Friday Finals: Rochester Pushes Win Streak to Five

Northeast 3 @ Elmira 4 - The Elmira Aviators bested the Northeast Generals in a game that the Aviators nearly let slip out of their fingers. After a scoreless first period, Elmira took a 2-0 lead following two scores from forward Charlie Fink, his seventh and eighth goals of the season. Then the the Generals answered back. In the third period, Northeast lit the lantern twice with goals from forward William-Francisco Parent and Rich Rucireto. The game was now tied with eight minutes to go in regulation. Elmira forward slapped in a goal to give the Aviators a 3-2 lead, but once again, the Generals responded, this time with a goal from defenseman Emerson Miller, his fourth of the season. Even at three a piece, the East Divison foes turned to overtime. Two minutes in the game ended, Elmira claimed the win thanks to defenseman Andrew Horn playing hero and scoring the game-winning goal.

Danbury 1 @ Johnstown 3 - The Danbury Hat Tricks dropped their third-straight game after being unable to bounce back from a three-goal deficit to the Johnstown Tomahawks. The Tomahawks enjoyed a 3-0 lead late into the second period thanks to goals from forwards Ryan Flaherty, Adam Ondris, and defenseman Andrew Cowgill. The Hat Tricks got on the board less than a minute before the third period, but it was their only goal of the night as Johnstown's goalie, Nick Avakyan, neutralized them. Avayken only allowed one score among the 32 shots on goals.

Rochester 2 @ Maine 1 - The first-place Rochester Jr Americans continued their hot streak, winning their fifth straight game after defeating the Maine Nordiques 2-1. The Nordiques outshot the Jr Americans 33 to 26, but Rochester was able to eke out the victory after taking a 2-0 lead with a power play goal in each of the first two periods from forwards Ryan Shaw and Jaden Dyke. The win was, in large part, thanks to the efforts of goalie Danick Leroux, who held off the advances from Maine, only allowing one goal from the 33 shots he saw.

New Hampshire 3 @ New Jersey 4 - A back-and-forth affair concluded with the New Jersey Titans having the last laugh, beating the New Hampshire Mountain Kings 4-3. The two teams went tit-for-tat in the opening frame and entered the second period tied 2-2. The trading of scores continued into the third until New Jersey finally scored two in a row and gained a 4-3 advantage, a lead that wouldn't change for the rest of regulation as neither team scored in the third period. Three of the goals by the Titans were from a power play, and two were scored by the team's goals leader, Alex Papaspyropoulos, who now has 16 goals on the season. 

Maryland 5 @ Philadelphia 3 - Philadelphia would light the lamp early on Friday, as a shorthanded goal from Charles Panchisin would put the Rebels up early. Joe Stauber would add to the lead just minutes later, as Philadelphia would go into the intermission with a two-goal lead. The lead would slowly evaporate, as Tanner Duncan scored to put Maryland on the board and a shorthanded goal from Victor Mannebratt would tie this game at two. Caesar Bjork would grab the lead back for Philadelphia, as he would score on the powerplay later on in the second. A minute into the third period, Kareem El Bashir scored to tie this game, then Josh Frenette would give Maryland their first lead of the game. Markas Samenas would seal this game with an empty net goal and Ryan Denes would pick up the victory.

Kenai River 5 @ Chippewa 3 - An early game misconduct would put the Steel on the power play, where Camden Davis would convert early to give Chippewa an early lead. Later on in the first period, Joseph Yoon would level this game at one. Early in the second, both teams would trade goals, as Samuel Sisik's goal would quickly be countered by Patrick Vogl's. Brady Engelkes would give Kenai River their first lead of the game a minute later on the power play. Kenai River would take this game over in the third, as Sisik and Engelkes would both record multi-goal games on Friday. Jackson Lackas would score late in the game for Chippewa, but it wouldn't be enough, as Mitchell Mccusker would pick up the win making 33 saves.

Fairbanks 6 @ Wisconsin 2 - Fairbanks would come firing out of the gates, as Kyle Rohrer would get the party started with his early power play marker. Later in the period, Cole Burke and Oliver Barna would add to the Ice Dogs’ lead, heading into the locker room with a three-goal lead. Wisconsin would finally get on the board with Harper Frey’s power play late in the second, leading to Ben Aucoin’s goal early in the third. Despite Wisconsin cutting the lead to one, Ingus Locmelis and Justin Collins would regain the three-goal lead for the Ice Dogs. Burke would grab his second goal of the game later on to seal it and Charlie Menard would make 29 saves in the process.

Watertown 1 @ St. Cloud 2 - On Friday night, the Shamrocks would face the Norsemen, looking to string some wins together before the end of the calendar year. The first period would go scoreless for both sides, with Mason LeBel breaking the tie early in the second period for St. Cloud. Later in the period, Watertown would tie this game, as Carter Sproule would light the lamp on the man advantage. Late in the third, Kyle Miller would capitalize on the power play for St. Cloud, winning the game for his team alongside Dane Callaway’s 26 saves.

Anchorage 1 @ Springfield 2 (SO) - Owen Lowe netted the only goal in the shootout and that was enough to the lift the Springfield Jr. Blues to a 2-1 win over the Anchorage Wolverines. It was scoreless through the first 49 minutes of regulation until Logan Ganz notched his 12th goal of the season to put Springfield in front. Then with the extra attacker, the Wolverines would even the game as Daniel Bagnole netted his 14th goal of the year. Frank Murphy was victorious in goal as he finished the night with 22 saves and stopped all three shooters in the skills competition. William Lubimov suffered the loss in net despite allowing just one goal on 25 shots.

Aberdeen 4 @ North Iowa 3 (OT) - The Aberdeen Wings stayed a final third period comeback from the North Iowa Bulls, taking the victory in overtime. The Bulls jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first five minutes. Fuji Suzuki and Cole Wirun hitting the first and second goals, respectively. The Wings responded with two goals of their own in less than a minute, tying the game 2-2 after 20 minutes from Grant Winkler and Luke Backel goals. Nikolai Tishkevich scored the only goal in the second period, giving the Wings the lead until the final seconds of play, when Noah Diemer sent the game into overtime with his first goal of the season on the power play. Tishkevich had his number called in overtime, his second of the game winning it for the Wings.

Oklahoma 3 @ Shreveport 7 - The Shreveport Mudbugs took a 2-0 lead in the first, with goals from Carter McKay and Brent Litchard in 33 seconds. Travis Bryson off his 14th goal of the season cut the lead to one for the Oklahoma Warriors’ first, but Lucas Deeb raised the lead back to two goals to end the first period. Beginning the scoring in the second period was Mason Wright, expanding the Mudbugs lead, but the Warriors didn’t give up, notching a goal from Caiden Mech. Both teams traded goals again in the second half of the period, Aiden Puley getting the goal for the Mudbugs, and for the Warriors Louie Kamienski. The third period was largely a defensive affair, but Litchard scored his second of the game late, and Salvatore Viviano put the dagger in with his first goal in the final minute.

Colorado 1 @ Amarillo 3 - The Amarillo Wranglers capitalized more on scoring chances against the Colorado Grit, earning a gritty victory on Friday. The Grit took the only score of the first period, Carl Jacobson getting the goal. The first goal of the second period saw Lucas Mann tying the game, but Trace Day gave the Grit the lead right back five minutes later. In the final minutes of the third period, Morley Phillips ended any hope of a tied game with his score, ending it 3-1 in the Wranglers favor. Wranglers goaltender Charlie Zolin stopped 38 of 39 shots in the victory.

El Paso 6 @ Odessa 2 - A four goal third period propelled the El Paso Rhinos over the Odessa Jackalopes. A.J. Reed scored the only goal in the first period for the Rhinos with only 20 seconds left to play in the period. The Rhinos kept their lead in the second period, getting another goal from Roope Tuomioksa despite the Jackalopes scoring off David Hamr. The third period was dominated by the Rhinos, three goals in six minutes from Kyle Arias, Thomas Shore, and Trent Anfinson. Nick Metelkin tried to stop the bleeding with the Jackalopes’ second of the night, but Beckett Hinschliff notched the final goal to cap off the Rhinos’ victory.

New Mexico 2 @ Lone Star 1 - A low scoring, physical South Division battle went the way of the New Mexico Ice Wolves, defeating the Lone Star Brahmas by a final of 2-1. In the first, Toivo Laaksonen would break the ice for New Mexico with his third of the year to give New Mexico the lead after 20 minutes. The second would be a physical battle, but no goals would be scored. In the third, Nayan Pai would double the Ice Wolves lead. Elias Kumlin would cut the lead in half for Lone Star, and they would battle for the tying goal, but 21 saves from Jackson Fuller on the night would be enough for New Mexico to secure all two points.

Austin 4 @ Minot 2 - Three goals in the third powered the Austin Bruins to a 4-2 win over the Minot Minotauros on Friday night. In the first, goals from Ryan Lund for Austin, and Chuck Owens for Minot, would bring the game skidding into the first tied at one. The lone goal of the second belonged to Leo Cabulis for Minot, and Minot would lead 2-1 after two periods. In the third, goals from Jackson Rilei, Emil Samuelsson, and Alex Laurenza, would complete the comeback for Austin.

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