Friday Finals: Moose Comeback to Win 10th Straight

New Hampshire 5 @ Northeast 3 - A pair of Aidan Palmeter goals powered the New Hampshire Jr. Mountain Kings to a 5-3 win over the Northeast Generals on Friday. Goals just 29 seconds apart in the first from Bryce Yates and Tommy Titone staked the visitors a two goal lead, and they didn’t look back. Kien Stafford would get one back for the Generals, but Palmeter would bury his pair of goals in the second to stretch the lead to three. In the third, Ryan Solari and Liam Schaentzler would each score to bring the Generals closer, but Cameron Fanfa would ice the game with an empty net goal as the buzzer sounded. 

Binghamton 6 @ Norwich 4 - Two Carson Curry goals powered the Binghamton Buzz to a 6-4 win over the Norwich Sea Captains on Friday night. In the first, Curry would net his first, but Ryan Bernard would equalize just over two minutes later. Jason DiMatteo would then score for the Buzz, giving them the advantage on the scoreboard after 20 minutes. In the second, Brody Bess would open the scoring just 56 seconds in, doubling the Buzz lead. Just before the end of the second, Kolin Krizan would bring the Sea Captains within one heading into the third period. In the third, Aidan Raedy would tie the game, but just over a minute later, Curry would bury his second of the night to give the Buzz the lead once again. Ethan Miller would double the lead, and then Preston Peterson would also score. Bernard would get one back late, but it would be too little too late.

New Mexico 4 @ Tulsa 1 - Four separate goal scorers powered the New Mexico Ice Wolves to a 4-1 win over the Tulsa Jr. Oilers on Friday night. The first period brought plenty of opportunities, but 17 saves from Tulsa goaltender Jack Salverson, part of his 44 on the night, and four saves from Jaxon Washburn brought the game skidding into the first intermission deadlocked. Goals 28 seconds apart in the second from Edward Gregorin and Jack Williams flipped the game on it’s head, and then Connor Hanley would add to the score, giving the Ice Wolves a three goal lead after 40 minutes. Brant Tiedeman would add another goal for New Mexico early in the third. Brayden Hagemann would get one back for Tulsa late, but it would be too little too late.

Peoria 2 @ Rochester 5 - Four Tyler Steuck goals would be more than enough for the Rochester Grizzlies on Friday, defeating the Peoria Mustangs by a final of 5-2. In the first, it would be all Steuck, as his natural hat trick brought the home squad into the first intermission up by three. In the second, goals from Colten Cox and Rex Rhodes brought Peoria back within one heading into the final frame. In the third, Steuck would score his 4th, and Noah Gillette would seal the deal with a late goal.

Willmar 5 @ Alexandria 2 - A Aidan Callaghan hat trick would be enough for the Willmar WarHawks on Friday night, defeating the Alexandria Blizzard by a final of 5-2. Each team would trade goals in the first, Zach Benson for Alexandria and Gabriel Adams for Willmar. Each team would also trade goals in the second, this time Callaghan for Willmar and Kaden Roness for Alexandria. The third period would be all Willmar, as Scott Woltman and a pair of Callaghan goals sealed the deal for Willmar.

Minnesota M 4 @ Mason City 3 (SO) - 60 minutes would not be enough to determine a winner, but Luke Steffen would be the shootout hero as the Minnesota Moose defeated the Mason City Toros by a final of 4-3. Mason City led 2-0 after 20 minutes, the goals coming off the stick of Jameson Clark and Marcus Fritel. The teams would trade goals in the second, Teis Larsen for Mason City on the man advantage and Reid Watson for the Moose. With under five minutes to go, Jack Marske would cut the lead in half on the power play, and then with just over two minutes to go, Blake Lokken would tie the game. Overtime would bring nothing, and the game proceeded to a shootout, where Steffen would be the only goal scorer.

West Bend 6 @ Wisconsin 2 - Six separate goal scorers powered the West Bend Power to a 6-2 win over the Wisconsin Woodsmen on Friday night. Goals would be traded in the first, as Tristen May-Robinson would score for Wisconsin and Odin Klebba for West Bend. Four goals in the second from West Bend, coming off the sticks of Quinn O’Connor, Jackson Hoem, Brody Josselyn, and Mike Sobaski, blew the game open. Joshua Kauppinen would get one back for Wisconsin, but the West Bend lead grew to 5-2. Teagan Scheurer would get one late for West Bend to seal the deal.

Minnesota W 2 @ Granite City 3 (SO) - 60 minutes would not be enough, but the Granite City Lumberjacks would be victorious, defeating the Minnesota Wilderness by a final of 3-2 in a shootout. Two goals in the final 1:03 of the first from Brayden Willis and TJ Lepisto gave the home Lumberjacks the lead after 20 minutes. Goals in the second from Ansen King and Stratton Maas brought the game skidding into the second intermission tied at two. The third brought plenty of chances, but the game headed into overtime. Once again, overtime came and went, and the game went to a shootout, where Granite City would be victorious.

Louisiana 5 @ El Paso 0 - A pair of Brendan Johnson goals powered the league leading Louisiana Drillers to their 31st win of the season, defeating the El Paso Rhinos by a final of 5-0 on Friday. The lone goal of the first came off the stick of Carter Tymchak. In the second, Alexander Thomas, Derek Johnson, and Johnson brought the game into the second intermission with the Drillers up by four. Johnson would net his second with just under five minutes to go to seal the deal for the Drillers.

Bozeman 2 @ Helena 5 - Five separate goal scorers powered the Helena Bighorns to a 5-2 win over the Bozeman Icedogs on Friday. The lone goal of the first belonged to TJ Kelsey for Bozeman. In the second, Austin Uecker, Owen Gruener, and Finn Theriault scored for Helena, and Devin Bruns scored for Bozeman, and Helena led by a goal heading into the third period. The third would be all Helena, as Clint Isakson and Caden Fenstein would seal the deal with goals.  

Yellowstone 0 @ Gillette 5 - Five separate goals powered the Gillette Wild to a 5-0 win over the Yellowstone Quake. The lone goal of the first belonged to Tai Kontrec for Gillette. In the second, Brady Johnson and Jeremiah Menger would each score to give Gillette a three goal lead heading into the final frame. In the third, Hudson Fisher and Caleb Johannes would seal the game with goals of their own.  

Great Falls 6 @ Butte 3 - Six separate goal scorers powered the Great Falls Americans to a 6-3 win over the Butte Irish. Great Falls would score 3 in the first, coming off the stick of John Lang, Jayden Rogen, and Ty O’Bey, but a pair of Butte goals from Bobby Anselmo and Toby Kerr kept the game within one after 20 minutes. A pair of goals in the second from Blake Komrofske and Gavin Denis opened the game up for Great Falls, and the lead grew to three. Teams would trade goals in the third, as Zachary Nimetz for Butte and John Lang for Great Falls would seal the deal.

Badlands 3 @ Sheridan 4 (OT) - 60 minutes would not be enough, but the Sheridan Hawks would defeat the Badlands Sabres by a final of 4-3 in overtime. Teams would trade two goals in the first, Ryan Jordan and Rylan Salo for Badlands and Elijah Farris and Kiefer Dunham for Sheridan. The lone goal of the second belonged to Sheridan, and it came off the stick of Josh Serino. Thayne Coston would tie the game early in the third on the man advantage, sending the game to overtime where Vincent Leaf would be the hero for Sheridan.

Texas R 4 @ Austin 5 (OT) - A pair of goals each from Ashton Morin and Thomas Forgrave delivered the Austin Ice Bats a 5-4 win over the Texas RoadRunners on Friday. Texas would open the scoring with a Wyatt Mineheine goal, but Morin, Forgrave, and Arys Perardi would respond, bringing the game into the first intermission with a 3-1 Ice Bats lead. Teams would trade goals in the second, as Morin would score his second, and Noble Cook would respond for Texas to keep the game within two heading into the third. In the third, Lucas Dyer and Mineheine would each score to send the game to overtime, where Forgrave would be the overtime hero. 

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