Friday Finals: Gaffney's big night propels RoadRunners over Bulls

Amarillo 2 @ Topeka 5 – The Topeka RoadRunners took care of the puck and capitalized on their opportunities, beating the Amarillo Bulls for a 5-2 win on Friday night. Kyle Sharkey recorded a hat-trick and Sean Gaffney tied an NAHL season-high with five points in one game as the RoadRunners reclaimed 1st place in the South Division.  Sharkey’s powerplay goal at 8:08 in the first put the Roadrunners ahead 1-0. The second goal, on another powerplay coming with just 3 ticks left on the clock in the second, increased the lead to 4-1. On even strength in the third, Sharkey sealed his hat trick with a netter at 14:31, cementing the final at 5-2.  Tied at 1-1 with the clock running down in the first period, Tyler Andrew managed a powerplay goal with a thin second left, putting the RoadRunners in the driver’s seat 2-1 going into intermission.  Trace Strahle added to the offensive output with a powerplay goal of his own at 7:08 in the second period.  Tyler Deresky and Brandon Flood scored in the losing effort for the Bulls, who suffered just their second loss in regulation this season. Boxscore

Aberdeen 2 @ Coulee Region 5 – Cory Lushanko had two goals and two assists as the Chill snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 5-2 win at home over Aberdeen.  Garrett Hendrickson also had a four point night with a goal and three assists.  Coulee Region led 4-1 with goals from Sean Lang, Eddie Matsushima, Hendrickson and Lushanko.  Aberdeen countered with goals from Steven Johnson and Peter Krieger, but Lushanko’s second goal secured the win. Boxscore

Port Huron 2 @ Michigan 4 – The Warriors scored three, 3rd period goals on their way to a 4-2 win over Port Huron, handing the Fighting Falcons their 4th straight loss.  Martin Gruse, Levi Erkkila, Brock Labelle and Shawn Badali all scored for the Warriors, while Mark Evan Auk and Ian Miller had the goals for Port Huron.  Trevor Gorsuch recorded the win in goal for Michigan, making 29 saves, while Max Milosek made 36 saves in the loss. Boxscore

Janesville 1 @ Jamestown 2 (OT) – Ryan Urso scored just over two minutes into overtime as the Ironmen increased their lead in the North Division with their 8th straight game at home with a 2-1 win over he Janesville Jets.  Luc Gerdes scored the other goal for the Ironmen, which answered Janesville’s only goal, which came off the stick of Zach Diamantoni.  Reid Mimmack made 24 saves in the win, while Brock Kautz made 35 saves in the loss. Boxscore

Minot 5 @ Austin 4 (SO) – The Minotauros pulled the upset over the 1st place Austin Bruins with a 5-4 shootout win in Austin.  Steven Sherman scored as the 6th shooter to secure the win for Minot.  Jake O’Borsky kept his hot play going for the Minotauros with two goals and an assist.  Cody Milligan and Wesley Iverson also scored for Minot, while Brandon Wahlin had two goals for Austin.  Jay Dickman and CJ Smith scored the other goals for the Bruins. Boxscore

Kenai River 3 @ Fairbanks 2 – Gustaf Johansson made 30 saves as the Brown Bears picked up a big divisional road win in Fairbanks.  Kyle Lee scored both goals for Fairbanks, who led 2-1 early in the 2nd period.  However, the Brown Bears responded with an even strength goal from Lucas Kohls, a shorthanded goal from Dylan Meier and a power play goal from Brad LeLievre to pick up the win. Kevin Aldridge suffered the loss for Fairbanks making 23 saves. Boxscore

Wichita Falls 0 @ Odessa 1 – Blake Wojtala made 31 saves for his first NAHL shutout as the Jackalopes snapped an eight game slide with a 1-0 win over the visiting Wildcats.  It didn’t take long for Odessa to get on the scoreboard as Josh Racek scored just :12 seconds into the 1st period with assists to Ryan Doucet and Lawrence Cornellier.  The rest of the game was all goaltending as Wojtala battled it out with Evan Cowley of Wichita Falls, who made 22 saves in the loss. Boxscore

Corpus Christi 4 @ Texas 2 – The IceRays picked up a weekend split with the Tornado thanks to three shorthanded goals and 31 saves from Ben Myers.  The IceRays led 2-0 on shorthanded goals from Rudy Sulmonte and Charles Baldwin.  Texas responded to tie the game at 2-2 on a shorthanded goal of their own from Jackson Leef and a power play goal from Justin Greenberg.  Jalen Schulz responded with the only even strength goal of the game and Michael Economos added a late shorthanded goal. Boxscore

Soo 3 @ Springfield 5 – The Jr. Blues won their fifth straight and moved into 5th place in the North with a 5-3 win at home over Soo.  Nate Chasteen scored twice for Springfield, who trailed 3-2 midway through the game.  Eric Rivard, Dante Suffredini and Chris Waterstreet scored for the Eagles.  Ryan Atkinson, James McGing and Jack Sloan added the other markers for the Jr. Blues.  Sloan’s goal early in the 3rd period was the eventual game-winner. Boxscore

Bismarck 3 @ Brookings 4 – Blizzard forward Eric Brenk took over the 3rd period and the game as he scored two, 3rd period goals to help the Blizzard edge the Bobcats on Friday, 4-3.  Brandon Anderson opened the scoring for Brookings, but that was answered by goals from Bismarck’s Bob Kinne and Adam Knochenmus.  Justin Moody tied the game at 2-2, but Shane Omdahl scored for Bismarck to make it 3-2 Bobcats heading into the 3rd period and setting up Brenk’s heroics. Boxscore

Kalamazoo 3 @ Johnstown 4 – In front of over 3,000 fans the Tomahawks edged the Jr. K-Wings, 4-3.  Johnstown led early in the 2nd period 3-1 thanks to goals from Jaycob McCombs, Connor Wright and Brandon Reinholz, which answered an opening goal from Kalamazoo’s Robbie Payne.  Kalamazoo came back with goals from Mikhail Bushinski and Brett Beauvais, but Casey Nelson’s power play goal late in the 2nd period proved to be the equalizer. Boxscore