Friday Finals: Williams big night paces Brookings

Brookings 5 @ Aberdeen 1 – Thomas Williams scored a hat-trick and goaltender Drew Weigman made 42 saves as the Brookings Blizzard salvaged a split of their road series in Aberdeen.  The Blizzard took a 1-0 lead lates in the 1st period on a goal from Eric Brenk.  Justin Moody made it 2-0 for Brookings before Williams scored the last three goals, all coming in the 2nd period.  Tommy Miller had the lone goal for the Wings in front of yet another sold out crowd in Aberdeen. Boxscore

Topeka 3 @ Amarillo 2 (SO) – In a battle of the two of the top teams in the South Division, the RoadRunners got a late goal in regulation from Sean Gaffney to tie the game and send it to a shootout where James Ring scored the lone goal for a 3-2 win.  TJ Sarcona and Omar Mullan scored the goals in regulation for the Bulls, while Kyle Sharkey had the other goal for Topeka.  RoadRunners goaltender Spencer Viele made 34 saves and stopped all five Amarillo shooters in the shootout. Boxscore

Bismarck 0 @ Wenatchee 1 – It took until the 3rd period, but 16-year-old Brian Williams’ first career NAHL goal turned out to be the game-winner and difference as Wenatchee defeated Bismarck, 1-0.  Wenatchee goaltender Robert Nichols made 24 saves for his 4th shutout of the season.  Bobcats goaltender Aaron Nelson was good as well, making 25 saves in the loss.  Blake Roubos and Josh Hartley picked up assists on the Williams goal. Boxscore

Minot 3 @ Fresno 2 (SO) – Goaltending was in fill effect in Fresno on Friday and Minot’s Tyler Parks and Fresno’s Tomas Sholl put on a show, each making 20 saves and each facing 12 shooters in a combined 24-man shootout that was eventually won by the Minotauros.  Matt Audette had the shootout winner and Travis Maxwell and Steven Sherman scored in regulation for Minot.  Mitchell Snyder and Gordon Wells scored in regulation for Fresno in front of over 4,000 fans. Boxscore

Wichita Falls 6 @ Fairbanks 5 – The Wildcats picked up a big road win in front of a sold out crowd in Fairbanks, as they opened up a 6-2 lead and withstood a furious comeback to win 6-5.  Sami Salminen had two goals and an assist, included the first goal of the game just over a minute in.  Ryan Dau, Rudy Junda, Kyle Bauman and Charlie Hemstrom tallied the other goals for the Wildcats, while Devin Loe and Jayson Angus each scored twice for Fairbanks and Patrick Newell also scored. Boxscore

Corpus Christi 3 @ Kenai River 2 – The IceRays kept climbing the South standings by posting another big road win in Alaska, this time beating Kenai River 3-2 to move a game within the .500 mark.  Perry D’Arrisso’s goal with less than three minutes remaining was the difference.  Kenai River took a 2-0 lead with goals from Conor Deal and Albin Karlsson.  The ‘Rays responded with two goals in the 2nd period from Michael Economos and AJ Jarosz.  The biggest factor in the game was the 47 saves from newly acquired IceRays goalie Hayden Stewart. Boxscore

Soo 1 @ Janesville 0 – The NAHL October goaltender of the month Tyler Marble picked up in November right where he left off in October… with another shutout, his third straight, as Soo edged Janesville, 1-0.  Marble stopped all 32 shots that came his way and extended his current shutout streak to an amazing 187 minutes and 40 seconds.  Jared Van Wormer had the lone goal for the Soo, which came in the 3rd period against Brock Kautz, who was stellar in his own right, making 32 saves on the night. Boxscore

Odessa 2 @ Texas 5 – The Tornado scored the final four goals of the game to snap a three game losing skid with a 5-2 win over Odessa on Friday.  The Jacks had a 2-1 lead after the 1st period with goals in the opening five minutes from Lawrence Cornellier and Anthony Olguin.  Louie Rowe had the lone goal for Texas in the 1st period.  2nd period goals from Anthony Mousseau and Brett Heikkila gave Texas a 3-2 lead after two periods and 3rd period goals from Brandon Platt and CJ Reuschlein secured the win. Boxscore

Austin 3 @ Coulee Region 2 (SO) – Despite 43 saves from Aaron Davis, the Chill could not pull the upset of the 1st place Austin Bruins in a 3-2 shootout loss on Friday.  The Chill led 2-0 early in the 3rd period thanks to two goals from Hunter Anderson.  However, two Bruins goals from Zach Johnson and CJ Smith in the final seven minutes sent the game to a shootout where Riley Colvard scored as Austin’s 7th shooter to give the Bruins the win. Boxscore

Michigan 2 @ Jamestown 3 – Ryan Urso had a goal and an assist as the Ironmen stayed in 1st place in the North Division with a 3-2 home win over the Michigan Warriors.  After no scoring in the 1st period, Urso gave the Ironmen a 1-0 lead.  Connor Lyons evened the game at 1-1, but Jamestown scored two goals from Dylan Zink and Tyler Dunagan to take a 3-1 lead.  Another goal from Lyons late in the 3rd period made it 3-2, but the Warriors could not find the equalizer. Boxscore