Saturday Scores: New Mexico clinches first-ever playoff spot
Jamestown goalie Nolan Suggs stopped 77 of 82 shots in a weekend sweep of Johnstown to extend the Rebels winning streak to five straight games.
New Mexico 2 @ Odessa 0: For the first time in team history, the New Mexico Ice Wolves are heading to the postseason after they shutout the Odessa Jackalopes 2-0. Carsen Stokes grabbed his first career NAHL shutout as he turned aside all 27 shots fired in his direction. Tony Leahy was the only goal scorer for either team as he found the back of the net twice for New Mexico. William Proctor was handed the loss as he made 24 saves.
Johnstown 2 @ Jamestown 4: John Lundy and AJ Reed each scored and dished an assist in Jamestown’s Saturday night victory over the Tomahawks. Johnstown had the lead after 20 minutes as Cole Bianchin buried halfway through the period. Stephen Kykorstas doubled the lead for the visitors early in the 2nd period but Luke Devries and Kolby Amici helped the Rebels tie it before the 3rd. Reed found his goal 8:50 into the 3rd period which would end as the game winner and John Lundy added an insurance goal five minutes later to seal the victory. Nolan Suggs secured the win with 40 saves on 42 shots. Dominik Wasik was dealt the loss, stopping 33 of 37 shots.
St. Cloud 4 @ Bismarck 3 (SO): Ryan O’Neill had the only goal in the shootout as St. Cloud edged Bismarck by a score of 4-3 Ethan Benz, Leo Gruba and Max Strand all scored in regulation for the Norsemen. Brady Egan, Adam Pietila and Ryan Taylor were the goal scorers for the Bobcats. Tomas Bolo scored the win in goal as he made 24 saves. Oskar Spinnars Nordin made 32 saves in a losing effort.
MN Magicians 3 @ Springfield 4 (OT): Noah Marino scored his 2nd of the game 1:20 into the overtime period to complete Springfield’s comeback victory over the Magicians. After a scoreless opening period, Marino added his 1st for the Jr. Blues while Samuel Jacobs and Cole Schneider each scored for Minnesota to give the visitors a one goal lead through 40 minutes. In the final frame, Jon Bell extended the lead but Springfield scored two late goals to bring the game to overtime. Leo Bacallao and Isaac Keller were the goalscorers. Aksel Reid took the victory making 25 saves. Josh Langford made 34 saves for the Magicians.
Corpus Christi 3 @ Wichita Falls 4: Adisen Brueck scored his 7th of the season 13:06 into the 3rd period to halt Corpus Christi’s comeback and secure the win for the Warriors. The Warriors held the first lead of the contest as Joey Delgreco buried his first of the season late in the opening period. Dean Baucherio and Dominick Rivelli piled on more offense to extend the lead. Lincoln Whitaker scored the IceRays’ first goal midway through the 2nd period to hold the deficit to two goals. In the final frame, Colby Seitz and Cameron Crolley helped tie the game for the visitors with consecutive goals until Brueck scored five minutes later for the game winner. Daniel Duris completed the night with 23 saves for the Warriors while Damon Beaver took the loss, keeping out 41 shots.
El Paso 2 @ Lone Star 4: The Lone Star Brahmas had 4 different players find the back of the as they doubled up the El Paso Rhinos by a score of 4-2. Logan Tobias had a goal and an assist for Lone Star while Matt McQuade, Nicholas Niemo and Dylan Smith all got on the scoresheet. Arthur Smith picked up 18 saves in the win. Bo Cosman and Nick Turek picked up goals in the loss for El Paso while Jacob Zacharewicz stopped 34 shots in the loss.
Kenai River 2 @ Anchorage 7 – Matt Johnson had two goals to lead the Wolverines to a 7-2 win over the visiting Brown Bears. The win completed a weekend sweep and moved the Wolverines into the 4th and final playoff spot in the Midwest. The game was over earl as Anchorage scored the first seven goals of the game, which included two goals in the 1st period from Johnson and Drake Albers. The Wolverines scored four more times in the 2nd period as Clay Allen, Hunter Schmitz, Hunter Bischoff, and Johnson all scored. In the 3rd period, Talon Sigurdson added a goal to make it 7-0.The Brown Bears got goals from Sean Henry and Caden Triggs later in the 3rd period. Shane Soderwall made 25 saves in the win and Bryant Marks made 15 svaes in the loss.
Maryland 2 @ Maine 3 (SO): Jonny Meiers scored the lone goal in the shootout to lift the Nordiques past Maryland and split the weekend series. Miles Gunty scored the only goal of the 1st period 9:35 in to give Maryland a lead through one. Seth Murch and Caden Pattison each buried goals to tie and give Maine the lead midway through the 2nd period. Before intermission, Conor Cole scored his 9th of the season to even the scores, a scoreline that would carry to the shootout. Avery Shultz was the victor between the pipes, completing the night with 36 saves. Luca Di Pasquo took the shootout loss making 27 stops.
Northeast 8 @ Danbury 5: Seven Northeast skaters found the back of the net Saturday night after being shutout the previous game to help take down the Jr. Hat Tricks 8-5. Paul Minnehan added a pair of goals in the contest while Alex Krause and Ryan Gordon buried a goal and dished an assist. Nick Ramm, David Tolan, Joe Schubert, and Brent Keefer were the other Northeast goalscorers. Danbury’s offense came primarily from Mike Salandra, who scored a hat trick and assisted on both of the other goals. Gabe Dombrowski and Jake Howard were the other goal scorers. Cullen DeYoung and Oliver Drum each spent time in net for the Generals, DeYoung being credited the win making 13 saves on 14 shots. Marino Ramirez made 44 stops in the loss.
Shreveport 6 @ Amarillo 2: Austin Brimmer had the night of his life as the Shreveport Mudbugs took down the Amarillo Wranglers by a score of 6-2. Brimmer registered a hat trick and three assists to finish with a six point night in the big win. Burke Simpson also had himself a great night, posting two goals and three helpers. Connor Gatto casually added a goal and three assists of his own. Devon Bobak denied 18 of the 20 shots he faced in the victory. Tommy Chunchukov had a goal and an assist for Amarillo while Drayton Todoroff added a goal. Max Gutjahr took the loss after making 21 saves.
Janesville 0 @ MN Wilderness 4: Cole Crusberg-Roseen set a new Wilderness record as Minnesota blanked the Janesville Jets by a score of 4-0. Crusberg-Roseen netted his 19th goal of the season, the most in a single season by a defenseman. Max Neill chipped in a goal and assist of his own while Sam Antenucci and Haden Kruse also tallied goals for Minnesota. Konrad Kausch picked up the shutout in goal as he stopped all 22 shots fired in his direction. Owen Millward stopped 30 shots in the a loss for Janesville.
Austin 1 @ Aberdeen 3: The Aberdeen Wings scored three unanswered goals as they topped the Austin Bruins by a score of 3-1. Cade Neilson had a goal and an assist for Aberdeen. Will Gilson and Dominic Schmizzi also lit the lamp for the Wings. Anton Castro needed just 18 saves to grab the win in goal. Carson Riddle netted the only goal for the Bruins while Klayton Knapp made 22 saves.
Minot 4 @ North Iowa 3 (SO): Huston Karpman netted the only goal in the skills competition as Minot came from behind to defeat North Iowa Bulls 4-3 in a shootout. Hunter Bulger and Dylan Gajewski got the Bulls on the board first. Karpman would start the comeback in the second. He netted his 17th while Connor McGrath tied the game in the third. Carter Rapalje gave the Bulls the lead again but Colby Joseph would score in the final minute to force overtime and the eventual shootout. Zach Sandy grabbed the win in goal by making 30 saves. Kyle Kozma stopped 31 shots in between the pipes for the Bulls.
Chippewa 3 @ Fairbanks 6 – Brady Welsch scored twice to lead the Ice Dogs to a 6-3 win and split of the series with the visiting Steel. The game was tied at 3-3 after two periods as Welsch scored twice and Cameron Ricotta scored for the Ice Dogs, with Spencer Belina, Ryan Remick, and Nick Sajevic answering for the Steel. In the 3rd period, the Ice Dogs pulled away with three straight goals, which came from Alexander Malinowski, Jake Hale, and Kevin Marx Noren. Kayden Hargraves made 40 saves in the win, while Croix Kochendorfer made 29 saves in the loss.
