Saturday Scores: Plenty of sweeps this weekend
New Jersey goalie Christian Stoever stopped 79 of 81 shots in a weekend sweep Maryland, including a 38-save shutout on Saturday night.
Minot 2 @ St. Cloud 3 (OT) - For the second consecutive night, Ben Helgeson was the hero for the Norsemen as his goal in overtime propelled St. Cloud to a 3-2 win over the Minot Minotauros. Blake Mesenburg scored twice in the opening period to give the Norsemen the early advantage. Jay Buchholz would get the Minotauros within one in the second period but it was Ethan Schmunk’s shorthanded tally that knotted the game at two with just under four minutes left to play in regulation. Then it was Helgeson on the power play once again that won it for St. Cloud. Josh Langford picked up the win in the blue paint for St. Cloud as he made 32 saves. Carter Clafton took the loss in goal, he stopped 27 shots.
Johnstown 3 @ Danbury 2 (OT) - Ryan Poorman converted on a Danbury turnover in overtime to lift the Johnstown Tomahawks to a 3-2 victory over the Jr. Hat Tricks. Will Margel and John Gelatt got the Tomahawks out to a 2-0 lead early in the second period. Danbury responded with two goals in two and a half minutes, Jason Kleinhans and Robert Hyde found the back of the net before end of the middle frame. The two teams would be scoreless in the third which led to Poorman’s heroics in the overtime period. Josh Graziano stopped 19 shots to earn the win in goal while Andrew Pichora made 34 stops in the loss.
New Jersey 2 @ Maryland 0 - Christian Stoever stood on his head and stopped all 38 shots he faced to earn his first shutout as a member of the New Jersey Titans as they blanked the Maryland Black Bears 2-0. The Titans have now won four in a row and nine of their last 10. Nick Seitz and Connor Pelc provided the offense for New Jersey while Stoever improved to 6-0 since joining the Titans back in February. Hannes Kollen played well, making 33 saves for Maryland.
Austin 2 @ Aberdeen 6 - A goal and two assists from Cullen Ferguson led the Aberdeen Wings to yet another dominant win over the Austin Bruins. Jake Goldowski scored twice while Will Arquiett and Cade Neilson each had a goal and an assist. Kevin MacKay also added a goal for the Wings in the win. Connor Mylymok and Walter Zacher were the goal scorers for the Bruins in the defeat. Dominik Wasik made 27 saves to improve to 5-1 on the year while Hudson Hodges made 35 saves for Austin.
MN Wilderness 1 @ Bismarck 4 - The Bismarck Bobcats earned a sweep of the Minnesota Wilderness as they took care of business on Saturday night, winning 4-1. George Grannis got the party started early as he lit the lamp just 47 seconds into the game. Will Traeger would tie the game just three minutes later but that would be all the offense Minnesota would muster. Austin Schwartz put the Bobcats up for good with his ninth of the year. Tim Piechowski and Patrick Johnson would chip in empty net goals in the final minute to give the Bobcats some insurance late. Ian Shane won his second game in as many nights as he stopped 20 shots. Jacob Zacharewicz was given the loss in net as he made 21 saves.
Odessa 1 @ Lone Star 2 - The Lone Star Brahmas kept pace with the Mudbugs in the race for the top spot in the South Division standings as they doubled up the Odessa Jackalopes 2-1. After 45 minutes of scoreless hockey, Andrew DeCarlo found the back of the net to put Lone Star up 1-0. Mitchell Digby would then convert with the man advantage to give the Brahmas some insurance in the closing minutes. It would be much needed insurance as Tyler German scored in the final seconds to bring the Jackalopes within one. It would be too little too late as the Brahmas skated away victorious. Graham Burke needed just 16 saves to win his 13th game of the season. Noah Rupprecht made 21 saves in a losing effort for the Jackalopes.
Amarillo 5 @ New Mexico 4 (SO) - Cooper Fensterstock’s goal in the shootout was the tally that helped the Amarillo Bulls outlast the New Mexico Ice Wolves as they won 5-4. Amarillo led 4-1 at one point thanks to a pair of goals by Nick Stapleton while Carter Rapalje and Jere Vaisanen also found the back of the net. Cole Hanson scored in the first period for New Mexico while Keengan Langefels, Joey Larson and Jack Bayless scored the goals to complete the comeback for the Ice Wolves. Hunter Garvey stopped 28 shots through regulation and overtime and denied all four shooters he faced in the skills competition. Beni Halasz denied 32 shots and turned aside three of the four shooters he faced in the shootout.
Wichita Falls 2 @ Shreveport 3 (SO) - It took 10 rounds but Mason McCormick’s shootout goal finally gave the Shreveport Mudbugs a 3-2 victory over the Wichita Falls Warriors. Braiden Dorfman and Garrett Steele got the Mudbugs out in front 2-0 early in the third period but goals from Jackson Salt and Thomas Weis forced overtime. After a scoreless overtime, the two teams went to a shootout and McCormick’s eventual game winner. Cole Hudson was tremendous as he stopped 35 shots in 65 minutes and then denied eight of the 10 Warrior shooters. Ryan Ullan was also very good, he made 23 saves and seven more stops in the shootout.
Janesville 2 @ MN Magicians 3 - The Minnesota Magicians jumped back into first place in the Midwest Division as they came from behind to ground the Janesville Jets 3-2. Tommy Middleton had the game’s first goal to put the Jets up 1-0 about midway through the first. Hunter Longhi’s 11th of the year tied the game early in the second but Cade Destefani would respond, giving the Jets a 2-1 lead going into the second intermission. Jack Cronin would convert on a power play for Minnesota to tie the game at two and then Gavin Best would provide the game winner at the 12:12 mark of the final period. Darius Bell made 26 saves and is now 6-1-1 this season. Owen Millward stopped 31 shots in defeat for the Jets.
