Saturday Scores: Nordiques and Steel clinch playoff spots
Chippewa forward Peyton Platter had the game-winning goal on Saturday to help the Steel beat Fairbanks and clinch a playoff spot.
New Jersey 4 @ Maine 5 (OT) – The Nordiques clinched a playoff spot and the #3 seed in the East Division as they got two goals, including the overtime-winner, from Oliver Genest, in a 5-4 win over the Titans. The Titans loss also gave Maryland the regular season division title. New Jersey led 4-2 with goals from Michael Young, Chris Battaini, Levente Keresztes, and Brendan Dumas. Maine kept pace with goals from Genest and Aidan Coupe. In the 3rd period, Maine tied the game at 4-4 with goals from Kellen Murphy and Brendan Gibbons. Kael Depape made 25 saves in the win.
Chippewa 4 @ Fairbanks 1: The Chippewa Steel defeated the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in a 4-1 contest after netting 3 goals in the third period. With the win, the Steel clinched a playoff spot in the Midwest Division. Fairbanks took a 1-0 lead after the first period with a goal from Billy Renfrew. In the second period, Noah Grolnic evened the game 1-1. In the third frame, Peyton Platter scored and then Sam Scheetz netted two goals for the Steel to seal the deal, 4-1. Adam Gajan was elite in net after stopping 27 shots in the win.
Northeast 5 @ Danbury 6 – The Jr. Hat Tricks picked up their first sweep of the 2022-23 season as they beat the Generals on Saturday, 6-5. Logan Furstenau had two goals and an assist in the win. The Generals led 3-0 in the 1st period on goals from Joseph McGraw, Andrew DellaDonna, and Matthew DeSpirit. Danbury then exploded for four goals in the 2nd period, including two fro Furstenau and others from Andrew Aberling and David Overbeeke. The Generals got goals from Jacob Wilson and Nick Ramm to take a 5-4 lead, but Danbury pulled away in the 3rd period with goals from Liam Varmecky and Logan Nickerson. Karlis Mezsargs made 35 saves in the win.
Johnstown 2 @ Philadelphia 5 – The Rebels completed a three-game sweep of the Tomahawks and also eliminated Johnstown from playoff contention as they won 5-2 on Saturday. David Deputy had two goals and an assist in the win. Ryan Johnson scored to put Johnstown ahead 1-0 in the 1st period. Deputy scored in the 2nd period to make it 1-1. In the 3rd period, the Rebels exploded for four goals, including another from Deputy and others from Dominic Foglia. Maxwell Marquette, and Oliver Band. Owen Van Tassel had the other goal for Johnstown. Jakub Krbecek made 36 saves in the win.
Aberdeen 2 @ St. Cloud 1 (OT) – Wings goalie Cole Moore was outstanding with 39 saves as the Wings kept pace in the Central Division playoff race with a 2-1 overtime win and sweep of the Norsemen. The Wings took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd period thanks to a goal from Roope Tuomioksa. St. Cloud tied the game early in the 3rd period on a goal from Blake Perbix. Just over a minute into overtime, Jordan Ronn netted the game-winner for the Wings.
Springfield 5 @ Janesville 2 – The Jr. Blues got goals from five different players in a weekend road sweep of the Jets thanks to a 5-2 win on Saturday. The Jets jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Kyle Kudma and Mack Keryluk. It was all Jr. Blues after that, which included a 2nd period goal from Bobby Bartel in the 2nd period and four 3rd period goals from Nikita Nikora, Adyn Merrick, Scott Miner, and Hayden Riva. Carson Dorfman made 15 saves in the win.
Bismarck 5 @ North Iowa 4 (OT) – The Bobcats erased a 3-0 deficit to come-from-behind and beat the Bulls, 5-4 in overtime to stay in the Central playoff race. The Bulls led 3-0 on goals from Max Scott, Landon MacDonald, and Logan Dombrowsky. Bismarck responded with four straight goals including two from Adam Pietila, and others from Drew Holt and Evan Hunter. North Iowa tied the game at 4-4 in the late stages of the 3rd period thanks to a goal from Nolan Abraham. Michael Neumeier netted the game-winner with :39 seconds left in OT. Linards Lipskis made 29 saves in the win.
Corpus Christi 1 @ Shreveport 5 - The Mudbugs moved into 2nd place in the South Division thanks to a 5-1 win and home sweep of the IceRays. Eric Vitale scored twice in the win and Nikola Goich made 28 saves. Shreveport jumped out to a 4-0 lead with two goals from Vitale and others from Logan Heroux and Ryan Austin. The IceRays made it 4-1 on a goal from Wolfgang Govedaris. Jaden Goldie added a 3rd period goal for Shreveport to make it a 5-1 final.
Lone Star 0 @ Amarillo 1: The Amarillo Wranglers completed a weekend sweep over the Lone Star Brahmas in a 1-0 shutout win. Ronan Walsh scored the only goal of the game. Goaltender Connor McDonough posted a 30-shot shutout win.
El Paso 1 @ Oklahoma 4: The Oklahoma Warriors took their second win of the weekend against the El Paso Rhinos in a 4-1 final after scoring 4 goals in the third period. E.J. Janda scored the lone goal for the Rhinos in the second period. In the third it was all Oklahoma as Matle Hasselgren, Rylan Brady, who scored twice, and William Lawson-Body all scored for a 4-1 win. Dylan Johnson got the win in net after stopping 24 of 25 shots.
Odessa 6 @ New Mexico 1: The Odessa Jackalopes topped the New Mexico Ice Wolves in a 6-1 contest after adding 6 goals in the first two periods. The Jackalopes took a 2-0 lead after the first with goals from Ryan Masfield and Brendan Finn. In the second, Odessa added to their lead making it a 4-0 game as Mansfield and Dayne Hoyord scored. The Ice Wovles snuck a goal in with Yusaku Ando, 4-1. The Jackalopes netted two more goals with Ryan Kelly and Emerson Goode as they took a 6-1 win. Goaltender Gergely Orosz earned the win after backstopping 27 shots.
Austin 0 @ Minot 3: The Minot MInotauros blanked the Austin Bruins in a 3-0 contest after scoring a goal in the second and two in the third. Nick O’Hanisain scored in the second period then in the third it was Hunter Longhi and Colby Woogk to take the win 3-0. Noah Rupprecht was perfect in between the pipes after stopping 33 shots.
Kenai 1 @ Anchorage 2 (OT): The Anchorage Wolverines took the full two points after an overtime win against the Kenai River Brown Bears, 2-1. Anchorage got on the board in the first period with Jackson Reineke for a 1- 0 score. Late in the third and on the power-play, Bryce Monrean scored to force overtime 1-1. In the overtime frame, Andy Ramsey found the back of the net for the Wolverines for a 2-1 final. Eino Rissanen got the win in net for the Wolverines after stopping 29 shots.
