Friday Finals: Brown Bears take over 1st in the Midwest
Kenai River Brown Bears 4 @ Wenatchee Wild 3 (SO) – The Kenai River Brown Bears moved into sole possession of 1st place in the Midwest Division with a thrilling 4-3 shootout win in Wenatchee on Friday night. Zach Quinn made 39 saves in the win. Kenai River opened the scoring with a goal from Alec Butcher, which was answered by a power play goal from the Wild’s Troy Loggins. Butcher scored again to make it 2-1, but again the Wild would answer on a goal from David Powlowski. Trey Bradley gave the Wild their first lead of the night midway through the 3rd period, but the Brown Bears would tie the game with just :41 seconds to go on an extra attacker goal by Vincent Stefan. In the shootout, Butcher scored the decider as the fifth and final shooter. Boxscore
Odessa Jackalopes 2 @ Lone Star Brahmas 3 – Anthony Mousseau’s power play goal late in the 3rd period proved to be the difference as the Brahmas picked up a much needed home win over the Brahmas by a score of 3-2. Brahmas forward RJ Salvato also played the hero, as he picked up an assist on all three Brahmas goals of the night. After a scoreless 1st period, Lone Star took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd period on goals from Conner Enciso and Donovan Gardiner. Odessa would answer back with two goals of their own before the period was over from Lukas Laub and Alex Alger. That led to Mousseau’s heroics in the 3rd period. Boxscore
Minot Minotauros 1 @ Bismarck Bobcats 3 – The Bobcats used an efficient offense and another solid outing from goaltender Aaron Nelson to dispatch the Minotauros on Friday night is Bismarck by a scored of 3-1. Nate Repensky recorded two assists on the game’s opening goals by Filip Starzynski and Huba Sekesi. By midway through the 2nd period the Bobcats led 3-0 on another goal form Cullen Willox. Minot broke up Nelson’s shutout attempt late in the 2nd period on a goal from Jack Forbort, but that would be all that Minot could get as Bismarck outshot the Minotauors, 34-18 on the night. Boxscore
Soo Eagles 0 @ Johnstown Tomahawks 2 – It was a reversal of fortune for Alex Okicki and the Tomahawks. One night after being shutout by the Eagles, the Tomahawks and Okicki blanked the Soo on Friday night by a 2-0 score. Okicki stopped all 20 shots in the win. Both Johnstown goals came in the 2nd period from Dakoda Menslage and Brandon Reinholz. Trevor Recktenwald, Mitch Hall and Joe Drabin picked up assists. Paige Skoog made 29 saves for the Eagles in the loss. Boxscore
Janesville Jets 1 @ Minnesota Wilderness 3 – The Wilderness kept their recent hot play going with a 3-1 defeat of the Janesville Jets. In a game that featured a lot of 5 on 5 even strength time, the Wilderness broke the game open with three goals in the 2nd period. Billy Exell started the scoring for Minnesota, but that was answered by Janesville’s Drew Callin to make it 1-1. Then Wilderness forward Thomas Lindstrom scored two straight goals (one on a penalty shot) to put the Wilderness ahead 3-1. Goalie Kasimir Kasksuo did the rest, making 26 saves in the win. Boxscore
Fairbanks Ice Dogs 1 @ Austin Bruins 2 – Despite being outshot 32-18, the Austin Bruins rode the strong goaltender of Nick Lehr to a 2-1 win over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday in front of over 1,500 fans in Austin. The Ice Dogs scored the game’s first goal early in the 2nd period off the stick of Jacob Hetz. Jake Arroyo answered for the Bruins with just :31 seconds to go in the middle frame. The Bruins carried that momentum into the 3rd period as Brian Bachnak scored the eventual game-winning goal just two minutes into the final period. Boxscore
Topeka RoadRunners 3 @ Springfield Jr. Blues 0 – Goaltender PJ Bridges had quite the NAHL debut for the RoadRunners as the newly acquired goaltender stopped all 33 shots that came his way to post a shutout in his first NAHL games as Topeka blanked Springfield, 3-0. Sam Rennaker’s goal in the 1st period would be all Topeka would need on this night, but 3rd period goals from Jasen Fernsler and Tyler Groat would add some extra insurance. Bridges briefly played in the NAPHL and for the last couple of years in the GOJHL in Canada. Boxscore
Wichita Falls Wildcats 2 @ Corpus Christi IceRays 1 (SO) – In a battle of two goaltenders, it took almost 80 shots and a 16 combined shooters in the shootout for the Wildcats to triumph over the IceRays on Friday. Wildcats goaltender David Zevnik and IceRays goaltender Ben Myers each made 38 saves through regulation and overtime. Maurin Bouvet had the lone goal in regulation for Corpus Christi and Jordan Jancze had the goal for Wichita Falls. In the shootout, each team scored twice through the first five shooters, but it wasn’t until the Wildcats eighth shooter Ben Kucera scored until the win was secured. Boxscore
Amarillo Bulls 2 @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 1 – Goaltender Collin Delia was solid again, making 21 saves to hold the Killer Bees to just a single goal as the Bulls won a tight game, 2-1. The Bulls went up 1-0 in the 1st period on a power play goal from Brendan Vetter, assisted by Matt Sieckhaus and Roman Ammirato. The lead increased to 2-0 in the 2nd period on a goal from Ammirato, his second point of the night. With under five minutes to go in the 3rd period Ben Greiner struck for Rio Grande Valley, but they could not find the equalizer as the Bulls pulled out their 9th straight win. Boxscore
