Minotauros claim 2016 Showcase title with only perfect record
Brookings forward Paul Cotter had a good Showcase to help his club to a 3-0-1 record at the NAHL Showcase. Brookings, Amarillo and Lone Star all finished right behind Minot with 3-0-1 marks.
Minot 4 vs. Fairbanks 3 (SO) – The Minot Minotauros claimed the 2016 NAHL Showcase title, finishing the event with the only perfect 4-0 record thanks to a 4-3 shootout win over the Ice Dogs on the final day. The Ice Dogs finished the event with a 1-1-2 record. Minot goals in regulation came from Zack Bross and Jake Dittel in the 2nd period and Jack Murphy in the 3rd period. Fairbanks markers came from Cayden Cahill, Luke Orysiuk and Colton Fletcher. Austin Dollimer had the shootout winner and Lucas Murray made 31 saves in the win. Boxscore
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2 vs. Odessa 1 – The Knights got two goals in the final two minutes of regulation to defeat the Jackalopes, 3-1. Both teams finished the Showcase with a 2-2 record. After a scoreless 1st period, the Knights struck first with a late 2nd period goal from Aiden Beck. In the 3rd period Zach Zech scored for the Jacks to tie the game at 1-1, but the Knights would answer with late goals from Matt Kidney and Paul Cimilluca. Grant Valentine made 39 saves in the win and Jon Flakne made 27 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Aston 3 vs. Wichita Falls 0 – Mareks Mitens stopped all 28 shots that came his way as the Rebels blanked the Wildcats, 3-0. Aston finished the event with a 3-1 record, while the Wildcats finished 1-3. The Rebels got on the board early in the 1st period with a power play goal from Drew Blackmun. In the 2nd period goals from Aaron Maguyon and Brendan Cherwalk completed the scoring. Evan Moyse made 25 saves in the loss. Boxscore
New Jersey 4 vs. Corpus Christi 3 (SO) – In a back and forth game, the New Jersey Titans edged out a 4-3 shootout win to finish the Showcase with a 2-2 record, while the IceRays finished the event with a 1-1-2 mark. New Jersey got goals from Jordan Kaplan in the 1st period and two goals from Victor Ostling in the 2nd period. The IceRays goals all came in the 2nd period from Nathan Bryer, Josh Tripp and Cody Fleckenstein. Jordan Kaplan had the shootout winner for the Titans. Harrison Feeney made 28 saves in the win, while Conor Klaers made 27 saves in the shootout loss. Boxscore
Johnstown 2 vs. Shreveport 1 – Drew Hotte made 34 saves to lead Johnstown to a 2-1 win over Shreveport as the Tomahawks finished the Showcase with a 3-1 record, while the Mudbugs finished their first ever NAHL event with a 2-2 record. Johnstown opened up a 1-0 lead with a 1st period goal from Joseph Kile. Shreveport tied the game at 1-1 early in the 2nd period on a goal from Brendan VanSweden. The game-winning goal came later in the 2nd period from Dalton Hunter. John Roberts made 26 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Topeka 6 vs. Northeast 1 – It was all RoadRunners in the Showcase finale as they outshot Northeast 50-31 in a 6-1 win. Topeka finished the event 3-1, while the Generals went 0-4. The teams were even after one period with Peyton Frantti scoring for Topeka and Mike Egan scoring for the Generals. It was all Topeka after that as DJ Busdeker and Andrew Hart scored in the 2nd period and Marcus Russell and Max Harper added two goals in the 3rd period. Mike Rockwell made 30 saves in the win. Boxscore
Janesville 4 vs. Amarillo 3 (OT) – Cullen Munson scored just over two minutes into overtime as the Jets handed the Bulls their first loss of the Showcase. Janesville finished the event with a 3-1 record, while the Bulls went 3-0-1. The teams traded goals throughout the entire game with Amarillo getting a 1st period goal from Kosta Likourezos and 2nd period goals from George Mika and Charlie Singerhouse. Meanwhile, the Jets got goals from TJ Polglaze, Adrian Holesinsky and Adam Roeder, who tied the game with just :29 seconds remaining in regulation to set up Munson’s heroics. Boxscore
Coulee Region 3 vs. Aberdeen 2 - Brock Thompson made 41 saves to lead the Chill to a close 3-2 win over the Wings. Coulee Region finished the Showcase with a 2-2 record, while the Wings went 1-3. It was a very game throughout with the Chill jumping out to two, one-goal leads, only to see the Wings tie it each time. The Chill goals came from Scott Corbett, Joey Sofo and Kevin Dineen, who scored the game-winner with just over a minute remaining in regulation. Wings goals were scored by Gage Mackie and Jack Kelly. Boxscore
Lone Star 3 vs. Austin 2 (OT) – Drake Glover scored with just over a minute to go in overtime as the Brahmas finished the 2016 Showcase with a 3-0-1 record thanks to a 3-2 OT win over the Bruins. Austin finished the event above .500 with a 2-1-1 mark. Lone Star got goals in regulation from David Marabella and Pete Kessel, while the Bruins goals came from Michael Piehler and Chalie Spetz. Erik Gordon made 25 saves in the win, while Jake Kucharski played well in the loss, making 40 saves. Boxscore
Brookings 5 vs. Springfield 2 – The Blizzard finished off a very successful Showcase with a final day 5-2 win over the Jr. Blues, posting a 3-0-1 record at the event. Springfield finished 1-3 in the four days. After the teams were tied at 1-1 early in the 2nd period courtesy of goals from Cade Bordchardt (Brookings) and Ricards Bernhards (Springfield), the Blizzard rattled off four goals to put the game out of reach, which included goals from Martan Yelle, Taylor Schneider, Nicholas Cardelli and another from Bordchardt. Brennan Blaszczak had the other goal for the Jr. Blues. Blizzard goalie Nick Althaus made 21 saves in the win, while Jr. Blues goalie Josh Sarlo made 49 saves in the loss. Boxscore
MN Magicians 3 vs. Bismarck 2 – The Magicians completed a 2-0-2 run at the Showcase thanks to a final day 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Bobcats. Bismarck finished the event with a 1-3 record. The Magicians led 1-0 early on the goal from Mitch Slattery. Bismarck took a 2-1 lead with 2nd period goals from Pieter Von Stienberg and Zach Kennedy. In the 3rd period Travis Brown and Timo Walther scored :44 seconds apart to help the Magicians squeeze out the 3-2 win. Daniil Gerasimov made 30 saves in the win, while Will Ulirch made 31 saves against his old team in the losing effort. Boxscore
MN Wilderness 3 vs. Kenai River 2 - The Wilderness finished off the Showcase with a 3-1 record thanks to a close 3-2 win over the Brown Bears, who fell to 0-3-1 at the event. The Wilderness opened up a 2-0 lead on goals from Tim Nicksic and Connor Koviak. The Brown Bears came back to tie the game at 2-2 thanks to tallies from Connor Inger and Chase Sriprijttichai. Later in the 3rd period, Nicksic scored the game-winner for his second goal of the night. Luke Kania made 39 saves in the win. Boxscore
