Friday Finals: Chill clinch final playoff spot with big win

Brendon Gysbers helped Shreveport to a 5-4 win on Friday, helping the Mudbugs clinch the #2 seed in the South for the upcoming NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs.

Springfield Jr Blues 3 @ Coulee Region Chill 8 - A strong second period for the Coulee Region Chill helped them to an 8-3 victory over the Springfield Jr Blues and in the process, clinched the final playoff spot in the Midwest Division. Coulee wasted no time with a goal at 3:38 of the first from Jacon Schmidt-Svejstrup, assisted by Caleb Schroer and Matt Doran. The only other goal of the first came from Brennan Blaszczak of Springfield, with help from Patrick Smyth and Matt Long. These two goals tied the game at one after the first 20 minutes. Next, Springfield got on the scoresheet again with a goal from Brandon Puricelli, assisted by Jordan Muzzillo and Matt Cassidy. The subsequent five goals put the Chill up by four. First, Billy Duma scored at 4:32 of the second, with help from Ryan Carlson and Andy McGlynn for Coulee Region. Next, Schroer notched one at 8:40 – assisted by Schmidt-Svejstrup and Joey Sofo. Isaac Theisen then scored for the Chill at 12:27 with a pass from Kevin Dineen. Dineen also notched the next two goals – one at 19:02 of the second with help from Jackson Decker and Steven Quagliata, and one at 12:31 of the third, assisted by Sofo and Matt Doran. Matt Long scored a third for the Jr Blues and 13:27, from Jordan Muzzillo and Spencer DenBeste. The Coulee Region netted two more to close out the game and bring the final score to 8-3, Coulee Region. Justin Kendall (assisted by Doran and Theisen) scored at 15:38, and Marshal Plunkett found the back of the net at 16:58 of the third, with help from Taylor Trapp. Coulee Region goalie Brad Arvanitis made 54 saves, while Mike Robinson stopped 34 shots for Springfield. With the win, the Chill improves to a 29-25-2 record, and the Jr Blues fall to 25-28-3 on the season. Boxscore

Johnstown Tomahawks 2 @ Northeast Generals 3 - The Northeast Generals came back from a two goal deficit to defeat the Johnstown Tomahawks, 3-2. Evan Somoza opened the game with a goal at 5:52 for the Tomahawks, assisted by Joseph Kile. Somoza's goal was the only one of the first, putting Johnstown up, 1-0. To start the second, Dalton Hunter scored at 2:21 to double the Tomahawk lead. Hunter was assisted by Nick Bruce. Shortly after, Alex Cohen scored the first Northeast goal at 5:02 of the second, assisted by Matt Wiesner and Mike Egan. With less than two minutes to go, Colin Bilek tied the game at 18:54, with help from Christian Thomas and Austen Halpin. At the end of 40 minutes, the score is tied at 2. The lone goal of the third period came from Northeast's Thomas, assisted by Brian Chambers and Matt Demelis at 10:33 of the third to put the Generals up, 3-2. Northeast goaltender David Fessenden made 34 saves on the night, and Drew Hotte stopped 22 shots for Johnstown. The Generals victory helped improve their record to 4-51-3, and the Johnstown Tomahawks fall to 38-15-3. Boxscore

New Jersey Titans 1 @ Aston Rebels 2 - One goal in each period, and two points from Aston Rebel Gianluca Esteves, helped them to a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Titans. New Jersey opened the scoring, with a goal from Kyler Head – assisted by Oskar Stromberg and Greg Malafronte – at 16:59 to put the Titans up 1-0. Esteves struck in the second at 12:59, with help from Andrew Bellant, to tie the game at one. The next goal, the tiebreaker, came via Reid Miller – with help from Esteves – to put the Rebels up 2-1. After 60 minutes, Aston goaltender Mareks Mitens made 18 stops on the night, and Ryan Ferland stopped 25 shots for New Jersey. The win improved the Rebels record to 44-9-2, and New Jersey fell to 33-20-1. Boxscore

Bismarck Bobcats 2 @ Brookings Blizzard 4 - A busy second period carried the Brookings Blizzard to a 4-2 win over the Bismarck Bobcats. Tobias Fladeby opened the scoring with a goal at 7:07 in the first for the Bobcats, assisted by Patrick O’Conner and Jared Resseguie. Connor Koviak scored the only other goal of the first period, at 13:05 with help from Paul Cotter and Parker Revering. At the end of 20 minutes, the game was tied at 1. Brookings wasted no time in the second, and Brenden Stanko scored at 1:15 of the second – assisted by Brandon Kruse and Nicholas Cardelli. Koviak struck in the second period as well, at 14:16 with help from Doug Larson and Paul Cotter. Cotter then turned around and notched one of his own, at 17:09 – assisted by Cade Borchardt and Koviak. At the end of forty minutes, the score was 4-1 Blizzard. The only goal of the third period came via the stick of Mitchell Walinksi scored at 4:51, with help from Chase Hartje and Cooper Haar. Blizzard goaltender Josh Boyko made 24 saves, while Camden Haugenoe stopped 23 shots for the Bobcats for a final score of 4-2 Brookings. With the win, the Brookings Blizzard improve their record to 28-24-4, and the Bismarck Bobcats fall to 27-28-1. Boxscore

Topeka Roadrunners 3 @ Amarillo Bulls 4 - The Amarillo Bulls made a late third period comeback to pull off a 4-3 victory over the Topeka Roadrunners. Topeka Roadrunner Will Schlagenhauf notched the first two goals, the first unassisted and the second with help from David Cyr – one at 4:30 and the second at 8:36. After the first, the Roadrunners carried a 2-0 lead. Amarillo then scored the only goal of the second, at 14:51. Eric Cooley tallied the goal, with help from Phil Fromberger and Brendan Walkom. Cooleys goal cut the Roadrunners lead in half, and the third period starts with a 2-1 score. Topeka scored 1:11 into the first to grow their lead to 3-1. The point came via the stick of Nick Granowicz after a pass from Jake Rosenbaum and Jay Keranen. Amarillo then scored three unanswered goals to overcome the deficit and pull out a 4-3 victory. Steven Ipri scored at 13:01 with help from Brendon Michaelian and Luke Edgerton, followed by Walkom at 13:49 – who was assisted by Jovan Zimmerman and George Mika. The winning Bulls goal came at 17:47 from Cooley after a pass from Mika and Charlie Singerhouse. After 60 minutes, Amarillo netminder Nikita Babintsev made 25 saves, while Ben Churchfield stopped 27 shots for Topeka. The win improved the Bulls record to 20-27-8, while the Roadrunners fell to 18-33-4. Boxscore

Wichita Falls Wildcats 3 @ Odessa Jackalopes 4 (OT) - An overtime winner after 1:01 of extra time pushed the Odessa Jackalopes to a 4-3 win over the Wichita Falls Wildcats. The OT winner came from Christian Hausinger, his second of the night, after a pass from Chase Thudium and Zach Zech. Odessa opened the scoring in the first with a goal at 10:57 from Chris Donaldson, assisted by Noah Poindexter and Nick Wilson. The Jackalopes struck again at 13:50 with Hausinger’s first goal – with help from Ludwig Stenlund and Thudium. After the first period, the Jackalopes held on to a 2-0 lead. Wichita Falls scored their first goal of the game at 15:53. The goal came via Ryan Orgel, assisted by Nick Rosa and CJ Walker. The Wildcats then tied the game at 2 after a goal from Domantas Cypas at 16:36 of the second, with help from Isaac Kobienia and Ricky Carballo. But before the period was up, Odessa found the back of the net once again from the stick of Tyler Pietrowski – with help from Stenlund and Thudium at 19:00 of the second. After two periods of play, Odessa leads Wichita Falls by one. With less than one remaining in regulation, Wichita Falls’ Orgel scored again at 19:05 to tie the game and send it to extra time. Orgel’s goal was helped by Carballo and Rosa. Odessa’s Jonny Hogue made 25 saves on the night, and Jared Dempsey stopped 35 shots for the Wildcats. With the win, Odessa improves to a 24-25-6 record, and Wichita Falls fall to 29-21-5. Boxscore

Janesville Jets 3 @ Minnesota Wilderness 4 - The majority of the scoring came in the third period, where the Minnesota Wilderness scored three goals on their way to a 4-3 win over the Janesville Jets. Jesse Farabee opened the scoring with a goal at 17:03 with help from Zach Mills of the Wilderness. Chris Dodero scored next, at 5:51 of the second, assisted by Cullen Munson and Kip Hoffmann, for the Jets. Janesville and Minnesota were tied at one goal apiece heading into the third period. Alexander Esbjors opened the third period with a goal at 6:27 with help from Pavel Mikhasenok and Troy Dobbs. Farabee found the back of the net again at 10:57 for Minnesota, assisted by Louis Roehl and Zach Mills. Frank Sullivan scored next for Janesville – at 12:15 and assisted by Michael Maloney and Jakov Novak. A little over a minute later, Minnesota scored their fourth goal of the night, from the stick of Tristan Rostagno, assisted by Farabee and Michael Zuffante at 13:22 of the third. Lastly, Peter Bates scored a third Janesville goal at 19:25, assisted by Sullivan and Joseph Abate. Luke Kania made 39 stops for Minnesota, and Jacob Barczewski stopped 48 shots for Janesville. With the win, the Wilderness record improves to 31-20-4, and the Jets fall to 40-12-0. Boxscore

Corpus Christi Ice Rays 4 @ Shreveport Mudbugs 5 - Tied through two periods, the Shreveport Mudbugs pulled out a 5-4 win over the Corpus Christi Ice Rays. The Ice Rays opened the scoring with a goal at 8:13, from Nathan Bryer and assisted by Brad Power and Cody Fleckenstein. The other first period goal came at 15:40 via Brendon Gysbers, with help from Croix Evingson and Frankie Melton for Shreveport. After the first, the game is tied at one. To start the second, Jay Feiwell notched another goal for the Mudbugs. Feiwell’s goal came from a pass from Gysbers and Kyle Kawamura at 3:05. Shreveport found the back of the net again at 7:26 via Erik Zohovs and assisted by Evingson and Kawamura. The remaining two second period goals belonged to Corpus Christi’s Josh Tripp, once again tying the game at 3. The 11:40 goal was assisted by Mason Krueger and Matt Acciaioli, while the one at 13:49 went unassisted. A pair of goals in the third gave the Mudbugs the edge to victory. Jackson Hartje notched one at 11:06, assisted by Zohovs and Kawamura, and Cameron Cook netted a goal at 14:39 with help from Jacob Holmers and Jack Jaunich. To finish off the game, Corpus Christi’s Brad Power scored at 16:10 with help from Krueger. Shreveport’s Dylan Lubbesmeyer racked up 24 saves on the night, and Tomas Vomacka made 34 stops for the Ice Rays. With the win, Shreveport climbs to 35-16-2, and the Ice Rays fall to 29-18-4. Boxscore

Aberdeen Wings 3 @ Minnesota Magicians 4 (SO) - Minnesota Magicians Travis Brown and Matthew Denman each scored in a shootout to earn a 4-3 victory over the Aberdeen Wings. Parker Mismash scored early at 1:32 of the first for the Magicians, assisted by Mitchel Slattery and Hunter Lellig. The other two first period goals came via the Wings. Joey Strada scored at 8:54, unassisted, followed by Riley Murphy at 9:07, with help from Tim Makowski. After twenty minutes, the Aberdeen Wings lead 2-1 over the Minnesota Magicians. Minnesota came back fighting with a quick goal at 3:44 of the second from Will Hammer to tie the game at 2. Hammer’s goal was assisted by Brown and Slattery. Colin Raver subsequently scored for Aberdeen at 7:47 with help from Andy Carroll. The last regulation goal was scored by John Keranen and assisted by Hammer at 19:55 of the second. Keranen’s goal tied the game, forcing an overtime and then a shootout. Strada scored one for Aberdeen in the shootout. Magician goaltender Ivan Prosvetov made 22 stops on the night, and Forbes Ploszaj stopped 23 shots for Aberdeen. The win improves the Magicians record to 30-21-3, while the Wings fall to 28-23-3. Boxscore

Austin Bruins 2 @ Minot Minotauros 3 (OT) - After a low scoring sixty minutes, this match was decided in overtime with a goal at 1:22 from Reid Stefanson of the Minot Minotauros, assisted by Paul O’Connor and Derek Frentz. In regulation, Quinn Martin opened the game at 5:55 with a goal for the Austin Bruins, assisted by Jason Koehn. At 12:10, Minot’s Frentz scored, assisted by Stefanson, to tie the game at one after twenty minutes. Only one goal was scored in the second period. Austin Martinsen scored at 13:32 for the MInotauros, with help from Jake Dittel and Nate Pionk. After two periods, the Minotauros lead, 2-1. Additionally, only one goal was scored in the third. An Austin goal at 14:00 from Jack Murphy – with help from Joe Kinsella – tied the game at 2 and forced an overtime. Minot’s Austin Park made 20 saves in the match,a nd Alex Schilling made 34 stops for the Bruins. The win improved the Minotauros to 37-16-4, and the Bruins fall to 21-27-4. Boxscore

Kenai River Brown Bears 3 @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs 7 - Fairbanks’ Nick Rogers opened the game with a goal at 6:08 of the first, assisted by Erkka Vanska and Connor Chilton. The Ice Dogs struck again at 12:19 with a goal from Bauer Neudecker and assisted by Luke Orysiuk and Daniel Haider. With the pair, Fairbank’s leads the game at 2-0 after twenty minutes. Kenai River started the second strong with a goal from Ryan Mezera at 4:26, assisted by Tyler Rock. Fairbank’s struck again at 9:25 from Benton Maass, with help from Ryan Kero and Vanska. Less than 35 seconds later at 9:57, Samuel Ruffin struck again – assisted by Kero – to bring the Ice Dogs lead to 3. After two periods, Fairbanks’ leads 4-1. TO start the third, Brown Bear Jack Vincent scored at 3:41, assisted by Christopher Lipe and Connor Fedorek. Neudecker found the back of the net again at 4:32 of the third to bring Fairbanks’ point total to 5. At 6:49, Carter Wade scored for Kenai River with help from Ethan Stewart and Sam Sterne. Fairbanks put up another point with a goal from Daniel Haider – assisted by Neudecker and Hampus Eriksson at 12:14 of the third period. With less than two minutes remaining, the Ice Dogs extend their lead to 4 goals when Dean Hewines scores at 18:36, with help from John Stampohar. With the win, the Ice Dogs improve to 31-24-2, and Kenai River falls to 12-44-2. Boxscore