Aviators Score Overtime Win Thursday
by Brian Gornick
Elmira 4 @ Maine 3 (OT) - The Elmira Aviators overcame the Maine Nordiques in an overtime thriller Thursday. Maine took a 2-0 lead after the first period, with Zion Green credited with both goals. The Aviators took the reins in the second period, their first goal coming 4:45 in the period off a goal from Jack Kohlmann. Late in the period, the lead flipped to Elmira’s favor off two more goals in two minutes. Curtiss Sturgeon and Bryce Terry scored the second and third goals respectively. With the pressure put on the Nordiques in the third, they managed to tie the game early from a one-timer off Ethan Wongus’ stick, and held fast to force the game into overtime. Unfortunately for them, they fell in extra minutes after Ben Norris off a breakaway scored the game winning goal for Elmira.
Amarillo 4 @ Odessa 1 - The Amarillo Wranglers took command of their Thursday night matchup against the Odessa Jackalopes. The first goal came at the quarter-mark of the second period, Ty Izadi finding the back of the net. William Larsson followed late in the period with only his second goal of the season, and another Izadi goal in the final seconds of the period to make it 3-0 Wranglers. Odessa jumped on the board with an unassisted goal from Gage Martell, who is following up a two point night last weekend, but they went scoreless the rest of regulation and saw the Wranglers add one more goal from Noah Wood to close out the game.
Colorado 2 @ New Mexico 5 - The momentum always seemed to be in the New Mexico Ice Wolves favor Thursday against the Colorado Grit. What looked to be a 2-0 lead for the Ice Wolves after the first period with goals from Ben Polomsky and Johnny Johannson ended up 2-1 after Cole Peters in the final minute of regulation scored his first of the season to get the Grit on the board. Polomsky in the second period scored his second of the night after a mad scramble for the puck in front of the net, and Andrew Earl off a deflection gave the Ice Wolves a 4-1 lead. Like the prior period, the Grit scored late with Lucas Mann bringing his team within two goals. It wasn’t enough for them, however, as Ethan Hull struck the dagger with a final power play goal to cap off regulation.
