Friday Finals: Black Bears Score Overtime Win in East Finals Rematch
by NAHL Writing Team
Owen Kerr helped the defending champions start their season with a win Front cover photo credit: Johnny P @TheArtOfPicture
Maine 2 @ Maryland 3 (OT) - The defending Robertson Cup runner-up Maryland Black Bears began their season on home ice with a tilt against the Maine Nordiques on Friday night. After a scoreless first period, Shane Kozlina broke the ice for the Nordiques with a goal just over three minutes into the second period, a lead that would be added to 11 minutes later with a goal from Emil Tavernier to put the Nordiques up 2-0. Those who say the two goal lead is the most dangerous in hockey were right tonight, as the Black Bears tied up the game with a pair of goals from Trey Hinton and Markas Samenas just 55 seconds apart. The two sides would go into the second intermission bound at 2-2. The scoreless stalemate of the first period was mirrored in the third, forcing sudden death overtime. Kareem El Bashir channeled his inner Black Bear as he ripped the overtime winner for the defending runner-ups, and the Black Bears bested the Nordiques 3-2. Black Bears goaltender Benji Motew collected 26 of 28 saves for the inaugural win. Nordiques goaltender Matthew DellaRusso stopped 17 of 19 shots in the loss
Elmira 6 @ Danbury 1 - The Elmira Aviators opened their season in dominant fashion with a 6-1 win over the Danbury Hat Tricks. Alexis Billequey tallied the Aviator’s first goal of the season just 47 seconds into the game, a lead that would see them end the first period up 1-0. Seemingly unsatisfied with such a small lead, the Aviators lit up the back of the net with goals from Clarence Beltz, Aiden Stubbings and Logan Herbener, while Billequey rejoined the fun for his second goal of the night. Ameen Ghosheh scored the lone goal for the Hat Tricks, and the teams went into the locker room with a scoreboard that read 5-1, all Aviators. Matthew Magilo opened up his account for the Aviators with a goal in the third period as the Aviators cruised to the victory. Goaltender Adam Prokop stood on his head for the Aviators, making 39 out of 40 saves to grab his first win of the season, while Jack Fialkoff stopped 34 out of 40 pucks for the Hat Tricks in his first game of the season.
New Jersey 3 @ Rochester 5 - The Rochester Jr. Americans hosted the New Jersey Titans to start their respective seasons on Friday night. In what would go on to be a show of offensive fireworks, the hometown Jr. Americans started the scoring with a goal from Jaden Dyke. However, the visiting Titans would answer just 30 seconds later with a tally from Kristofers Krumins. Ryan Friedman scored five minutes later to give the Titans a 2-1 lead after the first period. Logan Renkowski insured the Titans lead just 31 seconds into the second period, but the Jr. Americans responded with two goals of their own from Calle Karlsson and Owen King to knot the second frame 3-3. Hugo Branthsson picked up right where his team left off in the third period, scoring his first goal of the year to give the Jr. Americans a 4-3 lead. After a valiant effort from the resilient Titans, Andrew Gibbons put the nail in the coffin as he secured the empty netter for the Jr. Americans with 48 seconds left in the game. The offensive slugfest saw eight different players get their first goals of the season, five players tally their first assist. Jr. American netminder Danick Leroux made 24/27 en route to the win, while Austin McNicholas stopped 34/38 shots on the night.
Johnstown 1 @ New Hampshire 7 - The New Hampshire Mountain Kings defeated the Johnstown Tomahawks 7-1. A five goal third period, and Oli Genest’s hat trick, fueled New Hampshire’s blowout win. The Mountain Kings opened the scoring late in the first period as Damon Bossie found the back of the net. New Hampshire then struck again midway through the second period as Genest potted his first of the game. Things completely unraveled for Johnstown following Lukas Klemm’s five-minute boarding major at 9:41 in the third period. The Mountain Kings capitalized on the prolonged power play, scoring four goals in 4:30. Kim Hilmersson and Cole Roenick scored 10 seconds apart before Genest grabbed his second tally of the night. Jake Hutchen polished off the onslaught on the man advantage pushing the New Hampshire lead to 6-0. Genest completed his hat trick at 18:52 to put his team up seven. Ryan Flaherty scored the only goal of the night for the Tomahawks with under a minute to play. Mountain King goaltender Sebastian Bodnar stopped 36 of the 37 shots he saw in the victory.
Northeast 6 @ Philadelphia 5 - The Northeast Generals took an overtime thriller over the Philadelphia Rebels 6-5. Philadelphia opened the evening’s scoring around the midpoint of the first period as Brayton Frick gave the Rebels the lead. The lead did not last long as Northeast struck back with Benjamon Campeau’s shorthanded tally. The Generals took the lead into the first intermission thanks to Spencer Hirsch’s first of the season at 17:26. Billy Sheridan and Philly responded early in the middle frame to tie the game at two before Benjamin Campeau answered with his second goal of the game for Northeast. The teams entered the second intermission tied at three following a late power play goal from Philly’s Otto Polakovs. The scoring continued in the game’s final frame with Northeast potting a pair of power play markers from Grant Logue and Rich Rucireto to take a 5-3 lead. The Rebels would not be denied, though, as Philadelphia struck twice late in the third. Brock Jones at 13:01 and Frick’s second at 17:32 was enough to force overtime. It was then Jake Gutwirth who found the winner at 1:54 in the bonus frame to give Northeast the extra point.
Chippewa 3 @ Wisconsin 5 - The Wisconsin Windigo defeated the Chippewa Steel 5-3 to earn their first win of the young season. The Windigo jumped out to an early lead as Cashen Naeve opened the scoring just 3:16 into the game. Mario DiMaggio added to the Wisconsin lead later in the period to give his team a 2-0 advantage at the first intermission. However, Jack L’Esperance and Chippewa were able to get a goal back only four minutes into the second period. The Windigo extended their lead just under six minutes later thanks to Zachary Cline’s first of the year. Wisconsin then immediately went to the power play following the Cline goal which led to Alexios Georgaklis’ tally to push the lead to 4-1. Even down three, Chippewa continued to grind and inched back into the game late in the period. Tomas Trunda scored for the Steel at 14:46 to cut the deficit back to two at the second intermission. Goaltenders Jakub Irsak and Lucas Szyszka stood tall for most of the third period before Chippewa’s Wyatt Kerr slashed the Wisconsin lead to just one with 2:28 to play. The comeback effort was thwarted, however, as Cline’s empty net, and second, goal iced the Wisconsin win.
Amarillo 2 @ Oklahoma 1 (SO) - The home opener for the Oklahoma Warriors against the Amarillo Wranglers was a physical battle to set the tone for the season. Despite many chances from both teams, the first period stayed scoreless. Trace Day opened the scoring for Amarillo seven minutes into the second period. Oklahoma’s Louie Kamienski netted a backdoor pass from Sebastian Speck four minutes later to tie the game. With teams trading scoring opportunities in the third period, both goalies were able to keep the game tied at one a piece taking the game to overtime. Billy Stuski of Oklahoma and Charlie Zolin of Amarillo both made numerous impressive saves in overtime forcing the game into a shootout. During the shootout both goalies stopped the first two shots. On the third shot, Grayson Gerhard of Amarillo and Dominik Kiss of Oklahoma scored, which happened to be their NAHL debut game. Trace Day scored a second time for Amarillo in the shootout securing the team’s 2-1 win over the Warriors.
Kenai River 3 @ Janesville 0 - The first game of the season was a great start for the Kenai River Brown Bears. Greye Rampton of the Brown Bears scored the first goal four minutes into the first period. Following Rampton’s lead, Andrew Larson went coast to coast, scoring with only a minute left in the first and putting Kenai River ahead 2-0. The second period saw many shots, but Kenai River remained ahead going into the third. Two minutes into the third, Kenai River’s James Lyver scored, making the game’s final score 3-0 shutting out the Jets. Owen Zenone, Kenai River’s goaltender, had an outstanding performance recording his first NAHL shutout with 35 saves.
Fairbanks 2 @ Minnesota 3 (SO) - The Fairbanks Ice Dogs would head to Minnesota to take on the Wilderness. Thomas Corneillie would set the tone early, with a goal early in the opening frame. Scoring would be put on hold until Minnesota’s Logan Nagle would even things up with 2:21 left in the second. Caden Pendo would give the Ice Dogs the lead in the first before Frantisek Netusil would send this game into overtime. Both teams would fail to score in the additional frame, leading to a back-and-forth shootout that would give the Wilderness the win. Kevin Jones would have a great 41 saves in the loss, Niklas Erickson would have 29 in the win.
Odessa 1 @ Lone Star 6 - Odessa would take on the defending champions, the Lone Star Brahmas, in both team’s opening games. The Jackalopes would strike early, with James Richmond’s unassisted goal. Owen Kerr would level this game nearly ten minutes later for the Brahmas, sending the game to a tie heading into the intermission. Three goals in the second from Antti Autere, Vladimir Saibel, Anthony Cappello would begin the rout for the Brahmas. Charlie Masek and Saxton Tess would add two more in the third to claim the 6-1 Victory. Jack Spicer would make 36 saves in defeat.
El Paso 3 @ Colorado 2 (SO) - Both teams would begin their season in Greeley, Colorado, as the El Paso Rhinos would take on the Colorado Grit. Braden Junker would find the twine early, potting a goal less than five minutes into the game. The Rhinos would respond quickly, with Rasmus Nousiainen equalizing the match. Nousiainen would be on the scoresheet again, netting another goal to give the Rhinos the lead at the end of the frame. The second would end scoreless, but Sheldon Rioux would send this game to overtime after he scored with less than six minutes left in the third period. The overtime frame would be scoreless which would take us to the shootout. In the skills competition, Ryder Many Grey Horses would tally the only goal in three rounds to give El Paso the win. Micheal Manzi would shut the door, getting 30 saves in the win. Peter Sterling would be dealt the shootout loss, with 31 saves.
