Saturday Scores: Blizzard pick up big sweep to start season
Todd Burgess helped the Fairbanks Ice Dogs remain perfect with a weekend road sweep against the Minnesota Wilderness.
Fairbanks 5 @ MN Wilderness 1 – Fairbanks broke the game wide open with four, 3rd period goals on their way to a 5-1 win and weekend sweep of the Wilderness to remain perfect on the season. The Ice Dogs got a hat-trick from Logan Coomes who score the game’s first goal, which was quickly answered by Jacob Hamacher of the Wilderness. Tpdd Burgess scored early in the 3rd period, which stood as the game-winner. Coomes then added two straight goals and Jakob Stridsberg had the other. CJ Booth made 28 saves in the win in his NAHL debut, while Dylan Lubbesmeyer took the loss, making 16 saves. Boxscore
Minot 2 @ Brookings 3 (OT) – The Brookings Blizzard needed extra time again, but this time they won the game in overtime, to complete a weekend home sweep of the Minotauros. After a scoreless 1st period, Minot took a lead midway through the contest on a power play goal from Chase Springman. The Blizzard would answer late in the period on a power play goal of their own from Garrett Elmore. In the 3rd period Brett Callagan scored on the power play to give Brookings a 2-1 lead. But, Johnny Walker answered for Minot to tie the game and send things to OT. In the extra frame, defenseman TJ Samec scored on the power play to give the Blizzard the sweep. Eric Hancock made 28 saves in the win, while Lucas Murray made 34 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Austin 0 @ Bismarck 3 – Hunter Shepard stopped all 23 shots that came his way for his first shutout of the season and second career shutout over all as the Bobcats blanked the Bruins 3-0 to complete a weekend sweep. Bismarck scored a goal in each period as Jared Pike’s 1st period power play goal stood up as the game-winner. Tyse Teague added a goal in the 2nd period and Willie Brown capped off an incredible weekend with an empty-net goal in the 3rd period and two points in the game. Austin Smith made 28 saves in the loss for Austin. Boxscore
Johnstown 2 @ New Jersey 5 – Garrett Hallford scored twice as the New Jersey Titans picked up their first win of the season with a 5-2 home win over Johnstown. The Tomahawks got on the board first in the opening period with a power play goal from Cameron Smith, but the Titans quickly answered with Hallford’s first of the night. The Titans then scored three straight goals from Keegan Miller, Christopher Murphy and another from Hallford. Anthony Parrucci scored for the Tomahawks early in the 3rd period to make it 4-2, but another New Jersey goal, this time from Michael Gelatt made the final, 5-2. Josh Creelman picked up the win, making 19 saves while Camden Burggrabe made 26 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Kenai River 0 @ Janesville 2 – Jack LaFontaine stopped all 15 shots that came his way for his first career NAHL win and shutout on Saturday as the Jets blanked the Brown Bears, 2-0 to earn a weekend home split. Rob Marsanico’s goal midway through the 2nd period held up as the game-winner and Nils Rygaard added an empty-net goal late in the 3rd period. Brown Bears goalie Brian Baker played well in the loss, making 36 saves. Boxscore
Lone Star 2 @ Amarillo 1 – In their season opener, the Brahmas outshot the Bulls 40-15 and picked up a 2-1 road win on Saturday. After a scoreless 1st period, Lone Star took a lead late in the 2nd period on a shorthanded tally from Cody Wickline. Early in the 3rd period, a power play goal from Peter Kessel made it 2-0. Amarillo was able to draw within one with a goal from Tyler Harkings, but it would be all the Bulls could get through Brahmas goalie Conor O’Brien, who made 14 saves on the night. Anton Martinsson took the loss, making 38 saves. Boxscore
