Saturday Scores: Port Huron gets closer to division title

Port Huron 3 @ Kalamazoo 2 (OT) - Andrew Graves notched his 100th career junior point, but it wouldn't be enough as the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings dropped their contest to the Port Huron Fighting Falcons by an overtime score of 3-2 on Saturday afternoon.  The win gives Port Huron a 10-point lead over Kalamazoo atop the North Division.   In a quick-moving first period, it was Port Huron who found the score sheet first. Joseph Pizza scored his second of the season at the 6:58 mark of the first period when he beat Kalamazoo goaltender, Ken MacLean through the five-hole.  While working with their first power play of the game, Kalamazoo drew even on the 13th of the season from Brandon Flood.   Early in the third, with the score tied at one apiece, Andrew Graves broke the stalemate with his 21st of the season.   Port Huron struck right back, however, as Brett D’Andrea (12th) scored his third goal in his last two games to force overtime.   With :11 seconds remaining and working on the power play in overtime, Port Huron designed a backdoor play off the faceoff that saw Kody Polin (20th) bury the game-winner. Max Milosek picked up the win for Port Huron, stopping 37 shots. His counterpart, Kalamazoo's Kenneth MacLean, stopped 20 shots in the loss. Boxscore

Wenatchee 1 @ Kenai River 2 – In a reversal of fortune from Friday night, the Kenai River Brown Bears edged the Wenatchee Wild on Saturday to split the weekend series.  Bobby Murphy picked up a goal and an assist, including the game’s first goal on the first period.  Ben Carey scored his team-leading 17th goal of the year in the 2nd period for Wenatchee to tie the game at 1-1, but Matt Thompson’s goal later in the period proved to be the game winner. Boxscore

Fairbanks 6 @ Dawson Creek 4 – The defending Robertson Cup Champs moved into a 1st place tie in the West thanks to a 6-4 win in Dawson Creek on Saturday and a weekend sweep.  Max Birkinbine registered a hat-trick for the Ice Dogs, scoring goals in all three periods.  Fairbanks had a 5-1 lead early in the 3rd period as Jeff Earnest and Tayler Munson joined Birkinbine in the scoring.  Three straight goals by the Rage made it close, but Fairbanks added an empty-net goal. Boxscore

Wichita Falls 2 @ Corpus Christi 4 – Newest IceRay Jonathan Grebosky recorded a hat-trick, scoring a goal in the each period, as Corpus Christi increased their lead in the 4th and final playoff spot in the South with a 4-2 win in front of over 4,100 fans.  Phil Pietroniro got the scoring going in the 1st period for the ‘Rays before Grebosky’s heroics.  Zach Pochiro scored back-to-back goals for the Wildcats to draw them to within 3-2 before an empty-netter from Grebosky. Boxscore

Minot 2 @ Alexandria 3 – The Blizzard had to come from behind, scoring two, 3rd period goals to defeat Minot at home, 3-2.  Jordan Kresbach gave the Blizzard a 1-0 lead, but that was answered by Minot’s Josh Twietmeyer.  Tim Donohue scored to give the Minot a 2-1 lead after two periods, but Reid Sturos tied the game just :22 seconds into the 3rd period and Tucker Coborn scored the game-winner with just :43 seconds remaining in the game. Boxscore

Topeka 5 @ Springfield 1 – The RoadRunners controlled play from start to finish to move back into 2nd place in the South Division with a 5-1 win in Springfield in front of almost 2,000 fans.  Sean Gaffney scored twice including the game-winning goal early in the 2nd period as Topeka built a 5-0 lead with goals from Gaffney (2), Dan Dupell, Gage Hough and Willem Nong-Lambert.  Peter Traber did the rest, making 29 saves, before Josef Pontasch ended his shutout bid late in the game. Boxscore

Jamestown 1 @ Michigan 4 – The Warriors snapped a nine-game losing streak and gave their playoff hopes a shot in the arm with a 4-1 home win over the Ironmen.  Robert Mantha scored twice and Michigan also got goals from Joseph Ferriss and Michael Economos.  Blake Kelley had the lone goal for Jamestown.  Trevor Gorsuch was solid in goal for Michigan making 33 saves.  Chris Eckler and AJ White each had two assists in the win. Boxscore

Janesville 2 @ St. Louis 4 – St. Louis is making a strong bid to take over 1st place in the Midwest thanks to another win over Janesville.  All four Bandits goals came on the power play including goals from Joseph Birmingham, Stephen Bopp, Taylor Wolfe and Greg Johnson.  Darren McCormick and Truman Landowski scored goals for Janesville, who were outshot 30-18.  St. Louis did most of its damage in the 2nd period as they scored twice during a five minute power play. Boxscore

Austin 2 @ Bismarck 4 – Frank DeAugustine broke a 2-2 tie late in the 2nd period as Bismarck went on to a 4-2 win over Austin on Saturday, spoiling the Bruins bid for an unbeaten weekend.  Christian Folin gave the Bruins an early lead, but Dan Zawacki answered to tie the game at 1-1.  Newcomer Buster Hebda gave Bismarck a 2-1 lead, but Austin answered with a goal from Austin Nelson.  Bryce Anderson scored in the 3rd period to put the game out of reach. Boxscore

Amarillo 3 @ Texas 2 – The Bulls scored three, 3rd period goals on their way to a weekend road sweep of the Tornado.  Texas outshot the Bulls 41-24, but the difference in the game was Bulls goaltender Gregg Gruehl, who made 39 saves.  Texas had a 1-0 lead through two periods thanks to a goal from Mitchell McPherson.  However, three Bulls goals from Greg Gibson, Brandon Lubin and Brooks Behling in a span of eight minutes was the difference.  A late Tornado goal from Jake Strzalkowski wasn’t enough for Texas. Boxscore

Coulee Region 6 @ Chicago 2 – The Chill jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back, earning a weekend split of their series with the Hitmen with a 6-2 win on Saturday.  Six different players scored for Coulee Region including: Ross Luedtke, Jack McCartan, Mac Jansen, Jake Useldinger, Tommy Miller and Patrick Steinhauser.  Matt Cessna and Andrew Paras scored late in the 2nd period to draw the Hitmen to within two goals, but that would be as close as they would get as David Heflin shut the door the rest of the way making 39 saves. Boxscore

Odessa 1 @ New Mexico 4 – Thanks to two more goals from leading scorer Adam Chapie, the Mustangs took the middle game of a three-game set with the Jackalopes on Saturday by a 4-1 score.  Mustangs goaltender Jake Stafford made 35 saves in the win.  After a scoreless 1st period, New Mexico jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Chapie and Taylor Ward.  Tyler Cayemberg scored for Odessa to make it 2-1, but New Mexico put the game out of reach with another goal from Chapie and the final goal from Evan Johnston. Boxscore