Friday Finals: Chill get big OT win in Fairbanks
MN Wilderness 3 @ Minot 2 – The Wilderness jumped out to a 3-0 lead and survived a comeback attempt by the Minotauros, capturing the win, 3-2. The Wilderness jumped ahead with a 1st period goal from Alex Trapp. Goals from Nick Altmann and Connor Bucsis early in the 2nd period increased the lead to 3-0 for the Wilderness. Minot stormed back with goals later in the 2nd period from Austin Martinsen and Johnny Walker, but could not find the equalizer. Wilderness goalie Chase Munroe made 25 saves in the win, while Minot goalie Lucas Murray took the loss, making 19 saves. Boxscore
Brookings 5 @ MN Magicians 6 (SO) – The Magicians scored three goals in the 3rd period to send the game to a shootout where they would win and defeat the Blizzard 6-5. Five different players scored for the Magicians, including Kevin Dineen in the 1st period, Jordan Fralich in the 2nd period and Kyle Wagner, Casey Jerry and Alex Lambacher in the 3rd period. The Blizzard got two 1st period goals from Mikael Hakkarainen and another from Nick Ford. Connor Hutchins scored in the 2nd period and Griff Jeszka added a 3rd period goal. Both Mitch Slattery and Casey Jerry scored in the shootout for the Magicians. Minnesota goalie Anthony Pupplo made 25 saves in the win in his NAHL debut. Boxscore
Janesville 5 @ Kenai River 3 – The Jets kept things rolling as they got goals from five different players and scored three times in the 3rd period to hand the Brown Bears a 5-3 loss on home ice. It was all Jets in the 1st period as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals from Taylor Fernandez and Zach Solow. The Brown Bears responded with two goals in the 2nd period from Jason Lem and Gunnar Goodmanson to tie the game at 2-2. The Jets pulled away in the 3rd period with goals from John Peterson, Cole Paskus and Adam Winborg. Tanner Dufault had the other goal for Kenai River. Jack LaFontaine made 23 saves in the Jets win, while Brian Baker made 38 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Coulee Region 5 @ Fairbanks 4 (OT) – Dominick Florian had four points and Michael Wilson had three points, including the overtime-winning goal as the Chill extended their winning streak with a 5-4 overtime win in Fairbanks, handing the Ice Dogs their third consecutive home loss. Florian and Isaac Theisen scored in the 1st period, Aussie Miller added a 2nd period goal and Florian added his second goal of the game in the 3rd period. Fairbanks tallies came from Todd Burgess in the 1st period, Ryner Gorowsky and Cayden Cahill in the 2nd period and Tyler Tomberlin in the 3rd period. Hunter Vorva and Matiss Kivlenieks combined for 50 saves in the win, while CJ Boothe made 34 saves in the loss. Boxscore
New Jersey 2 @ Johnstown 3 – Ryan Glander made 28 saves to lead the Johnstown Tomahawks to a 3-2 home win over 1st place New Jersey. It was the Titans who struck first as Anthony Cusanelli scored the opening goal. However, the was answered by three straight goals from the Tomahawks, including two in the 1st period from Ryan Burr and Casey Linkenheld. The eventual game-winner came late in the 2nd period with a power play goal from Kelly O’Brien. Darren Brady had the other New Jersey goal, but it would not be enough. Titans goalie Jack Berry made 38 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Aston 1 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2 – Grant Valentine made 28 saves to lead the Knights to a 2-1 win over the Rebels. The Knights got off to a fast start with two 1st period goals that would stick the rest of the game from Carson Knop and Zach Remers. Knop would assist on the Remers goal, giving him a multi-point night. Aston would finally break through midway through the 3rd period as Connor Wood scored their lone goal. Rebels goalie Darion Hanson made 28 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Topeka 6 @ Springfield 3 – The RoadRunners scored five times in the 2nd period and got three-point nights from Matt Jennings and Cam Strong in a 6-3 win. The Jr. Blues scored the lone goal of the 1st period off the stick of Sam Craggs. Topeka answered with five goals in the 2nd period, which included two from Jennings and others from Marcus Russell, Quinn Preston and Dominic Lutz. The Jr. Blues cut the gap to 5-3 with another goal from Craggs and one from Brennan Blaszczak to make it 5-3, but a late 3rd period goal from Topeka’s Ryan O’Connor secured the 6-3 win. Juho Niku made 36 saves in the win. Boxscore
Bismarck 3 @ Austin 7 – The Bruins scored seven goals on just 24 shots, including five goals in the 2nd period on their way to a 7-3 win. Bismarck led 1-0 after the 1st period with a goal from Harrison Aide. The Bruins responded with five goals in the 2nd period, including two from Gilbert Gabor and others from Logan Haskins, Justin Misiak and Austin Rueschhoff. The Bobcats tried to make a game of things in the 3rd period with another goal from Aide and another from Cole Suoto, but Austin cemented the win with goals from Evan Cholak and Miha Zajc. Austin goalie Kris Carlson made 18 saves in the win. Boxscore
Odessa 3 @ Wichita Falls 8 – The Wildcats offense exploded for three goals in the 1st and 3rd periods and two more in the 2nd period in an 8-3 win. Nick Rosa, Jeff Baum and Austin Beaulieu all scored in the 1st period. Adam Goodsir and Austin Albrecht added 2nd period goals. The 3rd period saw Goodsir and Rosa score their second goals of the game, while Erich Jaeger added the other goal. Odessa got their goals from Derek Brown and Gray Marr in the 2nd period and Cooper Zech in the 3rd period. Wildcats goalie Justin Kapelmaster made 29 saves in the win. Boxscore
Lone Star 4 @ Corpus Christi 2 – Three, 1st period goals were enough for the Brahmas to defeat the IceRays, 4-2 in the second game of a three game weekend set. The Brahmas struck early and often as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead with goals from Peter Bates, Oskar Andren and Carson Kelley. Troy York added Lone Star’s fourth goal midway through the 2nd period. The IceRays attempted a comeback in the 3rd period with a pair of goals from Carter Johnson, but it would be as close as they would get. Corbin Kaczperski made 17 saves in the win, while Dryden McKay made 28 saves in the loss. Boxscore
