Saturday Scores: Minotauros Hand Bobcats First Loss

Maryland 4 @ New Hampshire 6 - Despite having 19 fewer shots on goal than the Maryland Black Bears (9-6), the New Hampshire Moutain Kings (5-9-0-1) came away with the 6-4 victory on Saturday at the Tri-Town Ice Arena.

Philadelphia 4 @ Elmira 3 (OT) - The Philadelphia Rebels (6-7-1-1) went down 3-1 to the Elmire Aviators (7-6-2) before battling back with two goals in the third period to force an eventual overtime 4-3 victory on Saturday at the LECOM Event Center. With 24 shots on goal in the third period, the Rebels late surge brought them over the top, ultimately shooting 23 more shots on goal than the Elmire Aviators in the contest. The game-winning goal was scored by Philadelphia forward Jared Coccimiglio, his fourth of the season, and was assisted by forward Brock Jones, his tenth.

Johnstown 6 @ New Jersey 7 (OT) - The New Jersey Titans (8-7-0-1) found a way to win on Saturday, returning from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Johnstown Tomahawks (5-8-2) in overtime by a score of 7-6 at the Middletown Ice World Arena. A scoring frenzy between both clubs as a combined 87 shots on goal were attempted by both teams, 35 from Johnstown and 52 from New Jersey. The foundation of the Titans' offense was forward Alex Papaspyropoulos, who was everywhere, seemingly doing everything all at once. Papaspyropoulos recorded two goals and four assists, including an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime by forward Ryan Shaw, Shaw's fourth of the season.

Northeast 6 @ Maine 4 - Goalie Ryan Nolan answered the call for the Northeast Generals (6-6-1-1) on Saturday at The Colisee, saving 46 of 50 shots on goal by the Maine Nordiques (10-3-1), lending enough support for the Generals to win 6-4. It was a power play party between both clubs, totaling 17 opportunities in the match. The losing Nordiques scored 3-of-10 goals from their power play opportunities, while the Generals cashed in on 1-of-7.

Minnesota M 0 @ North Iowa 4 - The North Iowa Bulls (5-7) collected their second shutout win of the season Saturday at the Mason City Arena, beating the Minnesota Mallards (6-8) by a score of 4-0 thanks to a lights-out performance by goalie Jack Hirshorn, saving all 31 shots on goal he faced.

Aberdeen 0 @ St. Cloud 3 - Neither team scored a goal until the St. Cloud Norseman (8-2-1-2) cashed in three times in the third period - two against empty nets - to beat the Aberdeen Wings (8-3) on Saturday at St. Cloud Municipal, winning by a final of 3-0. The goals were scored by forwards Hudson Blue, Sam Crane and defenseman Kyle Miller.

Danbury 2 @ Rochester 5 - The Rochester Jr Americans (7-4-2-2) took care of the Danbury Hat Tricks (5-10-1) on Saturday at the Rochester Ice Center, winning their second straight game against the Hat Tricks 5-2. The Hat Tricks offense had little to no aggression, shooting 17 shots on goal, far outnumbered by the Jr Americans 40 shots on goal.

New Mexico 3 @ Oklahoma 2 - The New Mexico Ice Wolves (3-10-1-1) have won two out of their last three, beating the Oklahoma Warriors (4-8-1-2) on Saturday at the Blazers Ice Centre by a score of 3-2. Each of the three goals scored by the Ice Wolves was the first this season by each player. New Mexico defensemen Sloan Farmer and Herman Asberg, along with forward Toivo Laaksonen, all lit the lantern for the Ice Wolves in the win.

Austin 5 @ Watertown 0 - The Austin Bruins (8-5) successfully shut out the Watertown Shamrocks (2-9-1-1) on Saturday at the Prairie Lakes Ice Arena, highlighted by a hat trick by forward Alex Laurenza. The shutout was goalie Devin Rustlie's first of the season, saving all 28 of the 28 shots on goal by the Shamrocks. 

Springfield 4 @ Janesville 2 - The Springfield Jr. Blues completed the weekend sweep of the Janesville Jets Saturday night. Junsu Kwak opened the scoring with a goal less than a minute into the first period. Cruz Martin on a late powerplay in the period would be set up by Kwak and Logan Sutton to give the Jr. Blues a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. James Taylor halfway through the period cut the lead in half, scoring his first point since October 4. The Jr. Blues late in the second period once again raised the lead to two goals off a goal from Sutton. Most of the final period was a back-and-forth slugfest, but Kwak raised the lead to three goals 14:45 into the period, raising the pressure on the Jets. After pulling the goaltender, the Jets got their second goal from Thomas Enrietto, but it was too late with only 20 seconds remaining in play. Kwak led both teams in scoring tonight, earning himself two goals and two assists.

Colorado 9 @ Amarillo 3 - Penalties killed the Amarillo Wranglers Saturday, as they fell to a series sweep by the Colorado Grit. The first period was dominated by the Wranglers, scoring an early power play goal from Emils Skeltins in the first five minutes, as well as another goal 13:17 in the period by Corson Maguire to jump to a 2-0 lead. Back-to-back penalties led to two goals by the Grit early into the second period: an unassisted goal from William Johnson and a score from Luke Helgeson. Former Minot Minotauros player Luc Bydal scored two goals of his own within two minutes, giving the Grit a 4-2 lead after being down 2-0. Continuing their offensive assault on the Wranglers, the Grit scored twice more from goals 25 seconds apart from Evan Smutney and Kennan Reyelts. A shorthanded goal from Gerhard Grayson gave the Wranglers their last of the game, but the Grit three more times scored powerplay goals off Johnson, Alexander German, and Sheldon Rioux. The Grit were on the powerplay 11 times, scoring on five.

Chippewa 1 @ Minnesota W 2 (SO) - A shootout goal from captain Nate Murray propelled the Minnesota Wilderness against the Chippewa Steel. The first goal came six minutes into the second period from Matic Percic to give the Steel a 1-0 lead. The Wilderness didn’t tie the game until early in the third period, with Western Michigan commit Frantisek Netusil scoring his eleventh goal of the season off the power play. A scoreless overtime sent the game to a shootout, with Netusil and Murray each scoring to give the Wilderness a much needed win after going 1-3 in their past four games. Steel goalie Jakub Irsak and Niklas Erickson were both stout in the game, letting in only one goal on 27 and 36 shots faced respectively.

El Paso 2 @ Odessa 1 - The El Paso Rhinos split the series against the Odessa Jackalopes after not scoring any 5on5 goals. The Rhinos began the scoring with a shorthanded goal from Duke Gentzler early in the second period. Later in the period, Max Treppo scored his second of the season, but a powerplay goal from Solano for his eighth of the season gave the Rhinos a 2-1 lead that they would hold on to for the rest of the game. Solano with the game winning goal has been on a heater, scoring seven goals in his last five games.

Lone Star 3 @ Corpus Christi 0 - The Lone Star Brahmas shutout the Corpus Christi IceRays in a battle of heavyweights. The Brahmas had only eight shots on goal in the first period, but took advantage on the powerplay to get two goals from Leo Bergstrom and Owen Kerr. Kristo Pitkanen put the finishing touch with a third goal for the Brahmas early in the third period, capping off a great defensive night for the reigning Robertson Cup Champions. Boston College commit Ryan Cameron was credited with the shutout, stopping all 29 shots faced.

Bismarck 2 @ Minot 3 (SO) - The Minot Minotauros took down the undefeated Bismarck Bobcats in the shootout on Saturday. Zane Rowan scored the only goal of the first period halfway in, keeping it 1-0 Bobcats after 20 minutes. Minotauros’ second leading scorer, John Small tied the game late in the second period for his seventh of the season. A late powerplay for the Bobcats in the period saw them capitalize with Josh Lehto scoring his third of the season, keeping the Bobcats’ lead of one goal after two periods. In the final minutes of the third period, Ian Spencer was assisted by Jesse Juhola and Jack O’Hanisain to tie the game, sending both teams to overtime. A shootout was called after a scoreless overtime, and Spencer scored the game winner to give the Bobcats their first loss of the season. The Minotauros have to give big thanks to goaltender Lukas Swedin, who stopped 38 of 40 shots faced to keep the Bobcats offense in check.

Wisconsin 4 @ Anchorage 5 (OT) - The Anchorage Wolverines completed a late third period comeback to win in overtime against the Wisconsin Windigo. Connor Jalbert scored early in the first, but Elliot Gulley tied it for the Windigo 13 minutes into the period to keep it 1-1. A scoreless second period led to six goals in the third, the first in the beginning minute from Daniel Bagnole. With less than ten minutes left in the period, the Windigo scored three goals in three minutes, two only 11 seconds apart. Declan Burns, Jackson Ernst, and Ronnie Hill all were credited with the goals. With seven minutes remaining, the Wolverines were down 4-2, but they relied on their forwards, getting goals from Patrick Tolan and Samuel Evert late to tie the game. In the final seconds of overtime, Bagnole scored his second of the game to win the game in overtime. He led all skaters in scoring with three points: two goals and an assist.

Fairbanks 2 @ Kenai River 3 (OT) - The Kenai River Brown Bears overcame a two goal deficit to win in overtime against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. The Ice Dogs rallied early off goals from Luca Ricciardi and Adam Timm, two of their most proficient scorers. Dario Lass but the lead to one goal shortly after with a goal of his own for his fourth of the season. The tying goal wouldn’t come for the Brown Bears until early in the third period from Luke Hause, sending the game into overtime after a scoreless period the rest of the way. Both teams played tight defense in the overtime period, but Greye Rampton hit the game winner halfway through the period to give the Brown Bears a much needed win after dropping their past four games.

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