite City Lumberjacks to a 6-1 victory over the Breezy Point North Stars. Zikich scored the last goal of a three-goal outburst in the opening frame and that was all the offense Granite City would need. Granite City goaltender Scott Murray stopped 22 shots to win his third straight game in a row and during that streak has only let up two goals. Breezy Point defenseman Kyle Eberwein scored his fourth goal of the year, which already doubles his goal total from a season ago. Boxscore
Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks 3 @ Pittsburgh Vengeance 2 (OT): Jared Johnson scored his 13th goal of the season in overtime to lift Cleveland to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Vengeance. The Lumberjacks had a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Mike Palasics and Brandon DeLano but it was the play of Pittsburgh forward Joseph Randazzo that sent the game to an extra frame. Randazzo cut the lead in half scoring a big goal with 8 seconds left in the 2nd period and struck again with just over 5 minutes to go in the third period to give the home fans some extra hockey. Jared Johnson made sure that overtime didn’t last long as he found the back of the net just 34 seconds into overtime to send Cleveland home with a win. Boxscore
Wisconsin Whalers 2 @ Chicago Junior Bulldogs 4: The stellar goaltending for the Chicago Junior Bulldogs continued tonight, as it was Michael Paku who turned in a 46 save performance to beat the Wisconsin Whalers 4-2. Paku turned in his biggest performance in the middle frame as he held the Whalers scoreless as they put 19 shots on net and could not beat Paku. Both offenses woke up in the final frame as they combined for 5 goals. After an early Chicago goal the Whalers received goals from Adam Alcott and Mitch Riese to tie the game up at 2. It was Chicago forward Ryan Maksimovic that shared the role of star of the game with Paku as he found the back of the net twice in the final five minutes of the third to give the Junior Bulldogs the win. Boxscore
Topeka Capitals 3 @ Cincinnati Swords 5: The Cincinnati Swords used a strong 1st period performance and a hat trick from Ryan Sete to beat the Topeka Capitals 5-3. Sete opened the scoring for the Swords less than two minutes into the game and it wasn’t until the end of the first until the Swords got three more goals including Setes second of the night. Cincinnati goaltender Artie Haase picked up 32 saves in the victory. Topeka received good performances from Nick Manney and Hardijis Kupaks who both tallied a goal and an assist. Boxscore
Flint Junior Generals 5 @ Metro Jets 1: The Flint Junior Generals continue their historic run as they picked up their 19th straight win on the season beating the Metro Jets 5-1. It was the goaltending of Nathan Klebe, who stopped 35 shots on the night, who led Flint to victory. The Junior Generals showed their ability to spread out their scoring tonight as five different players lit the lamp for Flint. Brad Hepler who struck with the Metro Jets on the man advantage scored the Metro Jets only goal. Boxscore
Twin City Steel 5 @ Minnesota Flying Aces 2: Jace Childs picked up four points and the Twin City Steel used their special teams play to beat the Minnesota Flying Aces 5-2. The Steel picked up four straight goals, two on the power play and two shorthanded, to overpower the Flying Aces. Childs just added on to his team lead as his four points on the night gave him 33 points on the season. Twin City goaltender Jackson Germaine stopped 37 shots to pick up his fourth straight win. The only Flying Aces player to beat Germaine on the night was Jake Mullendore who picked up his 11th and 12th goals on the season. Boxscore
