Saturday Scores: Jackalopes Secure Sweep of Brahmas

Two goals from Jeremy Jacobs and 34 saves from Ben Vatis propelled Odessa to their third consecutive victory

Danbury 5 @ Elmira 2 - The Elmira Aviators hosted the Danbury Hat Tricks for their sixth matchup of the season and second of the weekend. The Aviators won Friday’s matchup 4-2. Danbury got on the board first during the first period with forward Matt Shpungin scoring with 12 seconds remaining in the period. In the second period, Elmira forward Luke Rubin tied up the score on the power play at 17:32. His teammate, forward Jake Kohlmann would score an unassisted goal at 11:09 to give the Aviators the lead heading into the third period. The Hat Tricks dominated the third period with a series of goals from forwards Ben Dempster at 14:31, Kai Elkie at 10:46, Brendan Boring at 8:54, and Dempster for his second of the game with 42 seconds remaining to win the game 5-2. Luke Brassil started in net for Danbury and made 32 saves on 34 shots. Aiden Mckenna started between the pipes for Elmira and made 17 saves on 22 shots.

Maine 0 @ Maryland 1 - The Maryland Black Bears hosted the Maine Nordiques for their sixth matchup of the season and second of the weekend. The Nordiques won their previous matchup 5-4 in overtime. Their game on Saturday night was much quieter than that on Friday. The only goal of the game came from Maryland forward Ryan Franks at 13:56 while on the penalty kill. Maine went on the power play five times and Maryland went on the power play three times. However, neither team was able to capitalize with the odd-man advantage and the Black Bears won 1-0. Ryan Denes started in net for Maryland and shut out Maine with saves on all 25 shots. Lukas Fursten started in net for Maine and made 32 saves on 33 shots.

New Jersey 2 @ Johnstown 6 - The Johnstown Tomahawks hosted the New Jersey Titans for their sixth matchup of the season and second of the weekend. New Jersey won their previous game 5-2. The Titans opened up the scoring during the first period with a goal from forward Nikolas Doumas at 13:31. Johnstown tied up the score and took the lead with a pair of goals from forwards Nick Jarmain at 8:39 and Jack Sullivan at 8:13 to give the Tomahawks the lead heading into the second period. Johnstown forward Emerson Marshall scored the third goal for the Tomahawks 55 seconds into the second period. His teammate, forward Charlie Zetterkvist, scored on the power play at 16:08 to extend Johnstown’s lead to three goals. New Jersey forward Skogen Schrott scored at 14:06 to cut Johnstown’s lead down to two goals. However, Jarmain scored his second of the game for the Tomahawks on the power play with 36 seconds remaining in the period to extend the team’s lead back to three goals. Tomahawks forward Aaron Bleier scored the only goal of the third at 12:56 to give Johnstown a 6-2 win. Zach Ferris started between the pipes for the Tomahawks and made 20 saves on 22 shots. Andrew Bely started in net for New Jersey and made 26 saves on 32 shots.

Philadelphia 1 @ Rochester 2 - The Rochester Jr. Americans hosted the Philadelphia Rebels for their sixth matchup of the season and second of the weekend. The Rebels won their previous matchup 4-3. Neither team was able to get on the board in the first period and all goals of the game were scored during the second. Rochester forward Ryan Shaw opened up the scoring on the power play at 15:43. Philadelphia forward Jordan Brothers was able to score an unassisted goal at 7:38 to tie up the score. Rochester forward Owen King scored on the penalty kill at 4:42 to give the Jr. Americans a 2-1 win despite Philadelphia’s best efforts to score with an empty net during the end of the third. Florian Wade started in net for Rochester and made 19 saves on 20 shots. Ilja Nikitins started in net for the Rebels and made 24 saves on 26 shots.

Janesville 3 @ Springfield 0 - Janesville opened the scoring in the first period on a power-play goal from Mason Minsky, assisted by Sammy Smithand Hans Hedlund. After a scoreless second, Janesville added another power-play goal in the third from Ty Bashaw, with assists from Joseph Hyten and Grant Dillard. Jonathan Lyskawa sealed the win with an empty-net goal, assisted by Kade Meyer.

New Hampshire 4 @ Northeast 3 (OT) - New Hampshire defeated Northeast 4-3 in overtime at Canton Ice House. Northeast opened the scoring with Logan Poulin, assisted by Kody Moyer and Rich Rucireto. New Hampshire answered with a shorthanded goal from Jaden Johnson. In the second period, New Hampshire took the lead with a power-play goal by Rogiero Cacciarelli, assisted by Joey Sylvester, followed by a goal from Ben Diaz, assisted by Aidan Petroff and Tomislav Brennan. Northeast tied it later in the period on a goal from Luke Drury, assisted by Owen Orear. Northeast briefly took the lead in the third with a power-play goal from Andrew Gibbons, assisted by Vinny Ipri, before New Hampshire forced overtime. Aidan Petroff scored the game-winner in overtime, assisted by Mikhail Cherepanov.

North Iowa 6 @ St. Cloud 2 - North Iowa earned a 6-2 win over St. Cloud at the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex. North Iowa scored five times in the first period, starting with Denis Hodas, assisted by Brody Dietz and Andrej Tomasec. Denis Kuzmenkov followed with a goal assisted by Niko Russ and Bobby Thornton. Andrej Tomasec added another, assisted by Denis Hodas and Ivan Berčík. Michael Malatino scored twice, the first assisted by Filip Rysz, and the second assisted by Fuji Suzuki and Vitaliy Korolyuk. In the second period, Jack Holland scored for North Iowa with an assist from Denis Hodas. St. Cloud responded with a power-play goal from Gabe Gallivan, assisted by Avry Shaw, followed by a goal from Vinny Hart, assisted by Nolan Smith and Gabe Gallivan. No goals were scored in the third.

Wisconsin 5 @ Chippewa 0 - After a close victory Friday night, the Wisconsin Windigo handled business in Saturday’s series finale with the Chippewa Steel to earn a weekend-series sweep by a final score of 5-0. The Windigo were in control the entire game, outshooting the Steel 41-21 and getting offense from five different players. Goaltender Max Larsson was stellar in net for Wisconsin, pitching a 21-save shutout. Wisconsin gain sole possession of second place in the Midwest Division with the win and Fairbanks’ loss. Chippewa fall further into last place in the Midwest, trailing Kenai Rivier by 12 points for seventh place. The scoring began early for Wisconsin. AJ Bongiorno put his squad ahead just over three minutes into the game on his second marker of the campaign. Bongiorno’s goal was the only offense for either side in the opening 20 minutes. The second period was the offensive explosion for the Windigio, as they posted three goals in the 20-minute span. Declan Burns (sixth) scored a power-play goal 2:33 into the period to extend the Wisconsin lead to 2-0. The offense popped up again in the last 2:28. Goals from Brendan Finley (12th) and Aidan Hickok (sixth) in the final ticks of the period blew the score open and sent the teams to break with Wisconsin leading 4-0. The Steel could not get any offense going to spark a comeback, and the small glimmer was dashed via a short-handed goal from Wisconsin’s Jackson Ernst (10th) with 4:29 remaining. Ernst’s goal secured the 5-0 win for the Windigo.

Minot 2 @ Watertown 4 - Watertown earned a 4-2 victory over Minot at Prairie Lakes Ice Arena. Watertown scored first with a goal from Joe Rice, assisted by Justin Bartley and Kyle Greene. Minot responded with a goal from Ivan Sidorov, assisted by Briggs Knott and Lucca Orli. In the second period, Watertown regained the lead with Kyle Greene scoring, assisted by Joe Rice and Erick Comstock. Minot tied the game with Mackley Morelli, assisted by Riley Mullen and Jakub Habla. Watertown pulled ahead again on a goal from Zach Boren, assisted by Jordan Gudridge and Joe Rice. Watertown added an insurance power-play goal in the third from Antons Macijevskis, assisted by Jordan Gudridge and Joe Rice.

Austin 2 @ Minnesota M 1 - The Central Division-leading Austin Bruins survived a scare Saturday, as they narrowly brought down the Minnesota Mallards by a final score of 2-1 to extend its winning streak to six games. The Bruins controlled most of play, outshooting the Mallards 30-18 in the game. Minnesota goaltender Connor MacKenzie kept his team close by making 28 saves. Austin extend its lead for the top spot in the Central Division with Saturday’s win and second-place Bismarck’s loss. The Mallards, despite their strong effort against the Central Division-powerhouse Bruins, have now lost 12 straight games and are 13 points deep in last place in the Central. The Bruins struck first near the 13 minute mark of the first period. Nathan Williams posted his eighth goal of the season via the power play to get Austin ahead 1-0. Williams’ goal was the lone offense for either side in the opening period. Minnesota had a quick response to open the second period. Cohen Hoening buried his second goal of the season just 19 seconds into the middle frame to even the score at 1-1. The teams battled to a standstill the remainder of the period to send the game to the final frame deadlocked. It took just 2:04 for the Bruins to regain their lead. Matsvei Marshchanok nabbed his 21st tally of the season that ended up being the game-winning goal. The Mallards managed eight shots in the third period, but Austin goaltender Jack Soloman turned all eight away to aid his team in sealing the tightly-contested 2-1 victory.

Oklahoma 2 @ Amarillo 1 - The Oklahoma Warriors got back on track Saturday night, taking down the Amarillo Wranglers by a final score of 2-1 to earn a weekend-series split. The teams stayed neck-and-neck almost the entire game, with shots dead even at 23-23. The difference came on the special teams, where Oklahoma took advantage of a power play to score the eventual game-winning goal. Oklahoma snap a three-game losing skid with the win and keep pace with Odessa in the South Division – trailing fifth place by just one point. Amarillo remain at the bottom of the South, trailing seventh-place Shreveport by four points. Oklahoma wasted little time getting on the board. Mack Blue posted his sixth goal of the year just 1:34 after puck drop to give the Warriors an early 1-0 lead. Blue’s goal was the only offense in the first 20 minutes. The Wranglers struck back midway through the second period. Caden Hegarty snagged his fifth goal of the weekend and 15th of the season to knot the score at 1-1. Hegarty's goal was again the lone offense of the period, sending the teams to the third period all even. A crucial high-sticking penalty from Amarillo’s Jake Boulanger just after the 15 minute mark of the final period opened the door for the Warriors. Alexander Duhon took advantage of the power-play chance, burying his seventh of the year to restore Oklahoma’s lead with 14:21 to go. Amarillo could not find the equalizer, as Oklahoma goaltender Billy Stuski shut the door on the Wranglers to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Bismarck 1 @ Aberdeen 2 (OT) - Cooper Anderson was the hero yet again for the Aberdeen Wings Saturday night, as he notched the overtime game-winning goal to give his squad a 2-1 win and a crucial weekend-series sweep over the defending Robertson Cup champion Bismarck Bobcats. Anderson, who tallied the game-winning goal in the third period of Friday’s contest, took advantage of a crucial high-sticking penalty from Bismarck’s George Poirier in overtime to propel his team to the win. The win brings Aberdeen within two points of Bismarck for second place in the Central Division. The Wings are riding a three-game winning streak in which they have made up six points of ground on the Bobcats – whose winless streak hits three games. Neither team found offense in the first period, as Bismarck held the early shots advantage at 10-6. Aberdeen struck first early in the second period. Jonathan Doucette slotted his seventh of the season via the power play to get the Wings ahead with 16:11 to play in the middle frame. The lead only lasted just over two minutes. Bismarck bit back thanks to Jimmy Dodig’s sixth of the year to even the score at one goal apiece. Dodig’s goal stood as the last offense of the period, sending the teams to the final 20 minutes deadlocked. The third period was tight-checking, as neither team found any offense again. Neither team was willing to give an inch, combining for just 11 shots in the period – seven from Aberdeen and four by Bismarck. Come overtime, Bismarck finally blinked on Poirier’s penalty midway through the five-minute extra frame, and Anderson made no mistake. His seventh goal of the campaign sealed the 2-1 win and weekend-series sweep over the defending NAHL champion.

Shreveport 2 @ New Mexico 4 - The New Mexico Ice Wolves got their get back against the Shreveport Mudbugs after a stunning loss to the team the night prior. Despite facing some adversity around the first intermission, the Ice Wolves continued to hammer pucks and lay on the pressure to eventually complete the Victory. Brock Fairbanks broke the seal on this one just five minutes into the game with a wrister above the goaltender’s glove after a gritty passing play from Anton Malyshev to establish the first Ice Wolves lead. Another five minutes later, Damon Bickler took a shot from the point that found Noah Teng’s kneecap and redirected into the net to extend the lead to two. In the final minutes of the first, Jared Greiner cut the lead in half with a redirection of his own off an Owen Case shot. Just past the midpoint of regulation, Zach Wilson evened the score after pounding a shot from the point for his first goal in the NAHL. With their long-lasting lead wiped off the board, the Ice Wolves came right back with a Sean Gibbons tally to take a 3-2 lead heading into the third period. The score stood still for over 16 minutes until Sean Smith ripped home the final tally of the game and gave his Ice Wolves some insurance before the final buzzer. Although Ice Wolves netminder Jackson Silverberg’s stats don’t jump off the page for this game, his contribution cannot be overlooked. Some acrobatic saves, some high pressure, some routine, Silverberg made saves of every variety which ultimately allowed the Ice Wolves to rise above the opposing Mudbugs in this one.

Odessa 3 @ Lone Star 0 - The Odessa Jackalopes capped off a flawless weekend on the road against the division leading Lone Star Brahmas with a big 3-0 win. An excellent night from goaltender Ben Vatis and some timely goalscoring allowed the Jacks to win this one and keep the middle of the South Division interesting. The first period was a largely defensive battle with neither team finding the back of the net and only 13 shots on goal, the Brahmas accounting for nine of them. At around the midpoint of the second period, Jeremy Jacobs continued his great weekend with a crafty shot from the point that found twine just seven seconds into the Jackalopes first power play. The Brahmas continued to pound pucks at the net but simply couldn’t beat Vatis as the contest entered the second intermission at a 1-0 score line. Approaching the midpoint of the final frame of regulation, Chris Graves received a seam pass from Alex Thomas and wristed the puck home for the second goal of the game. Finally, it was Jacobs with the empty net goal to cap off the weekend. Vatis has been a brick wall in net for the Jackalopes this season. He currently boasts a .925 SV% and an undefeated record since rejoining the team. This perfect evening is just another pad to his already outstanding 2025-26 season so far.

Corpus Christi 4 @ El Paso 5 - The El Paso Rhinos completed a big sweep this weekend against the Corpus Christi Ice Rays, a team breathing down the neck of the South division leaders down the stretch of the season. Even though this game was not the prettiest for the Rhinos, they took the win in regulation and managed to maintain the number two spot in the division. The first period saw a lot of action with Jackson Potulny scoring a breakaway goal that required quite some deliberation from the officials but ultimately stood to give the Rhinos their first lead. Just minutes later, Jonathan Cifaldi squeaked the puck under the pad of the goaltender to even the score. With exactly five minutes remaining in the first period, Aidan Bergner fired a backhand shot over the shoulder of the goaltender to regain the Rhino lead. Ethan Woolcott followed just over a minute later, and the score was set at 3-1 in favor of El Paso heading into the first intermission. It took some time for the second period to follow suit, but Easton Swift broke the seal with a redirection off of a Lucas Hihn shot to cut the lead. Five minutes later, Alexander Stephen shifted into the slot with the puck and sniped the fourth Rhino goal of the game. With a minute remaining in the second period, Nick Sinani took a shot that was initially saved but snuck its way into the net. The score set at 4-3 heading into the third, and the next goal was a big one. Thankfully for the Rhinos, it was Troy Hunka with the slick moves to work his way to the net and score the fifth and final El Paso goal of the game. Grayson Cohen provided some life for the IceRays about a minute later with a spectacular shot over the netminders shoulder, but it simply wasn’t enough and the Rhinos secured victory on home ice. It’s often said that they don’t ask how, they ask how many, and this win fits that adage to a tee. The Rhinos will have a lot of film to review to sharpen their game as the season begins to wind down, but they will certainly be satisfied with the regulation win against a close division opponent.

Minnesota W 6 @ Kenai River 2 - In a thrilling showdown at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, the Minnesota Wilderness emerged victorious over the Kenai River Brown Bears with a final score of 6-2. The action-packed match, witnessed by an enthusiastic crowd of 1,105, showcased a flurry of goals and standout performances. The opening goal came at 19:22 of the second period when Olle Karlsson of Minnesota found the back of the net, assisted by Robinson Djian and River Freeman. Just under a minute later, Theo Kiss doubled Minnesota's lead at 14:44, further asserting their dominance. Not to be outdone, Gavin Jensen of Kenai River responded at 15:20 with a splendid goal, thanks to assists from Parker Newman and Carter McCormick. However, the Wilderness continued their onslaught in the third period. Andrei Gudin's strike at 12:24 was followed by Talan Blanck's quick double at 11:41 and 19:26, the latter a power-play goal. Anthony McIntosh managed a consolation goal for Kenai River with a power-play finish at 01:33. Minnesota’s goaltender, Valdemar Andersen, was pivotal, turning away 20 shots, while Andrew McLouth of Kenai River faced a barrage, saving 16 out of 22 shots. Three stars of the game were Samuel Sisik, Gavin Jensen, and Anthony McIntosh, highlighting their contributions in a spirited contest. Despite a valiant effort, the Brown Bears couldn't overcome Minnesota's relentless attack, marking another chapter in their ongoing rivalry.

Fairbanks 2 @ Anchorage 1 - In a nail-biting finish at Sullivan Arena, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs edged out the Anchorage Wolverines with a 2-1 victory. The opening goal came at 11:39 of the third period when Oliver Barna capitalized on a power play, assisted by Luca Ricciardi and Kyle Rohrer. Fairbanks extended their lead just over eleven minutes later with Dean Andrews finding the net at 00:29, assisted by Thomas Gunderson and Nick Madsen. The Anchorage Wolverines roared back late, with Luc Bydal scoring at 14:57 of the third, thanks to assists from Sam Evert and Aiden Lawson. However, it proved too little, too late for the Wolverines. Standouts included Fairbanks' goaltender Miles Roberts, who stood tall with 24 saves from 25 shots, earning a phenomenal .960 save percentage. On the Anchorage side, Kai Weigel also delivered a solid performance with 21 saves from 23 shots. Fairbanks' disciplined play was critical, as they capitalized on one of their four power-play opportunities, compared to Anchorage's zero for eight. Despite a late push and a flurry of shots, the Wolverines couldn't overcome their rival's stingy defense, as the Ice Dogs held on for a thrilling win in front of 3,840 fans.