Friday Finals: Warriors display more 3rd period magic in win

Johnstown 2 @ Michigan 4 – In front of over 4,000 fans at Perani Arena in Flint, the 3rd period comeback kids did it again as for the third straight game the Warriors scored at least three goals in the 3rd period to complete another comeback, this time over the visiting Johnstown Tomahawks.  Johnstown led early in the 2nd period on a goal from Brandon Reinholz.  Michigan tied the game on a marker from Shawn Badali.  Mitch Kontny have the Tomahawks a 2-1 lead midway through the 3rd period, but goals from Sean Campbell, AJ Marcinek and Martin Gruse in the last eight minutes of the game sent the large crowd home happy and gave the Warriors their third straight win. Boxscore

Fairbanks 1 @ Wenatchee 2 – In a battle of the top two teams in the West, a late 3rd period goal from Max McHugh completed a 3rd period comeback as the Wild topped the Ice Dogs, 2-1.  It took until the 3rd period for either team to score.  Patrick Newell have Fairbanks a 1-0 lead, but Josh Hartley tied the game two minutes later setting up McHugh’s heroics.  Robert Nichols made 25 saves in the win, while Steve Perry made 21 saves in his return from injury. Boxscore

Amarillo 2 @ Texas 3 (OT) – In a battle of the two top teams in the South, the Tornado got a late overtime goal from reigning South Player of the Week Drew Mayer in a 3-2 overtime win.  Amarillo led 2-1 after one period on goals from Matt Sieckhaus and Mike Davis, while Scott Conway scored for Texas.  Mitchell McPherson evened the game at 2-2 in the 2nd period on a rebound goal.  Mayer’s OT-winner was a great effort against two Bulls defenseman. Boxscore

Topeka 3 @ Wichita Falls 2 – Three, 2nd period goals from the RoadRunners was the difference in the game as the took the opening game of their series in Wichita Falls on Friday, 3-2.  After a 1st period goal from Conor O’Neil gave the Wildcats the lead, the RoadRunners scored three straight in the 2nd period on two goals from Ross Luedtke and another from Dan Dupell.  A 3rd period marker from Kyle Bauman would not be enough for the Wildcats.  Spencer Viele made 34 saves in the win. Boxscore

Odessa 4 @ Corpus Christi 6 – The IceRays jumped out to leads of 3-0 and 4-1 and never looked back in a 6-4 home win over the Jackalopes.  Eric Purcell opened the scoring and Perry D’Arrisso scored twice to give the ‘Rays a 3-0 lead.  Anthony Olguin scored the first of his two goals to make it 3-1 before Joe Ginley made it 4-1.  Rudy Sulmonte and John Roisum scored for the ‘Rays in the 3rd period, while Mike Mezzano, Matt Volonnino and Olguin added the others for the Jacks. Boxscore

Kenai River 5 @ Fresno 4 (OT) – Alex Jackstadt completed a hat-trick with the overtime-winning goal as the Brown Bears survived a late Fresno goal in regulation to win 5-4 in overtime.  Jackstadt scored the first two goals for Kenai Rver, which were answered by goals from Fresno’s Dan Sherer and Mitchell Snyder to make it 2-2.  Bryan Hodges and Brad Duwe made it 4-2 for the Bears, but the Monsters came back to tie with goals from Gordon Wells late in the 2nd period and Snyder’s second of the game with just :27 seconds left in regulation. Boxscore

Minot 2 @ Austin 1 (SO) – Although it came in a shootout, Minot pulled off a big 2-1 win over the 1st place Bruins in Austin as Minotauros goalie Ryan Ruck made 43 saves and then stopped all four shooters in the shootout.  Cameron Rowat scored in regulation for the Minotauros, while CJ Smith had the lone Bruins goal.  Steven Sherman and Scott Dornbrock had goals in the shootout for Minot. Boxscore

Jamestown 4 @ Janesville 3 – Two goals from newcomer Ryan Doucet in his first game in an Ironmen uniform helped Jamestown to a 4-3 win in Janesville on Friday.  Jamestown scored twice in the 1st period on goals from Tyler Dunagan and Doucet.  The Jets scored all three of their goals in the 2nd period as Ruslan Pedan scored twice and Jack Billings netted a goal.  However, another goal from Doucet and the game-winner from Ryan Urso were the difference in the 3rd period in the Ironmen win. Boxscore

Coulee Region 2 @ Brookings 7 – After the first five minutes of the game it looked like the Chill came to play as they took a 2-0 lead on goals from Hunter Anderson and Cory Lushanko.  However, that would be it the rest of the game as the Blizzard scored seven straight including four in the 3rd period to win 7-2.  Justin Moody scored twice and Emil Blomqvist, Casey Purpur, Evan Hesse, Thomas Williams and Nikita Sokolov added the goals fir Brookings. Boxscore

Kalamazoo 2 @ Soo 6 – Four, 3rd period goals from the Eagles broke a 2-2 tie and was the difference in the Eagles 6-2 win on Friday over the K-Wings.  Michael Covach and Brandon Adams scored early for the Soo, while Taylor Burden and Robbie Payne scored for the K-Wings.  In the 3rd period, Soo got two goals from Kyle Loridon and others from Jared Van Wormer and Eric Rivard to secure the win and kept their 1st place lead in the North at four points. Boxscore

Springfield 4 @ Port Huron 0 – Mike Fazio had two goals and an assist and goaltender Matt Leon had to make just 14 saves as the Jr. Blues scored three, 2nd period goals on their way to a 4-0 shutout win in Port Huron on Friday.  It was the Fighting Falcons fifth straight loss.  Ryan Atkinson and Brett Skibba had the other goals for the Jr. Blues in the win and Skibba also ended up with an assist on one of Fazio’s goals.  Three of Springfield’s four goals came via the power play. Boxscore