Talent on display at Day 2 of NAHL Showcase
September 21, 2018
Top: Bismarck forward Hunter Johannes had two goals and an assist in a 7-3 win. Bottom: CJ Sagissor also had two goals as Janesville handed Shreveport their first loss of the season.
It was another exciting day at the 16th annual NAHL Showcase. Over 280 NCAA, NHL, and other scouts have checked in during the first two days
The NAHL Showcase continues on Day 3 on Friday, September 21st at the Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota. All 24 NAHL teams will play four regular-season games at the Showcase, which is one of hockey's most prominent and popular events of the entire season and has become the 'Greatest Show on Ice.'
MN Wilderness 4 vs. Fairbanks Ice Dogs 1 – The Minnesota Wilderness picked up their first win of the 2018-19 season and kept the Ice Dogs winless after a 4-1 win in the opening game of Day 2 of the Showcase. 17-year-old Kaleb Johnson stopped 34 of 35 shots to win in his NAHL debut. The Wilderness led 1-0 after a 1st period goal from Dylan Johnson. The Ice Dogs tied the game at 1-1 with a 2nd period goal from Nigel Nelson. The Wilderness then exploded for three goals in the 3rd period, which included two goals from Aaron Myers and another from Gino Lucia. Ice Dogs goalie Mattias Sholl made 29 saves in the loss.
Odessa 4 vs. New Jersey 3 – The Odessa Jackalopes picked up their first win of the season as they came back from a three-goal deficit to score four goals in an 11-minute span in the 3rd period to beat the Titans, 4-3. New Jersey jumped out to a 3-0 lead through two periods, which included two goals from Kyle Jeffers and another from Zach Nazzarett. Odessa started their comeback with 11:37 remaining in the 3rd period as Rex Moe scored his league-leading 4th goal of the season. James Crossman, Jared Christy, and Vaclav Zidek added three goals with under four minutes remaining in regulation to complete the comeback. CJ Hapward made 23 saves in the win, while Brandon Perrone made 48 saves in the loss.
Austin 2 vs. Lone Star 1 (SO) – The Austin Bruins moved to 2-0 on the season as they edged the Lone Star Brahmas in a shootout, 2-1. Both goals in regulation came in the 2nd period as Jack Sampson scored for the Brahmas midway through the frame, which was then answered less than four minutes later by a goal from Austin forward Hugh Larkin. In the shootout, Dante Zapata was the only one of six combined shooters to score to give the Bruins the win and extra point. Brett Miller made 13 saves in the win, while Harrison Feeney made 26 saves in the shootout loss.
Minot 5 vs. Jamestown 1 – Minot picked up their first win of the 2018-19 season with a convincing 5-1 win over the Jamestown Rebels. It was the Rebels who scored first thanks to a 1st period goal from John Serafin. It was all Minot after that, which included four goals in the 2nd period in a 12-minute span from Keenan Lund, Andrew Kangas, David Raisanen, and Taylor Lantz. Nick Strom added a 3rd period goal for Minot to complete the win. Minot goalie Ben Garrity made 37 saves to win his NAHL debut, while Noah West took the loss, making 23 saves.
Brookings 4 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2 – Sam Antenucci had a three-point game as the Blizzard picked up their first win of the 2018-19 season with a 4-2 triumph over the Knights. Brookings opened up a 2-0 lead thanks to a goal from Antenucci in the 1st period and another from Brock Draeger in the 2nd period. The Knights managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the 2nd period thanks to back-to-back goals from Sacha Guillemain, but the Blizzard responded back, which include a goal late in the 2nd period from Kendrick Frost and another in the 3rd period from Luke Aquaro. Blizzard goalie Jack Caruso made 15 saves to win his first NAHL start and Samuel Vyletelka made 31 saves in the loss.
Topeka 3 vs, MN Magicians 0 – The Pilots continued their hot start thanks to a 31-save shutout from goaltender Emil Gransoe in a 3-0 win over the Magicians. Topeka scored a goal in each period thanks to a balanced scoring attack and goals from Austin McCarthy in the 1st period, Quinn Green in the 2nd period, and Zeke Zeier in the 3rd period. Magicians goalie Ethan Haider took the loss, making 22 saves.
Amarillo 4 vs. Chippewa 1 – The Bulls moved to 2-0 at the Showcase thanks to two goals from Brenden Datema and 21 saves from Ryan Winter in a 4-1 win over the Steel. The Bulls jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st period and never looked back, which included goals from Datema, Alex Peterson, and Jason Brancheau. The Steel got on the board late in the 2nd period with their lone tally from Grant Reichenbacher. Datema would add his second goal of the game late in the 3rd period with a power play tally. Jackson Bernard made 20 saves in the loss for the Steel.
Aberdeen 1 vs. Kenai River 0 – Wings goalie Matt Vernon stopped all 24 shots that came his way to post the shutout and give the Wings their first win of the season as they blanked the Brown Bears, 1-0. The lone goal of the game came off the stick of Wings forward Nic Sicoly in the 2nd period with an assist to Joe Strada. Brown Bears goalie Kevin Lake played well in the loss, making 18 saves.
Corpus Christi 7 vs. Johnstown 3 – After an 0-3 start, the IceRays and head coach Ryan Cruthers got their first win of the season as they exploded for 7 goals in a 7-3 win over the Tomahawks. Jordan Randall recorded a hat-trick and Santeri Hartikainen had two goals in the IceRays win. Eight of the 10 goals scored in the game were in the 2nd period. Randall scored twice in the middle frame and again in the 3rd period, while Hartikainen scored in the 1st and 2nd period. Blake Bennett and Anthony Firriolo had the other IceRays goals. Oliver Benwell, Christian Gorscak, and Carson Briere scored for the Tomahawks. Sam Best picked up the win, making 32 saves, while Cooper Lukenda made 29 saves in the loss.
Bismarck 7 vs. Maryland 4 – The Bobcats moved their record to 2-0 as they broke open a 2-2 game with five goals in the 3rd period in a 7-3 win over the Black Bears. Kirklan Irey and Hunter Johannes each had two goals in the win. The teams were tied 2-2 through two periods as Matteo Menotti had both goals for the Black Bears and Johannes and Irey scored for Bismarck. Bismarck opened up a 5-2 lead thanks to three goals in just over two minutes apart as Niki Jasko, Adam Stacho, and Alex Pollock all scored. Irey and Johannes would both later add their second goals of the contest. The other Maryland goals came from Karim Del Ponte and Connor Pooley. John Roberts made 32 saves in the win, while Tyler Matthews made 37 saves in the loss.
Janesville 3 vs. Shreveport 1 – The Jets handed the Mudbugs their first loss of the season thanks to two goals from TJ Sagissor in the 3rd period and 34 saves from veteran goaltender Garrett Nieto. Shreveport took an early 1-0 lead with a 1st period goal from Gueorgui Feduolov, but the Jets had answer later in the period from Blake Holmes. After a scoreless 2nd period, the Jets seized control in the 3rd period the two goals from Sagissor. Maiszon Balboa took the loss in goal for the Budbugs, making 16 saves.
Springfield 3 vs. Northeast 1 – The Springfield Jr. Blues picked up their first win of the 2018-19 season thanks to a 3-1 win over the Generals. After a scoreless 1st period, the Jr. Blues took control in the 2nd period, scoring all three of their goals which came from Brandon Puricelli and two goals from Ben Schmidling. The lone Generals goal in the game came off the stick of Aurel Naus. Caleb Hannon made 32 saves in the win, while Marko Sturma made 40 saves in the loss.
