Saturday Scores: Jacks win opener in Wichita Falls
Johnstown Tomahawks 4 @ Keystone Ice Miners 5 – The Keystone Ice Miners opened up play at their new home in Connellsville, PA in dramatic fashion as they scored three, 3rd period goals to come from behind to beat the Johnstown Tomahawks, 5-4. Both teams took advance of their power plays, with each team scoring twice with the man-advantage, including the game’s first goal from Alex Archibald. Keystone made it 2-0 on a goal from Jacob Coleman. However, the lead was fleeting as Johnstown scored four unanswered goals as Zach Zech scored in the 1st period to cut the Keystone lead to 2-1. The Tomahawks scored three times in the 2nd period as Jake Houston, Trevor Recktenwald and Tanner Barnes (power play) all lit the lamp. However, the Ice Miners stormed back in the 3rd period as Garrett Hallford, Noah Batis and Coleman (2nd) all scored within a 10-minute span. Boxscore
Odessa Jackalopes 4 @ Wichita Falls Wildcats 3 – The Odessa Jacklopes withstood a furious comeback by the Wildcats and got a late goal to win their opening game of the season, 4-3 in front of over 4,300 fans in Wichita Falls. Kenny Hausinger opened the scoring in the 1st period for the Jacks and the lead swelled to 3-0 in the 2nd period with goals from Derek Brown and Alex Alger. The Wildcats mounted a comeback in the 2nd and 3rd periods with a goal from Alex Falconer to make it 3-1 after two periods. Midway through the 3rd period, goals from Nikita Litvyak and Max Reisinger made it 3-3. However, Hausinger’s second goal of the game on a breakaway turned out to be the game-winner with just over two minutes left in the game. Robin Johansson made 40 saves for the win in his Odessa debut. Boxscore
Janesville Jets 4 @ Soo Eagles 3 – Brandon Schultz scored twice, including the game-winning goal late in the 3rd period as the Janesville Jets earned a weekend split in the Soo against the Eagles with a 4-3 win on Saturday night. After a scoreless 11 minutes to open the game, Janesville scored first on their first power play of the game as Kyle Patava found the back of the net. The lead didn’t last long as less than two minutes later, Trevor Cope scored to tie the game at 1-1. With :46 seconds remaining in the 1st period, Schultz scored his first of the game to put Janesville ahead 2-1. Drew Callin scored his third goal of the weekend to put the Jets up 3-1 in the 2nd period, but Soo responded with goals from another goal from Cope and one from Sandis Zolmanis. Schultz’s game-winner came with just about nine minutes to go in the game. Boxscore
Fairbanks Ice Dogs 3 @ Kenai River Brown Bears 5 – The Kenai River Brown Bears salvaged a weekend split with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs thanks to a 5-3 win on Saturday as both teams now make the journey to the NAHL Showcase. Fairbanks started the game in similar fashion to Friday night, taking a lead in the 2nd period. Veterans Jacob Hetz and Hans Gorowsky would put the Ice Dogs ahead 2-1. Maurin Bouvet had the lone Brown Bears goal in the 1st period. Matt Rudin started the Brown Bears comeback in the 2nd period and Kenai River scored three more times in the 3rd period to put the game out of reach. Kenai River took a 3-2 lead on a go-ahead power play goal from Doc Gentzler. Two minutes later a goal from Logan Wendling made it 4-2. The Ice Dogs made it 4-3 with just under three minutes remaining, but a empty-net goal from Rudin, his second goal of the night, secured the win for the Brown Bears. Sean Healy got the start and picked up the win in goal for Kenai River. Boxscore
