Saturday Scores: Bruins continue reign in Central with another title
Brookings 2 @ Austin 6 – Trevor Boyd had a three-point night and Austin scored three times in the 3rd period to defeat Brookings 6-2, sweep the weekend home-and-home series and lock up their third consecutive Central Division regular season title. After a scoreless 1st period, the offense ramped up in the 2nd period with the Bruins taking a 3-2 lead on goals from Boyd, Josh Wilkins and Brian Bachnak. Brookings would counter with goals from Joe Nathe and Beau Michaud. Austin put the game away in the 3rd period with three goals from JC MacLean, Alex Pettersson and another one from Boyd. Evan Smith made 14 saves in the win. Boxscore
Amarillo 2 @ Topeka 4 – The RoadRunners moved back into 2nd place in the South with their second consecutive 4-2 win over the Bulls, earning a weekend home sweep. The teams were event at 1-1 after the 1st period thanks to goals from Topeka’s JB Baker and Amarillo’s Elijiah Barriga. Topeka jumped ahead 3-1 in with 2nd period goals from Daniel Rzavsky and Beau Dommer. AJ Duggan scored for the Bulls late in the period to draw his club to within 3-2. A goal midway through the 3rd period from Topeka’s Tyler Hayes would be more than enough as goalie Matej Tomek helped to lock things down the rest of the way with 25 saves. Boxscore
Springfield 2 @ Janesville 3 (SO) – The Jets came from behind and won things in a shootout to keep their chase for history alive with their 47th win of the season in a 3-2 shootout win and sweep of the visiting Jr. Blues. Things were even at 1-1 after one period as Grant Meyer scored for Springfield and Mitch Fossier answering back for the Jets. A late 2nd period power play goal from Lester Lancaster made it 2-1 Springfield after two periods. The Jets would get the equalizer late in the 3rd period with a shorthanded tally from Brandon Schultz. Fossier and Zach LaValle scored in the shootout to pick up the win. Matt Jurusik had another great effort in goal, making 31 saves. The loss eliminated the Jr. Blues from playoff contention. Boxscore
Coulee Region 5 @ MN Magicians 4 – A late goal from Richard Zehnal and good special teams play was the difference as the Chill picked up a weekend home-and-home sweep against the Magicians with a 5-4 win in Richfield on Saturday. The Chill got two 1st period goals from Charlie Parker and Adam Lovick and three goals in the 3rd period, including two shorthanded goals from Eddie Matsushima and Dominik Florian and the game-winner from Zehnal with less than five minutes remaining. Magicians goals came from Brady Hepner, Kane Durment, Jack Christensen and Kris McKinzie. Adam Carlson made 27 saves in the win. Boxscore
Soo 2 @ Johnstown 3 – Jake Gwillim made 31 saves to lead the Johnstown Tomahawks to a 3-2 win over the visiting Eagles in front of over 3,100 fans on Saturday. The Tomahawks got on the board early in the 1st period off the momentum of a penalty shot save by Gwillim as Alex Alger found the back of the net just :30 seconds into the contest. Mitch Vanderburg would knot things at 1-1 later in the period with a power play goal. Johnstown opened up a 3-1 lead with two goals in the 2nd period from Alex Jaeckle and Luke Lynch. Trevor Cope shrunk the lead down to one with a goal early in the 3rd period, but Gwillim and the Tomahawks would hold the Eagles at bay the rest of the way. Boxscore
Fairbanks 2 @ Kenai River 3 – Evan Hauser made 48 saves to lead the Kenai River Brown Bears to a 3-2 win in their home finale on Saturday over Fairbanks. The Brown Bears got a 1st period goal from Alex Jackstadt and a 2nd period goal from Adam Kresl to take a 2-0 lead. Fairbanks cut into the lead with a 2nd period goal from Ethan Somoza, but before the period was over, Joseph Kaszupski scored for Kenai River to push the lead back to two. A late 3rd period goal from Jesper Ohrvall cut the lead back down to one, but Hauser and the Brown Bears held the fort the rest of the way for the win. Boxscore
Lone Star 4 @ Wenatchee 1 – Three, 3rd period goals were the difference as the Lone Star Brahmas stayed in 1st place in the South with a 4-1 win over the Wild, earning a weekend split. The Brahmas got on the board first in the opening period with a goal from Liam Stirtzinger. Wenatchee would answer in the 2nd period on a goal from David Powlowski knotting the game at 1-1. The Brahmas then went on a scoring flurry in the 3rd period, netting three goals in a four-minute span on strikes from Hunter Stanley, Oskar Andren and Sebastian Vidmar. Jake Kupsky turned away 22 shots in the win. Boxscore
Bismarck 3 @ MN Wilderness 2 – The Bobcats earned three of four points on the weekend with a 3-2 road win in Cloquet on Saturday night over the Wilderness. After a scoreless 1st period, Bismarck got on the board with a power play goal from Willie Brown. 10 minutes later, the Wilderness answered back with a goal from Bradley Johnson. Bismarck extended their lead to 3-1 with another power play goal late in the 2nd period from Cullen Willox and one late in the 3rd period from Tony German. With their goalie pulled, the Wilderness cut the lead down to one with a late goal from Wayland Williams, but it would not be enough as Hunter Shepard had a huge game for the Bobcats with 39 saves. Boxscore
Corpus Christi 1 @ Odessa 4 – The Jackalopes picked up their 5th in their last seven games with a 4-1 triumph over the visiting IceRays. Odessa got off to a fast start in the 1st period with goals from Kenny Hausinger and Razmuz Waxin-Engback to take a 2-0 lead. The IceRays got their lone goal of the game late in the period from Wes Michaud, who scored his 3rd goal in as many nights to cut the lead to 2-1. Hausinger notched his second goal of the game in the 2nd period to make it 3-1 and Hampus Sjodahl added a 3rd period goal to make the final score 4-1. Tanner Creel was the difference in goal, making 34 saves in the win. Boxscore
Aberdeen 2 @ Minot 3 – The Minot Minotauros earned a weekend home-and-home split with the Wings thanks to a 3-2 win in Minot on Saturday. Just over four minutes into the game Nate Pionk opened the scoring for Minot, but that was answered by a goal from Aberdeen’s Kyle Haak late in the period to tie things at 1-1. Minot then scored twice early in the 2nd period to take a 3-1 lead on goals from John Snodgrass and Jacob Dittel. Victor Ostling would score for Aberdeen cutting the lead down to one, but it would be as close as the Wings would get. Tanner Holmes made 24 saves in the win, while Luke Kania played well in the loss, making 40 saves. Boxscore
Michigan 2 @ Keystone 1 – Chase Munroe made 30 saves to help the Warriors keep their playoff hopes alive for one more day as Michigan picked up a 2-1 road win in Keystone, splitting the weekend series. Michigan jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a 1st period goal from Peter Bates. Cody Kuster scored for the Warriors in the 2nd period to push the lead to 2-0. Keystone finally got on the board late in the 3rd period on a power play goal from AJ Coleman, but it would be as close as the Ice Miners would get thanks to the play of Munroe. Nick Kossoff played well in the loss, making 29 saves. Boxscore
