Saturday Scores: Springfield just one of many who post sweep
Springfield 7 @ Michigan 2 - Chris Sitler scored a hat trick to help the Springfield Junior Blues beat the Michigan Warriors 7-2 in a North American Hockey League game Saturday at Perani Arena. It was the second win in as many nights for the Junior Blues, who defeated Michigan 4-2 on Friday and are in third place in the Midwest Division. Sitler scored unassisted at 6 minutes 51 seconds of the first period to give the Junior Blues a 1-0 lead. His other two goals came in the third period. Stewart Bell and Ben Kramer also scored in the first period to put the Junior Blues up 3-0. Martin Gruse’s goal with 8 seconds remaining in the period got Michigan on the board. Matus Matis got the Warriors (18-28-5, fourth in the North Division) within one goal by scoring at 8:24 in the second period to make it 3-2. Mike Williams and Ethan Nauman responded with goals at 11:04 and 12:00, respectively, to give Springfield a 5-2 lead after two periods. The Jr. Blues took out Cameron Yang after he had made 20 saves and installed Gabe Antoni in goal, where he finished with six saves and the win. Trevor Gorsuch made 28 saves for Michigan on 35 shots. With the win, the Jr. Blues have clinched the Midwest Division’s third playoff berth. Boxscore
St. Louis 0 @ Kalamazoo 2 – K-Wings goaltender Ken MacLean was the star of the show as he stopped all 34 Bandits shots sent his way as he picked up his second shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over St. Louis on Saturday. Jacob McDowell scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 2nd period and Daniel Cesarz added an insurance goal early in the 3rd period for Kalamazoo. Boxscore
Chicago 1 @ Traverse City 6 – Goaltender Zach Nagelvoort and forward Eric Rivard shined again as the North Stars completed a weekend sweep of the Hitmen with a 5-1 win. Rivard, who had a hat-trick a night earlier, recorded a goal and three assists in the win and Nagelvoort stopped 26 of 27 shots. Mitchell Snider had two goals and two assists and Jared Van Wormer picked up three assists in the win. Boxscore
Texas 3 @ Amarillo 5 – The Bulls used three, 3rd period goals to come from behind to sweep their weekend home set with the Tornado and move closer to a division title. The teams traded goals in the 1st period that ended up 2-2. John Rey and Mike Erickson scored for the Bulls and Jack Prince scored twice for Texas. Drew Allen gave Texas a 3-2 lead in the 2nd period, but goals in the 3rd period from Rey, Matt Johnson and TJ Sarcona gave the Bulls the win. Boxscore
Port Huron 4 @ Janesville 2 – The Fighting Falcons salvaged a weekend split in a battle of division leaders with a 4-2 win in Janesville. Port Huron jumped out to a 3-0 lead with goals from Alex Globke, Kody Polin and Ian Miller. Jordan Bancroft answered back on the power play for the Jets, but Logan Lemirande scored Port Huron’s 4th goal midway through the 2nd period. John Olen added a late goal for the Jets to make it 4-2. Boxscore
Austin 5 @ Aberdeen 4 – The Bruins and Wings each scored three times in a wild 3rd period, but it was the 2nd period that was the difference as the Bruins won to sweep the weekend road set from the Wings. Five different players scored for Austin including: John Kirby, Jeremy Finger, Chase McDonald, Charlie Adams and Chris Fischer, who also had an assist. Tyler Dunagan, Lane Mahoney, Cory Ward and Paul Prescott scored for Aberdeen. Boxscore
Minot 1 @ Bismarck 5 – Adam Knochenmus had a goal and two assists and Dan Zawacki picked up three assists as Bismarck swept Minot with a 5-1 win on Saturday. Bismarck scored early and often jumping out to a 4-0 lead with goals from Frank DeAugustine, Donald Olivieri, Patrick Moore and Knochenmus. John Furgele answered a Minot goal from Hans Drawbert to make the final 5-1. Boxscore
New Mexico 3 @ Wichita Falls 4 – Renato Engler scored with just :19 seconds remaining in the game to give the Wildcats a 4-3 win and a weekend split with New Mexico. The teams traded goals in the 1st period and again in the 2nd period. Adam Chapie and Charles Baldwin scored for New Mexico, Zach Pochiro and Conor Doran for the Wildcats. After Cody Walsh gave the Mustangs the lead, George Pagonis tied the game setting up Engler’s heroics. Boxscore
Kenai River 5 @ Alaska 2 – The Brown Bears moved into the 4th and final playoff spot with a 5-2 win in Alaska on Saturday. Marek Hemsky scored twice, including two in the 3rd period to seal the win for Kenai River. The Brown Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Matt Thompson and Jesse Ramsey scored. Thompson would add his second goal in the 3rd period, which answered goals from Alaska’s Evan Hesse and Patrick Kinkopf. Boxscore
Coulee Region 0 @ Alexandria 10 – The Blizzard erupted for 10 goals and completed a weekend sweep of the Chill. For the second straight game goaltender Jacob Meyers stopped all 30 shots for yet another shutout, his 6th of the season. Justin Moody, Nick D’Avolio and Reid Sturos all had four-point nights and Seth Ronsberg scored twice. Craig Lindegard added a goal and two assists in the win. Boxscore
Odessa 5 @ Corpus Christi 4 – In front of another big crowd of over 4,600, the Jackalopes got a late 3rd period goal with just :07 seconds remaining from Ryan Doucet to defeat and sweep the IceRays by a 5-4 score. The win put Odessa just five points behind the IceRays for the 4th and final playoff spot in the South. Doucet had two goals and an assist for the Jacks, while four different players scored the IceRays. Boxscore
Topeka 1 @ Wenatchee 2 (SO) – The Wild won their fourth straight game thanks to Ben Carey’s shootout goal as the seventh shooter, as Wenatchee edged Topeka, 2-1. Wenatchee took a 1-0 lead on a 1st period unassisted goal from Parker Johnson. Topeka would answer back as Brian Christie scored on the power play with an assist to Cory Ramsey. Robert Nichols picked up with 19th win of the season, making 34 saves for the Wild. Boxscore
Fairbanks 3 @ Fresno 1 – The 1st place Ice Dogs appeared headed for another division title as they swept the Fresno Monsters by a 3-1 score on Saturday, increasing their division lead to eight points. Jeff Earnest scored twice and JT Osborn added the game-winning goal for Fairbanks. Dominic Valencia gave the 4,700+ fans in Fresno something to cheer about with a power play goal, but Ice Dogs goaltender Steve Perry shut the door the rest of the way. Boxscore
