Friday Finals: Falcons take opener in battle for 1st place

Jamestown 3 @ Port Huron 5 – Michael Gershon won his NAHL coaching debut as Port Huron moved back into a 1st place tie with Jamestown thanks to a 5-3 home win over the Ironmen.  Nico Sierra, Kody Polin, Rick DeRosa and Ian Miller all chipped in with a goal and assist respectively and Nick Horne added the other goal for Port Huron.  Luc Gerdes, Victor Johansson and Ryan Urso scored for the Ironmen in the loss. Boxscore

Soo 3 @ Michigan 0 – Tyler Marble made 44 saves for his league-tying 2nd shutout of the season as the Soo Eagles blanked the Michigan Warriors in Flint, 3-0.  After no scoring in the 1st period, Soo got on the board in the 2nd period with the eventual game-winning goal from Alex Taulien.  Michael Lant scored on the power play to make it 2-0 and Robin Hoglund scored an empty-net goal to complete the scoring. Trevor Gorsuch made 31 saves in the loss. Boxscore

Texas 2 @ Amarillo 7 – In a battle of two of the top teams in the South, the Amarillo Bulls opened up a 3-1 lead and never looked back as they defeated the Tornado, 7-2 in the two teams first match-up of the season.  Hampus Gustafsson had a goal and two assists and defenseman Tyler Rostenkowski had three assists against his former team.  Geoff Fortman, TJ Sarcona, Ryan Cole, Brandon Flood, Mike Davis and Tyler Deresky also scored for the Bulls.  Brandon Hawkins had a goal and assist for the Tornado. Boxscore

Coulee Region 1 @ Brookings 5 – Evan Hesse had a goal and two assists to league the Brookings Blizzard to a 5-1 home win over the Chill on Friday.  Thomas Williams gave the Blizzard a 1-0 lead in the 1st period.  Coulee Region responded to tie the game at 1-1 on a goal from Sean Lang, but it was all Blizzard after that as Hesse scored twice and Justin Moody and Drew Brevig also added goals.  Erick Majerle made 24 saves in the win. Boxscore

Janesville 3 @ Springfield 5 – Nate Chasteen and James McGing each scored twice to lead the Springfield Jr. Blues to a 5-3 home win over Janesville.  The 1st period was a wild one as Springfield led 3-2 behind goals from Chasteen, McGing and Ryan Atkinson.  Jason Ford and Alex Shuchuk scored for the Jets.  Janesville tied the game in the 2nd period with a goal from Jordan Himley, but goals in the 3rd period from Chasteen and McGing again secured the win for the Jr. Blues. Boxscore

Topeka 5 @ Odessa 2 – Odessa’s home opener in front of over 2,200 fans was spoiled by the RoadRunners as they reclaimed the top spot in the South with a 5-2 win.  Tyler Cayemberg got the home crowd on its feet with the first goal of the game for the Jacks, but Topeka answered with three straight goals from Michal Pastor, Tyler Poulsen and Tyler Groat.  Curt Rau made it 3-2 with another goal for the Jacks, but another goal from Groat and one more from Tyler Andrew sealed the win. Boxscore

Austin 4 @ Aberdeen 3 – The Bruins maintained their 1st place lead in the Central Division with a come-from-behind 4-3 win in Aberdeen on Friday.  The Wings lead 3-1 going into the 3rd period on goals from Tommy Miller, Joe Sullivan and Tyler Cisar.  The Bruins lone goal came from Brandon Wahlin to lead off the game.  However, three goals in a four minute stretch from John Simonson, Cody Dixon and Jay Dickman were enough for the Austin win on the road.  Boxscore

Minot 1 @ Wenatchee 3 – On opening night in Wenatchee, goalie Robbie Nichols was back to his old ways, making an efficient 23 saves as Wenatchee beat Minot, 3-1.  After a scoreless 1st period, Chris Jones got Wenatchee on the board early in the 2nd period.  Max McHugh scored late in the period to make it 2-0 for the Wild.  Jacob Barber scored early in the 3rd period to make it 3-0 before Ryan Doner spoiled Nichols shutout bid with Minot’s only goal. Boxscore

Bismarck 3 @ Fresno 1 – The Bobcats spoiled the home debut of the Monsters in front of over 3,700 fans in Fresno as Aaron Nelson made 24 saves in a 3-1 win.  Cory Chapman put the visitors up 1-0 in the 1st period.  Fresno responded with their only game of the game, which came midway through the 2nd period off the tape of Mitchell Snyder.  However, Shane Omdahl scored the eventual game-winner just four minutes later and Adam Knochenmus would add an insurance goal late in the 3rd period. Boxscore

Corpus Christi 4 @ Fairbanks 5 (SO) – It was more shootout magic for the Ice Dogs in front of another sold out crowd in Fairbanks as the Ice Dogs defeated the ‘Rays, 5-4.  Goaltender Kevin Aldridge stopped all five Corpus Christi shooters in the shootout.  Devin Loe had a goal and two assists and Duggie Lagrone, Jayson Angus and Chandler Madry also scored for Fairbanks.  Brandon Smith, AJ Jarosz, Tommaso Bucci and Brandon Berkley scored for the IceRays, who still recorded a point. Boxscore

Wichita Falls 3 @ Kenai River 9 – The Brown Bears got multi-goal games from three different players as they recorded a season high nine goals in a 9-3 win over the Wildcats.  Lucas Kohls had two goals and an assist, Ansel Duesenberg scored twice as did Brad LeLievre.  Matt Seidel, Alex Jackstadt and Dylan Meier also scored for Kenai River, who needed just 27 shots for their nine goals.  Charlie Hemstrom, Will Vosejpka and Ryan Dau scored for the Wildcats, who trailed at one point in the game, 7-0. Boxscore