Tornado crowned Champions of 10th annual NAHL Showcase
September 15, 2012
BLAINE, MINNESOTA – The NAHL portion of the 10th annual Combat Hockey/NAHL Showcase came to a close on Saturday at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota. A new record was set, as over 300 junior, NCAA and NHL scouts attended the event this past week. Four teams entered the final day of competition with undefeated records and at the end, it was the Texas Tornado picking up right where they left off from the Robertson Cup winning the NAHL Showcase Tournament.
The Tornado finished with a 4-0 record and a +12 goal differential, two better than the Wenatchee Wild and the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings, who both finished 4-0 and both with +10 goal differentials. Texas forwards Jackson Leef and Justin Greenberg finished tied for the Showcase scoring lead, each recording eight points in the four games. Wenatchee defenseman Josh Hartley and Texas defenseman Anthony Mousseau each led the way for NAHL defensive scoring, both with six points. Here is a look at Saturday’s final results:
Port Huron Fighting Falcons 4 vs. Wichita Falls Wildcats 3 – The Fighting Falcons scored the last four goals of the game to erase what was once a 3-0 Wildcats lead, to defeat Wichita Falls, 4-3. Port Huron finished the Showcase with a 3-1-0 record, while the Wildcats finished 1-2-1. Rudy Junda scored twice in the 1st period for the Wildcats and Eliot Grauer also scored to put the ‘Cats up 3-0 after the 1st period. However, the Falcons stormed back with goals from Vito Aluia, Mark Auk, Kody Polin and Nico Sierra, who scored with just :40 seconds remaining in regulation. Boxscore
Jamestown Ironmen 6 vs. Kenai River Brown Bears 2 – It was all Ironmen in this game as they jumped out to a 4-1 lead and never looked back, finishing with a 3-1-0 Showcase record. The Brown Bears meanwhile, went winless in the Showcase, posting a 0-2-2 record. Jamestown went 3 for 7 on the power play as Jeff McFarland scored twice and forward Ross Pavek added a goal and two assists. Luc Gerdes and Brett Szajner each had a goal and assist in the win, while Albin Karlsson and Matt Seidel scored in the loss. Boxscore
Fairbanks Ice Dogs 5 vs. Michigan Warriors 4 – Two 3rd period goals from Jacob Hetz and Colton Wolter gave the Ice Dogs a 5-4 win over the Warriors and a 3-1-0 record at the Showcase. Michigan finished with a 1-3-0 record at the Showcase. Kyle Lee, Patrick Newell and Jakob Romo also scored for Fairbanks, while Michigan got goals from Ryan Dougherty, Zack Szajner and two from Shawn Badali, which came back to back in the 2nd period. Boxscore
Amarillo Bulls 3 vs. Springfield Jr. Blues 2 – The Jr. Blues gave the Bulls everything they could handle, but a strong 2nd period for the Bulls was the difference as they beat Springfield, 3-2. Amarillo finished the Showcase with a 2-1-1 record, while Springfield finished 1-2-1. The Jr. Blues got on the board first with a goal from James McGing. Amarillo answered back in a physical 2nd period with goals from Connor Frey and Omar Mullan. The Amarillo lead increased to 3-1 on Ryan Cole’s goal early in the 3rd period. A late Jr. Blues goal from Trevor Stone wasn’t enough in the close loss. Boxscore
Corpus Christi IceRays 5 vs. Johnstown Tomahawks 3 – Rudy Sulmonte scored a natural hat-trick with three straight goals in a 15-minute span in the 2nd period as Corpus Christi topped the Johnstown Tomahawks, 5-3. The IceRays finished the Showcase with a 2-1-1 record, while the Tomahawks picked up their first ever win, but finished the Showcase with a 1-2-1 record. Johnstown led 2-0 after one period on goals from Kristaps Bazevics and JB Baker. That’s when Sulmonte took over to give the ‘Rays a lead. Jeff Bergh tied the game, but the ‘Rays got two 3rd period goals from Roman Uchyn and Tommaso Bucci to seal the win. Boxscore
Odessa Jackalopes 3 vs. Minot Minotauros 2 (OT) – Odessa came from behind with two goals in the 3rd period and then the game-winner in OT as they finished the Showcase with a 2-2-0 record. The Minotauros, who finished the Showcase with a 0-3-1 record. Jadin Martin and Mason Morelli gave the Minotauros a 2-0 lead through two periods, but 3rd period goals from Taylor Portner and Lawrence Cornellier for the Jacks sent the game to OT where Cornellier scored again on a breakaway for the winner. Boxscore
Topeka RoadRunners 5 vs. Bismarck Bobcats 2 – Topeka used an efficient offense to top the Bobcats 5-2 and finish the Showcase with a very good 3-0-1 record and 2nd place in the South. The Bobcats finished the Showcase with a 1-3-0 record. Topeka led 2-0 after goals from Dan Dupell and Cam Bleck. Patrick Moore scored for Bismarck to make it 2-1, but the lead increased back to two with a goal from the ‘Runners Sean Gaffney. Johno May made it 3-2, but that would be all for the Bobcats as Michal Pastor and Gaffney put the game away with two more goals. Boxscore
Texas Tornado 4 vs. Coulee Region Chill 3 (SO) – The Tornado, who won the 2012 NAHL Robertson Cup Championship, continued right where they left off as their shootout win over Coulee Region gave them the 2012 NAHL Showcase title with a perfect 4-0-0 record. Coulee Region finished their Showcase at 1-2-1. The Tornado goal differental of +12 was good enough to secure the title over the two other 4-0-0 teams. Brandon Hawkins scored twice in the Texas win and Justin Greenberg had a goal and assist. Mac Jansen and Brady Riesgraf each had three points in the loss for Coulee Region. Boxscore
Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings 6 vs. Aberdeen Wings 3 – The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings completed their impressive run at the NAHL Showcase with a 6-3 win over Aberdeen and cap a perfect 4-0-0 record at the event. Aberdeen finished the Showcase at 2-2-0. Kalamazoo’s goal differential of +10 just fell short of the Tornado goal differential for the title. Kalamazoo broke the game open in the 2nd period with four goals, two of which came off the stick of Danny Hamburg. Luc Boby also scored twice and Matt Wurst and Josh Dangel also scored for the K-Wings. Patrick Steinhauser, Tommy Miller and Joe Sullivan scored for Aberdeen. Boxscore
Wenatchee Wild 5 vs. Brookings Blizzard 2 – The Wenatchee Wild fell just short of capturing the Showcase title as they finshed the event with a perfect 4-0-0 record, but a goal differential that was just two behind Texas. Brookings, who also went into the game undefeated, finished with a 3-1-0 record. Thomas Williams gave the Blizzard a lead afte one period, but Wenatchee exploded with four goals in the 2nd period as Jono Davis, Dillon Eichstadt, Max McHugh and Chris Kerr all lit the lamp. Blake Roubos made it 5-1, but Brookings would score the final goal off a fortunate bounce to end the game at 5-2. Boxscore
Janesville Jets 2 vs. Austin Bruins 1 – Two 3rd period goals gave the Janesville Jets a close 2-1 win over the Austin Bruins on the final day of the Showcase. The win by Janesville gave them a 2-2-0 record in Blaine, while the loss for the Bruins also gave them a record of 2-2-0. After no scoring in the 1st period, John Simonson scored the lone Bruins goal in the 2nd period. Janesville stormed back in the 3rd period with a power play goal from Conor Lemirande and another goal seven minutes later from Jason Ford. Brock Kautz made 24 saves in the win, while Nick Lehr made 23 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Fresno Monsters 5 vs. Soo Eagles 4 – The Fresno Monsters completed a 3-1-0 week at the Showcase by edging out the Soo Eagles in the final game of the 2012 event. Soo, who finished 0-3-1, lost three games by just a goal and the other by two goals. The Eagles struck first on a goal from Chris Waterstreet, but Mitchell Snyder answered back for Fresno. Mikhail Bushinski gave the Monsters a lead they would not lose for the rest of the game. Sean Kalbak, Mark Bittner and Bushinski all scored in the 3rd period, while Soo got three 3rd period goals of their own from Nathan Harris, Tyler Sehovic and Pat Gazzillo. Boxscore
