Saturday Scores: Hockey returns to packed house in Johnstown

Michigan 3 @ Johnstown 2 (SO) – In front of a sellout crowd of over 3,700 fans, hockey finally returned to Johnstown, PA on Saturday night, but it was the Michigan Warriors who ended up with the extra point as they came from behind to top the Tomahawks in a shootout, 3-2.  Before the game began, NAHL Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld was on hand to address the sellout crowd and thank them for their support in bringing hockey back to Johnstown.  Then NHL Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux stepped onto the ice to drop the puck in the ceremonial face-off.  After a scoreless 1st period, the crowd was sent into the frenzy halfway through the 2nd period as Brandon Reinholz scored to put the Tomahawks ahead 1-0.  Just five minutes later, Jake Hopfer would answer for Michigan to tie the game at 1-1.  Late in the period, Cobi Smith-Mass gave Johnstown the lead back with a goal.  Cody Bentzel assisted on both Tomahawk goals.  It appeared Johnstown was on their way to the win when Connor Lyons tied the game with just over a three minutes remaining in the game.  After a scoreless overtime, the Warriors dominated the shootout with goals from AJ Marcinek, Brock Labelle and Zack Szajner, while Warriors goalie Michael Pesendorfer shut the door on all three Tomahawks shooters for the win. Boxscore

Kalamazoo 1 @ Port Huron 4 – The Fighting Falcons won the battle for first place in the North as they scored three goals in the 3rd period on their way to a 4-1 win at home over Kalamazoo.  Bryan Yim gave the Falcons the lead in the 1st period, but Kalamazoo’s Robbie Payne answered back early in the 3rd period.  However, another goal from Yim and two more from Rick DeRosa and Brett D’Andrea put the game away. Max Milosek made 27 saves in the win. Boxscore

Jamestown 2 @ Soo 6 – This game was over early as the Eagles scored three goals in the first 8+ minutes of the game on their way to a 6-2 win and weekend home sweep of the Ironmen.  Alex Thaulien, who scored last night’s game-winner in overtime, had two more goals in this game.  Jake Peacock, Eric Rivard, Michael Covach and Layne Martin also scored for Soo, while Ryan Urso and Victor Johansson scored for Jamestown. Boxscore

Fairbanks 4 @ Springfield 2 – The Fairbanks Ice Dogs exploded for four goals in the 3rd period on their way to a 4-2 in on Saturday and a weekend road sweep of the Springfield Jr. Blues.  Nate Chasteen scored two 1st period goals, both on the power play to give the Jr. Blues a 2-0 lead they would hold until the 3rd period.   However, four Fairbanks goals from Colton Wolter, Garret Clemment, Devin Loe and Doug Rose in a span of 13 minutes in the 3rd period for the win. Boxscore

Coulee Region 2 @ Austin 5 – The Bruins won their home opener with a 5-2 win over the Chill on Saturday.  The Bruins dominated offensively, outshooting the Chill 37-17 and got two goals and two assists from Jay Dickman.  Austin led 2-1 after the 1st period with goals from Dickman and AJ Reid.  Aleksi Mustaniemi answered for the Chill.  Dicksman scored again in the 2nd period and the Bruins added 3rd period goals from Josh Bretner and John Simonson. Boxscore

Kenai River 4 @ Janesville 3 (SO) – It only took three shooters, but the Brown Bears turned the tables on the Jets from the night before with a 4-3 win in a shootout in Janesville. Matt Seidel, Jake Bushey and Jacob Davidson scored in regulation for Kenai River, while Austin Vieth, Jason Ford and Jordan Himley answered for the Jets.  In the shootout, Lucas Kohls, Eric Shand and Seidel all scored, while Kenai goaltender Gustaf Johansson stopped all three Jets shooters for the win. Boxscore

Brookings 2 @ Aberdeen 0 – In front of a packed house on opening night in Aberdeen it was Blizzard goaltender Drew Weigman who spoiled the party, as he stopped all 37 shots that came his way as the Blizzard picked up a weekend home-and-home sweep of Aberdeen.  Nick DeCenzo scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 2nd period and Brandon Parker added an insurance goal in the 3rd period.  Aberdeen’s Marcus Zelzer made 33 saves in the loss. Boxscore

Odessa 1 @ Amarillo 5 – In front of almost 2,000 fans on opening night in Amarillo, the Bulls got two goals from Tyler Deresky on their way to a convincing 5-1 win over the Jackalopes.  Deresky started the scoring and the Bulls got and additional goal in the 1st period from Mike Davis.  Mason Wyman answered back with Odessa’s lone goal.  Amarillo scored three straight in the 2nd and 3rd period including Dereky’s 2nd of the game and goals from Ryan Cole and Clint Carlisle. Boxscore

Topeka 3 @ Corpus Christi 1 – In front of almost 4,000 fans, Topeka completed a weekend sweep of the IceRays thanks to another strong game from forward Kyle Sharkey who had a goal and assist in the win.  Dan Dupell scored the lone goal of the 1st period on a penalty shot.  Eric Purcell answered back for the IceRays, but the RoadRunners got a goal late in the middle frame from Sean Gaffney to take a lead into the lockerroom.  Sharkey scored the only goal of the 3rd period to secure the win. Boxscore

Wenatchee 3 @ Bismarck 2 – The Wild remained only one of two unbeaten teams in the NAHL thanks to a 3-2 win in Bismarck on Saturday completing a weekend sweep.  Bismarck started strong, jumping out to a 2-0 lead with two goals in the opening few minutes from Daniel Kovar and Shane Omdahl.  It forced a goaltending change for Wenatchee and that seemed to change the momentum.  Chris Kerr scored late in the 1st period to bring the Wild to within 2-1.  Evan Schmidbauer and Jono Davis added 2nd period goals and goaltender Robert Nichols did the rest. Boxscore

Wichita Falls 1 @ Texas 4 – On opening night in Frisco, the Tornado raised their 5th Robertson Cup banner then defeated the Wildcats 4-1 to remain one of two unbeaten teams in the NAHL.  The Tornado allowed just 17 shots.  The only one that got by goaltender Hunter Leisner was Will Vosejpka’s goal early in the 1st period.  After that it was all Tornado as Leo Lumm answered back in the 1st period.  Texas scored three more in the 2nd period to put the game away with goals from Scott Conway, CJ Reuschlein and Brandon Hawkins. Boxscore

Fresno 1 @ Minot 2 (SO) – The Minotauros picked up their first win of the season as goaltender Ryan Ruck made 26 saves and stopped three shooters in the shootout in a 2-1 home win against Fresno.  Minot struck early in the 1st period with a goal from Jake McCann.  Fresno answered in the 2nd period as James Mathias lit the lamp. Ruck and Fresno goaltender Tomas Sholl, who just returned to the team were the stars the rest of the way until the shootout when Minot’s Lucas Oliver scored as the last shooter. Boxscore