Hoem's Heroics Fuel Comeback Victory
Jackson Hoem (top) scored the game tying and game winning goals for West Bend. Jascha Grossenbacher was perfect in the afternoon with 37 saves on 37 shots.
Norwich 0 @ Northeast 1 (Northeast leads series 1-0): Jascha Grossenbacher turned aside all 37 shots he faced as the Northeast Generals blanked the Norwich Sea Captains by a score of 1-0. The only goal of the game came at the 16:44 mark of the first period as Liam Schaentzler scored his first of the postseason. Briggs Beam and Samuel Hall provided the helpers on the game’s only goal. Peter Alfano was nearly perfect himself allowing just one goal on 19 chances.
New Hampshire 2 @ Binghamton 6 (Binghamton leads series 1-0): Brody Bess led the way with a goal and three assists as the Binghamton Buzz continued their winning ways and defeated the Jr. Mountain Kings by a score of 6-2. Noah Levesque scored the game’s first goal just over three minutes into the game but Keegan Elliott would counter just about four and a half minutes later. Trent Midura would scored in the closing minutes to give the Buzz a 2-1 lead after one. It would remain this way until the third when Bess and Owen McAlister scored 14 seconds apart to give the Buzz some insurance. Preston Peterson added to the lead and so did Joey Roselli for Binghamton. Aidan Palmeter added a goal for New Hampshire in the third. Dalton Elliott finished the afternoon with 31 saves to earn the win. Charlie Donoghue suffered the loss in net as he finished with 28 saves.
Wisconsin 2 @ West Bend 3 (OT) (West Bend leads series 1-0): Jackson Hoem’s second goal of the evening was the game winner as the West Bend Power survived Game 1 at home in an instant classic against the Wisconsin Woodsmen. After a scoreless first period Cole Schreiber scored the game’s first goal as the Woodsmen got on the board first. Then with 90 seconds left in the frame Mike Sobaski evened the game at one. It would stay 1-1 up until the final minute of regulation. Nolan Mix lit the lamp with just 40 seconds remaining and most thought that would be the game winner. However, the Power thought differently as Hoem’s first goal of the night tied the game with just 17 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. The stage was set for Hoem’s heroics to continue as after netting the game tying goal, he scored the game winning goal just under eight minutes into the extra period. Adam Prokop was the winner in the blue paint as he made 27 saves. Steven Kelley was sensational in his own right as he finished the night with 47 saves.
Great Falls 0 @ Sheridan 4 (Sheridan leads series 1-0): The Sheridan Hawks cruised to a Game 1 victory over the Great Falls Americans in the Frontier Division semifinals. After a scoreless first 20, Josh Serino scored twice in the second period to break the ice and then add the insurance for Sheridan. Anthony Launderville would increase the lead in the third before Kiefer Dunham put the game away for good with just over two minutes left. John Simon was a perfect 41 of 41 in between the pipes for Sheridan. Kaden Rhyder wasn't given much help in front of him as he made 42 saves on the evening
