Saturday Scores: Mudbugs clinch playoff spot with convincing sweep
Natan Vertes was all smiles after his hat-trick on Saturday helped the Wings sweep the Minnesota Wilderness in a weekend series.
Shreveport 6 @ Wichita Falls 0 - A pair of goals from Joe Mack helped the Shreveport Mudbugs lay the smackdown on the Wichita Falls Warriors as they won 6-0 to complete the weekend sweep. Connor Gatto continued his strong weekend with a goal and an assist for Shreveport. Matt Weber, Billy Feczko and Giovanni Procopio also found the back of the net for the Mudbugs. Cole Hudson grabbed his second shutout of the year as he stopped all 24 shots fired in his direction. Ryan Ullan made 23 saves for Wichita Falls.
Aberdeen 6 @ MN Wilderness 2 - A hat trick from Natan Vertes led the Aberdeen Wings over the Minnesota Wilderness as the Wings picked up a 6-2 win on the road. Payton Matsui continued his strong play with two more goals, giving him four for the weekend. Owen DuBois netted his first goal of the year for Aberdeen in the victory. Will Traeger and Grant Docter were the goal scorers for the Wilderness. Jake Sibell got the win in between the pipes as he made 21 stops. Kaleb Johnson was dealt the loss as he made 24 stops.
New Jersey 0 @ Johnstown 3 - Behind 22 saves from Josh Graziano the Johnstown Tomahawks blanked the New Jersey Titans 3-0. Jay Ahearn scored his 21st goal of the season to put the Tomahawks on the board midway through the second period. Will Margel would increase the lead early in the third period. Max Neill would add an empty net goal to seal the win for the Tomahawks. Christian Stoever took the loss in net for the Titans as he made 24 saves.
Odessa 0 @ Amarillo 3 - The Amarillo Bulls finished off their sweep of the Odessa Jackalopes as they got 28 saves from Andrew Takacs in the Bulls 3-0 win on Saturday night. The second goal of the season from Mattias Dal Monte broke the scoreless tie just over 11 minutes in. Paul Schmid, who assisted on the first Amarillo goal, netted his seventh of the year to give the Bulls some insurance. Nick Martino added an empty net goal to lock in the two points for Amarillo. Connor Hasley stopped 20 of 22 shots for Odessa.
MN Magicians 2 @ Kenai River 4 - A big third period from Kenai River propelled the Brown Bears to a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Magicians. Laudon Poellinger led the offense with a goal and an assist while Lucas Wahlin registered his fourth goal of the weekend. Max Helgeson and Brandon McNamara also potted goals for Kenai River in the win. Hunter Longhi and Devlin McCabe found the back of the net for Minnesota in a losing effort. Luke Pavicich needed just 16 saves to earn the win in goal while Marino Ramirez stopped 24 shots in a loss.
Maine 4 @ Danbury 3 - Stefan Owens found the back of the net twice as the Maine Nordiques took their second straight contest over the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks, this one by a score of 4-3. Aidan Connolly scored the eventual game winner with just over three minutes left in regulation. Tristan Fasig also lit the lamp for Maine in the victory. Luke Wheeler, Joshua Burke and Porter Schachle were the goal scorers for Danbury. Tyriq Outen was superb in this one as he made 38 saves in the win. Josh Seeley was good in his own right as he stopped 35 saves in the loss.
Minot 4 @ Austin 3 - Blaine Warnert potted a pair of goals and the Minot Minotauros picked up the sweep of the Austin Bruins, winning on Saturday 4-3. Will Crull had a goal and an assist for Minot while Tyler Kostelecky also got on the scoresheet. Kyle Oleksiuk had himself a night as he scored twice and chipped in a helper. Garrett Dahm scored a goal and an assist as well for Austin. Carter Clafton picked up his second win in as many nights as he stopped 27 shots. Hudson Hodges took the loss in goal as he made 21 stops.
New Mexico 3 @ Lone Star 5 - Five different Brahmas found the back of the net as they picked up the win over the New Mexico Ice Wolves 5-3. Mitchell Digby, Zach Purcell and Nicholas Niemo all had a goal and an assist for the Brahmas. Alex Murray and Ryan Sorkin also lit the lamp for Lone Star. Keegan Langefels, Cole Hanson and Taylor Ewing all scored for New Mexico in the loss. Graham Burke got the win in goal and only needed 10 saves to do it while Owen Parker and Beni Halasz combined for 26 saves for the Ice Wolves.
Chippewa 2 @ Fairbanks 3 - A pair of goals from Mason Plante led the Fairbanks Ice Dogs over the Chippewa Steel by a score of 3-2. Andrew Garby had the other tally for Fairbanks, it was his sixth of the season. Ryan Waltman and Brockton Baker registered goals for the Steel. Ryan Keyes needed just 14 saves to pick up his sixth win of the season. Grant Boldt made 15 saves for the Steel in defeat.
Maryland 1 @ Northeast 2 (OT) - Liam McCanney netted the overtime winner as the Northeast Generals got revenge on the Maryland Black Bears with a 2-1 win on Saturday. Ryan Gordon scored for the Generals with just under five minutes remaining to force the extra period. Matthew Yeager, Max Bronstine, Alex Tertyshny and Tyler Cooper all picked up assists for Northeast. Branden Piku had the only goal for Maryland, Cam Gaudette and Daniel Colabufo picked up the helpers. Hugo Haas picked up the huge win in goal as he made 28 saves. Hannes Kollen was dealt the loss, making 33 saves.
