Saturday Scores: Tight games provide drama on Saturday

Corpus Christi 3 @ Kenai River 2 – Another timely late goal allowed the IceRays to make their first trip to the Alaskan Frontier a successful one.  Eric Purcell scored twice, including the winner with less two minutes remaining, as Corpus Christi clipped the Kenai River Brown Bears 3-2 Saturday night at the Soldotna Sports Center. Goalie Hayden Stewart turned in another strong performance, making 43 saves as Corpus Christi went 3-0-1 during its Alaska road trip, winning the final three games. The teams were deadlocked at 2-2 in the third period when just 11 seconds into a power play, A.J. Jarosz sent a shot toward the net, with the puck going to Purcell near the top of the crease. He swept it past goalie Sean Healy with just 1:58 remaining. The IceRays took a 2-1 lead into the third on Saturday, but the Brown Bears equalized at 11:57 when Zack Zulkanycz knocked in a rebound from the slot after Stewart stopped a wraparound attempt. Goals from D'Arrisso late in the first period and Purcell during the second erased an early 1-0 advantage for Kenai River. Boxscore

Soo 4 @ Janesville 1 – The Eagles stayed hot and kept pace right behind Jamestown in the North with a 4-1 win and weekend road sweep of the Jets.  The Jets got on the board first after a shorthanded goal from Jordan Himley.  However, it was all Eagles after that as Jared Van Wormer and Matt Menta scored in the 2nd period to make it 2-1.  Eric Rivard added two more goals in the 3rd period to complete a three point night and the fifth straight win for Soo. Boxscore

Michigan 3 @ Jamestown 4 (SO) – The Jamestown Ironmen erased a 3-1 deficit in the final 11 minutes of the 3rd period to force a shootout, where they ultimately won 4-3 and swept the Michigan Warriors.  After an early goal from Huba Sekesi, the Warriors struck for three straight goals from AJ Marcinek, Zack Szajner and Colin Larkin.  However, goals in the 3rd period from Tyler Dunagan and Evan Ritt tied the game.  Then three goals in the shootout sealed the win and sweep for the 1st place Ironmen. Boxscore

Port Huron 3 @ Kalamazoo 4 (SO) – The Jr. K-Wings scored on their first three shooters in the shootout to edge the Fighting Falcons, 4-3.  Luc Boby opened the scoring in the 1st period for Kalamazoo.  Bryan Yim answered right back for Port Huron.  Josh Dangel made it 2-1 at the end of the period.  Taylor Burden increased the lead to 3-1 for the K-Wings, but two straight goals from Zach Badalamenti and Tom Kempinski would tie the game and send it to the shootout. Boxscore

Springfield 4 @ Johnstown 3 (OT) – The Tomahawks scored two goals in the 3rd period to gain at least a point, but the Jr. Blues got a hat-trick including the overtime-winning goal from Ryan Atkinson in a 4-3 win in Johnstown.  Atkinson scored two goals in the 1st period to answer a Casey Nelson power play goal, as the Jr. Blues led 2-1 after one.  Mitch Rogge increased the lead to 3-1 after two periods.  However, 3rd period goals from Jordan Watt and Jeff Bergh forced overtime. Boxscore

Minot 3 @ Fresno 6 – Newly acquired Brandon Brossoit recorded a hat-trick and an assist as Fresno salvaged a weekend split of their home series with Minot.  Fresno led 4-0 on two goals from Brossoit, one from Daniel Rosse and another from Dan Sherer.  Jake O’Borsky scored for Minot to snap the shutout, but Fresno got two more goals from Tyler Shipstad and Brossoit’s third to put the game out of reach.  Wesley Iverson and Travis Maxwell also scored for Minot. Boxscore

Austin 2 @ Coulee Region 1 – The Bruins completed a weekend road sweep and now share the best record in the NAHL with the Amarillo Bulls.  Jason Pawloski made 21 saves in the win.  After the teams went scoreless in the opening two periods, Austin broke open the scoring early in the 3rd period with a pair of goals from Jay Dickman and Scott Nelson.  Andy Faust broke the Bruins shutout bid with a late goal for the Chill.  Aaron Davis made 31 saves in the loss. Boxscore

Odessa 3 @ Texas 4 – Scott Conway scored twice and Brandon Hawkins also had a multi-point game as Texas completed a weekend home sweep of the Jackalopes.  Justin Greenberg and Conway have Texas a 2-0 lead in the 1st period.  Anthony Olguin answered for the Jacks to make it 2-1, but Mitchell McPherson scored for Texas to give the Tornado a 3-1 lead.  Conway added his second goal of the game in the 3rd period to answer Odessa goals from Matt Volonnino and Josh Racek for the win. Boxscore

Topeka 3 @ Amarillo 4 – It was a comeback for the ages in Amarillo as the Bulls scored four 3rd period goals in a 14 minute span to erase a 3-0 Topeka lead and defeat the RoadRunners, 4-3.  The RoadRunners were seemingly in control after goals in the first two periods from Drew Kariofiles and two from Tyler Andrew.  However, Amarillo got goals in the 3rd period from TJ Sherman, Connor Frey, Geoff Fortman and the game-winning goal with just :08 seconds remaining from Gage Christianson. Boxscore

Bismarck 2 @ Wenatchee 3 (OT) – Dylan Abood scored :35 seconds into overtime to complete a Wenatchee comeback on Saturday night in a weekend sweep of Bismarck.  Shane Omdahl put the Bobcats up first, but Jono Davis would answer for Wenatchee.  Mike Dockry gave the Bobcats the lead back at 2-1 heading into the 3rd period with a goal.  Wenatchee defenseman Josh Hartley tied the game with less than two minutes remaining on a power play goal.  Brian Williams set up both the game-tying game and Abood’s OT-winner. Boxscore

Wichita Falls 1 @ Fairbanks 2 – Kevin Aldridge made 31 saves as the Ice Dogs defeated the Wildcats 2-1 on Saturday night in front of a sold out crowd in Fairbanks.  After a scoreless 1st period in which both goalies made 13 saves, the Ice Dogs got on the board in the 2nd period with goals from Doug Rose and Jayson Angus.  Marshall Tema scored the lone Wildcats goal in the 3rd period, but it would not be enough.  Evan Cowley made 31 saves in the loss. Boxscore