Friday Finals: Wildcats claim top spot in South
Wichita Falls Wildcats 4 @ Amarillo Bulls 2 – There is a new leader of the South Division and it is the Wichita Falls Wildcats thanks to 4-2 win on Friday in Amarillo as they handed the Bulls their sixth straight loss. After the teams were deadlocked at 2-2 after two periods, Wichita Falls scored twice in the 3rd period to secure the win. Nick Farmer had two goals and an assist to lead the Wildcats. Ben Kucera and Colin Staub also scored for Wichita Falls. The Amarillo goals came from Matt Sieckhaus and Mike Davis. Boxscore
Coulee Region Chill 5 @ Brookings Blizzard 3 – The Chill stayed hot with a 5-3 win as they scored three goals in the final four minutes of the contest to erase a late 3-2 Blizzard lead. After a scoreless 1st period the Chill took a 2-1 lead on 2nd period tallies from Richard Zehnal and Mac Jansen. Jared Goudreau scored twice to pull the Blizzard even at 2-2 and Elliot Tisdale scored with less than nine minutes to go to put the Blizzard up 3-2. That’s when the Chill rattled of three straight goals late from Blake Kelley, Eddie Matsushima and Gordon Wells. Boxscore
Wenatchee Wild 0 @ Minot Minotauros 2 – Merrick Madsen posted his first career NAHL shutout as he stopped all 26 shots that came his way as Minot blanked Wenatchee, 2-0. Both teams had trouble solving the goaltenders through two periods as Madsen and Wenatchee’s Gustaf Johansson were solid. It wasn’t until early in the 3rd period when Minot’s Troy Degler scored the eventual game-winner. Jake McCann added an empty-net goal to secure the win. Boxscore
Austin Bruins 5 @ Minnesota Magicians 1 – Nick Lehr made 30 saves and Sam Kauppila scored twice as the Austin Bruins scored five unanswered goals to defeat the Minnesota Magicians, 5-1. After an opening goal from Minnesota’s Mario Bianchi, it was all Bruins. Lucas Kohls scored to tie the game and then Kauppila added his two to make it 3-1 after two periods. Luke Dietsch and Kody Reuter added 3rd period goals to make the final 5-1. Boxscore
Bismarck Bobcats 5 @ Aberdeen Wings 4 – Five different players scored for Bismarck as they kept pace with Austin for 1st place in the Central with a 5-4 win in Aberdeen on Friday. The Bobcats led 2-0 after the 1st period on goals from Cullen Willox and Joonas Huovinen. The Wings would take a 3-2 lead on goals from Bjorn Sigurdarson and two from TJ Roo. Matt Anders and Huba Sekesi scored to regain the Bobcats lead only to see Sigurdarson score again to tie the game at 4-4. With under four minutes to go, Evan Giesler would add the game-winner. Boxscore
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 1 @ Corpus Christi IceRays 2 – An old rivalry was renewed on Friday night as the Killer Bees and IceRays faced one another for the first time this season. After the dust cleared from the combined 222 penalty minutes it was the IceRays who ended up with the 2-1 win. Joe Chitwood put Corpus Christi ahead in the 1st period, only to see Connor Pelkey tie things up in the 2nd period. Wes Michaud scored the game-winner early in the 3rd period. IceRays goalies Ben Myers and Forbes Ploszaj combined for 39 saves. Boxscore
Johnstown Tomahawks 1 @ Michigan Warriors 4 – The Warriors got back to the winning side of things and took over 2nd place in the North with a 4-1 win on Friday. After a scoreless 1st period, Michigan scored three goals in the 2nd period, including two from Colin Larkin and another from Zack Szajner. TJ Stuntz made it 4-0 with a power play goal in the 3rd period. Johnstown’s lone goal came in the 3rd period from Brandon Reinholz, who spoiled the shutout bid of Michigan’s Dillon Kelley, who made 23 saves. Boxscore
Soo Eagles 2 @ Port Huron Fighting Falcons 3 (SO) – The Fighting Falcons jumped out a quick 2-0 lead only to see the Eagles claw back to tie the game in regulation, sending the game to a shootout, where the Fighting Falcons would score the only goals securing the extra point in a 3-2 win. Bryan Yim and Logan Lambdin scored the 1st period tallies for Port Huron. The Eagles fought back on goals from Mike Sabatini and the red-hot Scott Cuthrell. In the shootout, Vito Aluia and Nick Horne scored for the Fighting Falcons. Boxscore
