Saturday Scores: Brahmas, Wings take over division leads with sweeps
Trevor Wilhelm scored the overtime-winner on Saturday to extend the Corpus Christi IceRays winning streak to four straight.
Topeka 3 @ Corpus Christi 4 (OT) – The Corpus Christi IceRays moved their winning streak to four straight games thanks to a come-from-behind overtime win on Saturday over the RoadRunners. After an opening goal in the 1st period from the IceRays Noah Roofe, the RoadRunners seized control, scoring three straight goals, including two from Nick Granowicz and another from Sam Martel. However, the IceRays stormed back to tie the game at 3-3 midway through the 3rd period thanks to goals from Brendan Miller and Larry Jungwirth. In the overtime, Trevor Wilhelm played the hero, scoring his 2nd goal of the season. IceRays goalie Jacob Acton picked up the win, making 13 saves, while Connor Murphy made 28 saves in the loss.
Amarillo 2 @ Lone Star 3 – The Lone Star Brahmas moved into sole possession of 1st place in the South Division thanks to a 3-2 home win on Saturday, completing a weekend sweep of the Bulls. The Bulls jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a 1st period goal from Simon Morberg. The Brahmas were able to tie the game in the 2nd period twice as Connor Stuart answered to make it 1-1, and then Ryan Orgel answered a goal from Bulls forward Stephen Rex to make it 2-2. In the 3rd period, Orgel would have another answer for his second goal of the game with only 1:27 remaining in regulation to give the Brahmas the win. Mitchell Gibson picked up his second win of the weekend, making 20 saves, while Jason Grande made 23 saves in the loss.
Brookings 2 @ Aberdeen 3 – The Aberdeen Wings moved into sole possession of 1st place in the Central Division thanks to a 3-2 win on Saturday, which completed a weekend sweep of the Blizzard. Joe Strada put the Wings on the board first with his 6th goal of the season in the 1st period. Brookings scored both their goals in the 2nd period thanks to strikes from Carson Kosobud and Chase Brand, which were on either end of a Wings goal from Adam Pitters to make the score 2-2 after two periods. Early in the 3rd period, the Wings netted the eventual game-winner off the stick of Colton Fletcher, who scored his 7th goal of the season. Matt Vernon made 25 saves to pick up his first win in a Wings uniform, while Benjamin Beck made 32 saves in the loss.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 0 @ Johnstown 3 – In front of over 3,000 fans, Tomahawks goalie Britt League stopped all 16 shots that came his way for his first shutout of the season, as Johnstown snapped the Knights hot streak with a 3-0 home win on Saturday. The Tomahawks got on the board with two goals late in the 1st period, which included strikes from Christian Gorscak and Samuel Solensky. After a scoreless 2nd period, the Tomahawks would tack on one more goal late in the 3rd period with an empty-netter from Roman Kraemer. David Tomeo took the loss in goal for the Knights with 17 saves.
MN Wilderness 1 @ MN Magicians 4 - Isaiah Saville made 35 saves to lead the Magicians to a 4-1 home win over the Wilderness, which salvaged a weekend split for the Magicians. After a scoreless 1st period, it was all Magicians in the 2nd period as they scored three times, which included goals from Carter Breitenfeldt, David Kirkendall and John Keranen. The Wilderness had a goalie change following the period, which sparked the team to their lone goal in the 3rd period from Ben Ward, but an empty-net goal from Ethan DeStefani secured the win for the Magicians. Trevor Micucci made 22 saves through two periods for the Wilderness, while Ryan Fanti made 7 saves in the 3rd period.
Shreveport 1 @ Odessa 2 (OT) – In a goaltending battle, it was Odessa who came out on the winning end in overtime as they salvaged a weekend split with the Mudbugs, thanks to a 2-1 overtime win on Saturday. Each team’s goal in regulation came in the 2nd period. Odessa’s Petr Miko scored first to make it 1-0 on the power play, but then that was answered by Shreveport’s Jordan Fader, who evened things up at 1-1 with a power play goal of his own. In the overtime, Peyton Frantti got credit for the goal, which went off a Shreveport defenseman. Odessa goalie Alex Camarre made 27 saves in the win, while Gustavs Grigals made 43 saves in the loss.
Springfield 4 @ Janesville 5 – Jakov Novak and Sam Renlund each had three points to lead the Jets to a 5-4 win and help secure a weekend split with the Jr. Blues. The Jets led 2-0 after one period thanks to goals from Novak and Grant Anderson. The Jr. Blues tied the game early in the 2nd period as Max Brainin and Ethan Stewart lit the lamp. The Jets would go back up by two goals again as Novak scored his second goal of the game and Matt Barbolini scored his 2nd goal of the season. In the 3rd period, another goal from Brainin kept the Jr. Blues close, but Renlund added an empty-net goal to secure the win, which would turn out to be the game-winner as Chase Mickelson would add a late goal for the Jr. Blues. Daniel Lebedeff would make 28 saves in the win, while Connor Poczos made 25 saves in the loss.
Coulee Region 2 @ Austin 3 (SO) – After losing in a shootout the night before, the Bruins got some revenge on Saturday as both they and the Chill settled for three-point weekends thanks to a 3-2 shootout win for Austin on Saturday. Austin led 1-0 after a 1st period goal from Travis Kothenbeutel. The Chill tied the score at 1-1 with a goal early in the 2nd period from Nick Lund. The Bruins would regain the one goal lead less than three minutes later with a goal from Evan Cholak. In the 3rd period, Nick Bowman would tie the game for the Chill at 2-2 and send the game to overtime and a shootout. In the shootout, Cholak would score the only goal to secure the extra point. Bruins goalie Mads Sogaard made 24 saves in the win, while Emil Zetterquist made 33 saves in the loss.
Minot 1 @ Kenai River 2 – Brown Bears goalie Artur Pavliukov made 39 saves to help Kenai River to a 2-1 win and weekend home split with the Minotauros. After a scoreless 1st period, it was Minot who struck first as midway through the 2nd period Miroslav Mucha scored his 3rd goal of the weekend. However, that would be all the Minotauros would get as the Brown Bears tied the game just over four minutes later with Zach Krajnik’s 1st goal of the season. Midway through the 3rd period, Markuss Komuls scored the game-winner to earn the split for Kenai River. Minot goalie Samu Lonkila made 24 saves in the loss.
Bismarck 1 @ Fairbanks 3 – The Ice Dogs earned a weekend home split with the Bobcats thanks to a 3-1 win in Fairbanks on Friday. The 1st period saw the Ice Dogs seize the early momentum by scoring just :12 seconds into the game as John Stampohar got behind the defense and fired a shot past Bobcats goalie Ryan Ullan. With just :11 seconds remaining in the opening period, the Bobcats would answer as Adam Stacho scored his 9th goal of the season to make it 1-1. In the 2nd period, the Ice Dogs took the lead for good as Mason Vukonich scored his first career NAHL goal, which would stand as the game-winner. Kyle Mayhew would add a goal late in the 3rd period to secure the 3-1 win for Fairbanks. Logan Neaton made 14 saves in the win for the Ice Dogs, while Ullan made 22 saves in the loss.
