Friday Finals: Lumberjacks open title defense with OT win
Hayden Johnson scored the overtime-winner for Granite City on Friday night.
New Jersey Titans 6 @ Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks 2: With a strong opening into the second and third the New Jersey Titans took the win against the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks in a 6-2 final. In the first, the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks took the lead at the beginning of the night with a 0-1 goal by Aidan Zamborsky (9:37). But the New Jersey Titans fought back with a goal of their own scored by William Fliss (1:36) tying the score 1-1. Yet Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks came back with another goal from Kenny Granacker (57.6), and to finish off the first period New Jersey Titans came back again with a second goal scored by William Fliss (37.0). Into the second New Jersey Titans led the way with two more goals scored by Payton Fobes (16:36) and George Hinds (13:21) closing the second with a score of 4-2. The third period started with a bang with New Jersey Titans Matthew Kassay (11:52) and Lucas Carney (8:37) with the final goals of the night leading to a 6-2 final. Sebastian Thome was best in net as he stopped 23 shots on goal out of 25.
Granite City Lumberjacks 2 @ Rochester Grizzlies 1 (OT): Beginning of the night started slow heading towards the end of the first period the Rochester Grizzlies Maksim Lakic (2:44) sored the only goal in the first period. After a long second period we headed into the third period Granite City Lumberjacks Tommy Woods (2:44) scored, tying the score 1-1. Heading into overtime right off the bat Granite City Lumberjacks Hayden Johnson (4:43) scored the final goal of the night in overtime making it 2-1 final score closing off tonight’s game. Anyon Bennett was best in net tonight stopping 21 out of 22 shots on goal.
Helena Bighorns 6 @ Yellowstone Quake 0: Towards the final stretches of the first Helena Bighorns Dylan Cunningham (5:05) scored the only goal in the first period making the score 1-0. Heading into the second the Helena Bighorns shot through with four more goals from Garrett Bogan (13:31), Braden Cunningham (11:05), and two goals from Finn Theriault at (6:58) and (4:00) ending the second with a 5-0. Towards the end of the third the Helena Bighorns Elijah Elmer (4:08) scored the final goal of the night making it a 6-0 final. Helena’s Jesse Schindel posted a 10-shot shutout on the net.
Gillette Wild 8 @ Butte Irish 2: Towards the middle of the first the Gillette Wild had two goals scored by Matt Siems (10:39) and Will Sexton (7:50) ending the first period at 2-0. The second period was another head on play for the Gillette Wild with two more goals scored by Jace Johnson (15:09) and Adam Severson (8:30) ending the second with 4-0. Heading into the third Butte Irish Brennen Morgan (15:41) started it off but Gillette Wild came back with two more goals both by Matt Siems at (14:45), and (10:51) giving him the first hat trick of the night. Butte Irish came back with their second goal of the night scored by Patrick Crooks (7:42) and right after Gillette wild Adam Severson (2:47) ending the night with a final score of 8-2. Cole Wheaton got the win 22 of the 24 shots on goal.
Sheridan Hawks 2 @ Bozeman Icedogs 7: No box score available
Mason City Toros 3 @ Minnesota Loons 4: Starting off the night Mason City Toros Jax Schauer (17:33) scored the first goal of the night, but the Minnesota Loons came back with the one two goals both scored by Aidan Spenningsby at (13:11) and (4:53) closing the first at 1-2. The Minnesota Loons came back swinging in the second with Eddy Retzlaff (14:59) stretching their lead to 1-3. Going into the third the action kicked up with Mason City Toros with Aaron Sawicki (15:02) and Jax Schauer (2:58) goals tying it 3-3. Then Minnesota Loons Blake Biermaier (2:15) closing the game with 3-4 final score.
Oregon Tradesmen 5 @ Wisconsin Woodsmen 2: First half of the first period started off slow until Oregon Tradesmen Erick Bachtle (10:12) had the first goal of the night making it a 1-0. Making a comeback in to play the Wisconsin Woodsmen Hunter Nelson (7:41) to make it a 1-1, but at the last second Oregon Tradesmen Reid Watson (00:0) scored ending the first with a score of 2-1. Towards the end of the second period Oregon Tradesmen Jordan Larkee (3:56) scored, ending the second with 3-1. And right off the bat Oregon Tradesmen Parker Murn (19:41) scored and right behind him Wisconsin Woodsmen Hunter Nelson (13:36) scored his second goal of the night, but to wrap it up Oregon Tradesmen Jace Weber (12:30) had the final goal of the night making it 5-2 final. The best in net was Dylan Posch stopping 40 out of 42 shots on goal.
Peoria Mustangs 8 @ St. Louis Jr. Blues 3: To start off the night St. Louis Jr. Blues Mason Wright (14:55) had the first goal of the night. But the Peoria Mustangs came back swinging with three consecutive shots in a row from Blake Mitchell (3:22), Samuel Truxaw (1:53), and Justin Funk (00:0) ending the first with 3-1. Coming back at it again into the second, the Peoria Mustangs had two goals back-to-back scored by Blake Mitchell (12:54), and Carter Bennisweis (2:10). But St. Louis Jr. Blues Ryan Callahan (1:15) ending the second with a score of 5-2. The third period was kicked off by the St. Louis Jr. Blues Carter Clemons (17:04) and right behind him the Peoria Mustangs had three back-to-back goals scored by Massimo Polistina (13:55), Mason Buchanan (9:49), and final goal of the night was scored by Henry Griffin (2:16) making the final score 8-3.
