Friday Finals: Defending champs Ice Dogs win opener
Fairbanks Ice Dogs 3 @ Kenai River Brown Bears 1 – The defending Robertson Cup Champion Fairbanks Ice Dogs opened their season with a win as they used tight defense and two goals from newcomer Jesper Ohrvall to top the Brown Bears, 3-1. The Ice Dogs got on the board first as some nice forechecking got the puck to Ohrvall, who came in the from the high slot and wristed a shot past Zach Quinn. The Brown Bears tied things early in the 2nd period with their only goal of the game as Matt Wikman came out of the corner and sent a shot past Patrick Munson. Fairbanks would respond early in the 3rd period as Ohrvall would add his second goal of the game as he collected a rebound and slipped one home past Quinn. Lonnie Clary would add an unassisted goal four minutes later and the Ice Dogs came away with the win. Munson made 21 saves in the win, while Quinn stopped 25 shots in the loss. Boxscore
Janesville Jets 2 @ Soo Eagles 3 – The Eagles came from behind to defeat the Jets in the season opener for both clubs. It didn’t take long for the opening goal as some strong Jets fore-checking got a loose puck to Drew Callin, who put the first shot of the game past Sean Keating for a 1-0 Jets lead. Bruno Birzitis would tie things early in the 2nd period for the Eagles as the veteran forward tapped home a pass from Sandis Zolmanis to tie the game at 1-1. Callin would answer for the Jets with his second goal of the game late in the 2nd period. The Eagles scored twice in the 3rd period including another early goal as a loose puck bounced out to the high slot where Raymond Brice would bury a slapshot past Matt Jurusik. The game-winner came with just under six minutes to go as Birzitis would score his second of the game as he was left all alone on the back door to tap in a goal to make the final 3-2. Boxscore
Corpus Christi IceRays 3 @ Topeka RoadRunners 4 (SO) – Corpus Christi came from behind to tie the game late in regulation, but the RoadRunners came away with the extra point and win in the season opener for both clubs. Topeka jumped out to a 1-0 lead off a nice face-off win as Daniel Rzavsky slapped home a one-timer. It wouldn’t take the IceRays long to tie things up as a shot from the point from Travis Howe found its way through traffic and into the back of the net. The RoadRunners regained the lead late in the 2nd period as Sam Rennaker pounced on a rebound off the back boards and slipped a shot home. The lead increased to 3-1 early in the 3rd period on a RoadRunners goal from Jasen Fernsler. The IceRays drew within one as Tanner Lomsnes scored on a wrist shot from the slot. With just :17 seconds remaining in regulation as Wes Michaud picked up a loose rebound and put it past Drew Vogler. In the shootout, Topeka got goals from Sly Sutter, Fernsler and the winner from Dan Brickley. Andrew Lindgren made 24 saves in the loss, while Vogler picked up the win with 29 saves. Boxscore
