Saturday Scores: Win keeps Jamestown in playoff hunt

Jamestown 3 @ Traverse City 2 - Luc Gerdes and Jeff McFarland each scored in the third period to give the Jamestown Ironmen a 3-2 victory in Traverse City on Saturday night.  The teams traded first period goals with Matt Moore getting Jamestown on the board first with his fifth goal of the season only 2:03 into the period. The North Stars answered back late in the period Jared Van Wormer beat Joe Gladnick to tie the score.  The North Stars took the lead in the second period on a goal by Mitchell Snider. Jamestown was lucky to escape the second period behind by only one goal as they were outshot 29-13 through 40 minutes of action.  The play of Gladnick in goal would prove to be key for Jamestown as Luc Gerdes scored for the fifth time in his last seven games to tie the score with less than five minutes left in regulation. McFarland scored the eventual game winner just two minutes later and the Ironmen survived a late scare by the North Stars with the goalie pulled.  The win, combined with the Michigan loss earlier in the day, has Jamestown only six points out of the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division. The Ironmen have six games left in the regular season while the Warriors have only two left on their schedule. Boxscore

Michigan 3 @ Kalamazoo 5 – Five different players scored for the K-Wings, including 3rd period goals from Jacob McDowell and Christian George as Kalamazoo topped Michigan on Saturday, 5-3.  Anthony Appleyard, Daniel Cesarz and Brandon Flood scored to give the K-Wings a 3-0 lead, but that was answered by Michigan goals from Bobby Bodette, Ben Gislason and Daniel Sakalian before Kalamazoo score the two late 3rd period goals to win. Boxscore

Corpus Christi 1 @ Amarillo 8 – The Bulls bombed the IceRays on Saturday completing the weekend sweep with an 8-1 win.  TJ Sarcona and Clint Carlisle each scored twice for the Bulls and Mike Davis, John Gustafsson, Mike Erickson and Karl Beckman also scored for the Bulls.  Eric Purcell had the lone goal in the loss for the IceRays who now find themselves tied for the 4th and final playoff spot in the South Division. Boxscore

Chicago 9 @ Coulee Region 5 – The Hitmen staved off playoff elimination for one more day as the exploded for nine goals against the Chill, including four goals in the 3rd period to break open a 5-4 game.  Zach Schrotenboer had one of the better individual games in the NAHL this season with a six point night, which included three goals and three assists.  Alex Murphy had five points in the win, including two goals and three assists. Boxscore

Janesville 0 @ Springfield 2 – Gabe Antoni stopped all 29 shots as the Jr. Blues picked up their second weekend win over the Jets.  After a scoreless 1st period, Springfield got all the scoring they needed in the 2nd period as Gavin Tufte scored to make it 1-0 with assists to Ethan Nauman and Justin Johnson.  Josef Pontasch added the second goal with assists to Chris Sitler and Kevin Walters. Boxscore

Fresno 2 @ Fairbanks 1 – In the fourth annual outdoor classic game in Fairbanks, Fresno stole the show with a 2-1 win to improve their playoff standing in the West.  Tomas Sholl made 28 saves and the Monsters got 1st period goals from Filip Winkler and Zack Wallace to make the lead stand up the entire game despite a 3rd period goal from Fairbanks’ Max Birkinbine. Boxscore

Minot 4 @ Austin 7 – Five different Bruins players had multi-point games including three point nights from Matt Hansen and Jonathan Gehrt.  Jeremy Finger scored twice to help the Bruins earn the split with Minot.  Austin jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the 1st period, which included Finger’s two goals and goals from AJ Reid and Chris Fischer.  Minot scored three goals in the 3rd period, but it was a little too late. Boxscore

Wichita Falls 2 @ Odessa 3 – The Jackalopes picked up a weekend sweep of the Wildcats with a 3-2 win on Saturday and in the process moved into a tie for the 4th and final playoff spot in the South with just two weekends remaining in the regular season.  All three Odessa goals came in the 3rd period from Lawrence Cornellier, Tyler Cayemberg and Ryan Doucet.  Jakob Batcha and Brennen Parker scored for Wichita Falls. Boxscore

St. Louis 2 @ Topeka 4 – The RoadRunners stayed in 2nd place in the South, picking up a weekend split with the Bandits thanks to a 4-2 win.  After a scoreless 1st period, Topeka took a 3-0 lead in the 2nd period with goals from Jake Lynes, Trace Strahle and Anders Schultz.  Josh Dangel and Ryan Stouffer scored to draw the Bandits to within 3-2, but Kyle Sharkey put the game out of reach with Topeka’s 4th goal. Boxscore

Alexandria 5 @ Bismarck 1 – The Blizzard picked up a big 5-1 road win in Bismarck on Saturday thanks to two goals and an assist from Seth Ronsberg.  Michael Bitzer, a recipient of the Minnesota State High School Goaltender of the Year Award just a week ago, played in his first NAHL game and made 30 saves to beat the Bobcats.  Dylan Zink, Gage Torrel and Matt Youso also scored for Alexandria. Boxscore

New Mexico 2 @ Texas 5 – The Tornado stayed within a point of 2nd place Topeka thanks to a 5-2 win over the Mustangs to complete the weekend sweep.  Drew Allen scored the first two goals for Texas, giving them a 2-0 lead.  Adam Chapie and Avik Bordak scored for the Mustangs, but Jackson Leef and Taylor Herndon answered for Texas, which set up Allen scoring his third goal for the hat-trick in the 3rd period. Boxscore

Dawson Creek 2 @ Wenatchee 3 – Blake Roubos scored the go-ahead and game-winning goal with six minutes left as Wenatchee remained in the West Division title hunt with a 3-2 win.  Robert Nichols, who statistically is the NAHL’s top goaltender, put in another solid performance making 23 saves.  Edward Dyson took the loss making 35 saves.  Matt Cope and Chris Kerr had the other goals for the Wild while Scott Fellnermayr and Stephen Zipp scored for the Rage. Boxscore

Kenai River 0 @ Alaska 5 – Bodhi Engum had to make just 15 saves as Alaska shutout and swept Kenai River and in the process clinched the West’s third playoff spot.  Alaska controlled the game from the start with a goal from Brandon Brossoit. Codey Hansen, Tanner Fahlstedt and Patrick Kinkopf all scored in the 2nd period and Connor Wright added a 3rd period goal as the Avs outshot the Brown Bears, 34-15 en route to the win. Boxscore