Friday Finals: Shutout win helps Bruins clinch playoff spot
Raythan Robbins made 27 saves for his first shutout of the season as Anchorage picked up a big 2-0 road win in Fairbanks on Friday night.
Aberdeen 0 @ Austin 3: Klayton Knapp stopped all 25 shots that came at him to give Austin their 28th win of the season and a ticket into the 2022 Robertson Cup Playoffs. Austin grabbed a pair of goals in the 1st period as Jens Richards and Anthony Menghini each lit the lamp, Menghini’s goal being short handed. Menghini would add his 2nd of the game in the middle frame, this time coming on the powerplay. The score would remain 3-0 through the 3rd period with Knapp grabbing his shutout. Anton Castro completed the game with 23 saves for the Wings.
Anchorage 2 @ Fairbanks 0: Anchorage goalie Raythan Robbins stopped all 27 shots that came his way to record his first shutout of the season as the Wolverines boosted their playoff hopes thanks to a 2-0 win in Fairbanks on Friday. Both goals for the Wolverines came in the 2nd period as Jackson Krock opened the scoring at the 8:31 mark and then Hunter Schmitz added an insurance goal later in the period. Ice Dogs goalie Kayden Hargraves made 33 saves in the losing effort.
MN Magicians 5 @ Kenai River 3: Magicians forward Chris Kernan had two goals to lead the Magicians to a 5-3 win in Kenai River on Friday. Nick Stevens opened the scoring for the Brown Bears in the 1st period with a power play goal. The Magicians then rattled off three straight goals to take a 3-1 lead as Kernan, Will Schumacher, and Tyler Grahme all scored. The Brown Bears made a comeback attempt in the 3rd period with goals from Hunter Newhouse and Nick Ostbloom, but the Magicians countered with another goal from Kernan and one from Mason Campbell. Josh Langford made 41 saves in the win, while Bryant Marks made 43 saves in the loss.
Wichita Falls 6 @ El Paso 0: Brandon Milberg tied for the NAHL shutout lead thanks to his 7th shutout of the season as he made 21 saves in a 6-0 road win at El Paso. Philip Tornqvist scored two goals, including the game’s first goal in the 1st period. Tornqvist would add another goal in the 2nd period along with goals from Garrett Horsager and Max Dronen to make it 4-0. Dominick Rivelli and Brendan Williams added goals in the 3rd period to make it a 6-0 final. Rhinos goalie Jacob Zacharewicz made 35 saves in the losing effort.
Lone Star 3 @ New Mexico 5: Five different players lit the lamp for the Ice Wolves as they kept their hopes for the South Division title alive thanks to a 5-3 home win over the Brahmas. The win cut the Brahmas lead in the division down to three points. After a scoreless 1st period, things were looking good for the Brahmas in the 2nd period as Nicholas Niemo was a one-man wrecking crew thanks to a hat-trick, which included two power play goals and a short-handed goal as Lone Star led 3-0 after 40 minutes. The Ice Wolves then stormed back in the 3rd period with five goals as Jake Keller got the scoring started early in the period, which was following by three goals in a three minute span late in the game from Mitchell Becker, William Howard, and Tony Leahy as the Ice Wolves took a 4-3 lead. JD Metz would add an empty-net goal to secure the win. Carsen Stokes made 26 saves in the win, while Arthur Smith made 33 saves in the loss.
St. Cloud 4 @ Minot 1: Brandon Lajoie scored two goals and Tomas Bolo made 21 saves to lead the Norsemen to a 4-1 road win in Minot on Friday. Minot was first on the board on the night as a 1st period goal from Jack Brown gave them a 1-0 lead. In the 2nd period, goals Lajoie and Ethan Benz gave the Noresemen a 2-1 lead. In the 3rd period, Lajoie added another goal and Christopher Lynch also scored to make the final, 4-1. Minot goalie Lassi Lehti made 35 saves in the loss.
Bismarck 6 @ North Iowa 4: The Bobcats kept their slim playoff hopes alive as the picked up a big 6-4 road win in Mason City on Friday night. Quinn Rudrud had two goals in the win for Bismarck. The Bobcats never trailed in the game, as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Rudrud and Brady Egan. North Iowa got their first goal from Simone Dadie to close out the 1st period. In the 2nd period, the Bobcats took a 4-2 lead thanks to another goal from Rudrud and one from Ben Troumbly. Jake LaRusso scored for the Bulls. In the 3rd period, the Bobcats secured the win with goals from Patrick Johnson and Ryan Taylor, while LaRusso had another for the Bulls and Carter Rapalje also scored for North Iowa. Bobcats goalie Oskar Spinnars Nordin made 20 saves in the win, while Kyle Kozma made 20 saves in the loss.
Johnstown 3 @ Maine 8: Forward Brendan Gibbons scored a pair of goals and dished three assists in the Nordiques’ dominant victory over Johnstown. In the opening frame, Gibbons got Maine on the board first just 1:45 in. Johnstown fired back three consecutive goals coming from Cole Bianchin, Jacob Badal, and Frank Jenkins. Down 3-1 after 20 minutes, Maine fought back and scored three of their own in the 2nd as Tyler Gaulin buried a pair and Theo Thrun added a tally on the power play. Gibbons scored early in the 3rd to double the lead and Zion Green, Aidan Connolly, and Thrun followed him up with scores to widen the gap. Avery Sturtz was the victor between the pipes, keeping out 15 of 18 shots faced. Matthew O’Donnell completed the contest making 21 saves for the Tomahawks.
Jamestown 7 @ Danbury 6: Despite allowing a three-goal comeback in the 3rd period, the Jamestown Rebels were able to rally and take down Danbury on the road thanks to Noah Szretter’s power play goal with 7:50 remaining in regulation. Jamestown jumped out to a four-goal lead in the 1st period as James Miller, John Lundy, Conor Sedlak, and Lukas Klemm all lit the lamp. Mike Salandra got Danbury on the board to carry a 4-1 score into the middle frame. Logan Nickerson and Luka Sukovic each scored for the Jr. Hat Tricks while Ryan Waltman helped keep Jamestown distanced from Danbury with a late penalty shot goal. In the 3rd, Kolby Amici added another early goal for the Rebels but Salandra, Eberling, and Gabe Dombrowski fired off three consecutive goals to tie it at six a piece before Szretter’s dagger. Four goalies made appearances in net, with Jamestown’s Nolan Suggs (W) and Jon Howe combining for 15 saves while Marino Ramirez and Adam Johnson combined for 29 saves for Danbury.
Maryland 4 @ New Jersey 1: Maryland held the Titans to just one goal in their Friday night victory as Luca Di Pasquo stopped all but one of 31 shots that came at him. Chris Carroll scored first in the game from Anthony Calafiore and Nick Ring, giving New Jersey the opening lead. Minutes later, Adam Schankula would tie the scores with his 2nd goal of the season. Jack Blanchett and Elliot Lareau scored early in the 2nd period to provide the visitors with a two-goal lead through 40 minutes. 11:58 into the final frame, Aidan McDowell found the back of the net on the powerplay to add more insurance and seal the win. Andrew Takacs and Ben Charette each spent time in New Jersey’s crease, Takacs taking the loss making 10 saves on 13 shots while Charette kept out 31 of 32.
MN Wilderness 6 @ Janesville 2: Barrett Hall potted a pair of goals and dished an assist to help lead the Wilderness past Janesville on the road. Jonah Aegerter would give the home club the first lead early in the opening period but Hall and Ethan Wolthers would each answer with goals before intermission to make the scores 2-1 through 20 minutes. Alex Pineau, Hall, and Max Neill widened the gap with scores in the 2nd period, Neill’s goal coming on the power play. William Gustavvson gave Janesville life with an early 3rd goal but Gunnar Thoreson would silence the comeback with an empty netter with just over three minutes remaining in regulation. Matthew Smith was solid in net for the Wilderness, stopping 26 of 28 shots faced. Owen Millward made 26 saves for the Jets.
Springfield 3 @ Chippewa 6: Six different Chippewa skaters found the back of the net in their strong victory over the Jr. Blues. Chippewa grabbed a quick three-goal lead as Brady Yakesh, Kade Nielsen and Cody Kempf all found twine in the opening period. Chippewa continued their momentum into the 2nd period as Jackson Bisson extended the lead to four with his 3rd of the season. Joseph Grainda also added a power play goal in the frame. Connor Smith and Isaac Novak gave the visitors a chance at a comeback with scores. In the 3rd, Nick Sajevic brought the deficit down to two goals but Fisher Scott would deposit the dagger late in the period. Nick Haas secured the victory making 27 saves on 30 shots. Ethan Roberts and Aksel Reid shared time in Springfield’s crease, combining for 25 saves. Despite tonight’s result, with Janesville’s defeat to the Wilderness, Springfield has clinched their spot in the 2022 Robertson Cup Playoffs.
Odessa 6 @ Amarillo 1: The Jackalopes held Amarillo to just one goal in their dominant win on the road as Noah Rupprecht stopped an impressive 40 of 41 shots. Christopher Duclair handed Odessa the opening lead of the contest with a goal in the 1st period. Aidan Carney tied the scores midway through the middle frame but Ryan Kusler and Dayne Hoyord each lit the lamp before intermission to give the visitors a 3-1 lead. In the 3rd, Tanyon Bajzer potted a pair of goals and Mike Manzo added another to widen the gap and seal the win. Carter Clafton took the loss in net, making 33 saves on 39 shots faced.
Corpus Christi 3 @ Shreveport 6: The Mudbugs saw point production come from eight different skaters to take down Corpus Christi 6-3 and capture their 5th consecutive victory. Jacob Onstott and Hayden Nichol each buried goals in the 1st period for Shreveport, Nichol scoring his 1st of the season and Onstott’s goal coming on the power play. The IceRays outscored the Mudbugs in the 2nd as Michael Casey Jr, Cameron Crolley, and Nicholas Zocco each buried goals, Zocco’s 1st of the season as well. Shreveport’s 2nd period offense came from Burke Simpson and Gunnor Moore. In the final frame, Nichol scored his 2nd of the game and Lukas Sedlacek added another just 58 seconds later to seal it. Simon Bucheler grabbed the victory making 26 saves. Stefan Carney and Damon Beaver shared time in net for the visitors, Carney being credited the loss with 17 saves on 21 shots.
