Friday Finals: Bruins Move Into First Place
by Sydney Cordova & Noah Radomski
Both Jack Soloman (top) and Jackson Fuller (bottom) were brick walls for their respective clubs
Rochester 6 @ Danbury 1 - The Rochester Jr. Americans continue to assert their dominance around the league, this time emerging victorious 6-1 versus the Danbury Hat Tricks. Keana Dewberry opened the scoring midway through the first for Rochester, followed by a pair of goals courtesy of Adam Gionta and Jaden Dyke. Later in the second, Niko Tournas netted his 33rd of the season to put Danbury on the board. However, Dyke would capitalize on a shot to light the lamp for his second of the afternoon, before Hugo Branthsson and Landon Brownlee solidified the win with late third period goals. Danick Leroux stood tall in net, padding aside 21/22 in the win.
Maryland 6 @ Maine 3 - The Maryland Black Bears defeated the Maine Nordiques 6-3 Friday night. After the Nordiques went up early, Luke Janus and Tyler Stern came back to score for the Black Bears. From there, pleasantries continued to be exchanged, as Victor Mannebratt scored twice in the second period for Maryland, whereas Tomek Haula and Cole Estey did for the Nordiques. Late in the third, Josh Frenette and Stern put a comeback out fo reach for Maine, as Maryland wound up taking this one.
Johnstown 3 @ New Hampshire 1 - The Johnstown Tomahawks snuck away with a 3-1 victory over the New Hampshire Mountain Kings Friday night. Charlie Zetterkvist was quick to open the scoring for the Tomahawks, before Taybor Aldrich tied it up for the Mountain Kings. Following a scoreless middle period, Zetterkvist lit the lamp for his second of the game to break the tie. From there, Andrew Cowgill extended Johnstown’s lead, which was enough to secure the 3-1 win. Nick Avakyan was outstanding in the crease, stopping 23/24.
Elmira 1 @ Philadelphia 6 - The Philadelphia Rebels went down 1-0 and never looked back, as they triumphed 6-1 over the Elmira Aviators Friday night. Ben Norris netted Elmira’s lone goal about five minutes into the opening frame, before Brock Jones quickly evened the score. From there, it was all Philadelphia, as Caesar Bjork, Billy Sheridan, Jones, and Joe Stauber all combined to put the Wings up heavily. The Rebels and their four powerplay goals wound up winning this one, backed by Owen Crudale’s 23 save performance in net.
Minnesota M 2 @ Watertown 3 - Despite a late comeback attempt, the Minnesota Mallards fell to the Watertown Shamrocks 3-2 Friday night. Ryan Gingher and Carter Sproule netted the game’s first two goals for the Shamrocks, before William McDonald put the Mallards within one. Late in third, Joseph Rice looked to seal the deal for Watertown. However, Jordan Brothers lit the lamp with just 38 seconds remaining, as Minnesota looked to make one last gasp. In the end, time ran out and Watertown hung onto with this close one.
Amarillo 1 @ Oklahoma 4 - The Oklahoma Warriors shut down the Amarillo Wranglers Friday night by a finals core of 4-1. Ben Likeness scored the lone goal of the opening period to give the Warriors in early lead. From there, following a scoreless second, Isaiah Yates extended the lead for Oklahoma. Jacob Miller capitalized on an opportunity and cut the lead in half for Amarillo, however Paul Wiczek and Kyle Sorenson eliminated any sort of comeback with late goals in the third to solidify Oklahoma’s win. Netminder Billy Stuski was on point, padding away 25/26.
North Iowa 1 @ St. Cloud 5 - The St. Cloud Norsemen turned on the heat in the third to defeat the North Iowa Bulls 5-1 St. Cloud found themselves up early, thanks to a pair of goals from Mason LeBel and Tyler Wishart. Following a scoreless second, Hudson Blue extended the lead even further, before Fuji Suzuki hit the back of the net to get North Iowa on the board. LeBel and Blue each netted their second of the game to further the Norsemen’s lead and secure the win. Beck Liden stood tall in net, stopping 20/21.
Bismarck 0 @ Austin 1 - During the first period, Luc Malkhassian scored for the Austin Bruins assisted by Alex Laurenza. In the second period, nobody scored. During the third period, it remained scoreless. Tomas Anderson made 18 saves for the Bismarck Bobcats and Jack Solomon made 28 saves for the Austin Bruins for the shutout.
Janesville 4 @ Springfield 3 (SO) - In the first period, Philippe Lalonde scored a goal for the Jets assisted by Sullivan Miller. Niko Laus tied up the game for the Jr. Blues with help from Gaige Giblin and Conner Broadhead. During the second period, it remained scoreless. In the third period, Roy Chung scored a goal for Springfield assisted by Giblin. Trevor Aberwald scored for Janesville assisted by Joseph Hyten. Springfield’s Jagur McClelland scored a goal with help from Andon Coles and Junsu Kwak. Janesville’s Hans Hedlund scored a goal assisted by Rylan Brady and Miller. No one scored in overtime. Hedlund and Miller scored in the shootout for the Jets. Drew Berres scored in the shootout for the Jr. Blues, but it wasn’t enough. Christian Kirsch made 41 saves for the Janesville Jets and Jack Kavetsky made 23 saves for the Springfield Jr. Blues.
Wisconsin 5 @ Minnesota W 3 - During the first period, Zach Homer scored for the Wilderness with help from Noah Dziver and Jakeb Lynch. In the second period, Hunter Hayes scored a goal for the Windigo assisted by Braydon Beahm and Harper Frey. Lynch scored a goal with assists from River Freeman and Dziver. Cashen Naeve scored an unassisted goal for Wisconsin. Dziver scored a goal with help from Lynch and Freeman. Ben Aucoin scored for the Windigo assisted by Beahm and Hayes. Frey scored a goal with assists from Luke Baker and Naeve. During the third period, Frey scored another goal with help from Ronnie Hill and Alexios Georgaklis. Lucas Szyszka made 23 saves for the Wisconsin Windigo and Niklas Erickson made 37 saves for the Minnesota Wilderness.
El Paso 0 @ New Mexico 2 - Jackson Fuller was the number one star of the night as he turned aside all 25 shots he faced as the New Mexico Ice Wolves shutout the El Paso Rhinos 2-0. Andrew Earl scored both of the Ice Wolves goals. The first coming midway through the contest, it was his 16th of the season. He added his 17th in the final minute to ice the game. Brendan Holahan was nearly perfect in between the pipes as he stopped 28 of 29 shots.
Colorado 0 @ Lone Star 7 - In the first period, Charlie Masek scored a goal for the Brahmas with help from Tyson Scanlon and Ryan Comishock. Comishock scored a goal assisted by Masek and Owen Kerr. Kristo Pitkanen increased the lead assisted by Trey Gnetz and Leo Bergstrom. Kerr scored a goal with help from Cooper Faughnan and Saxton Tess. Comishock scored another goal assisted by Scanlon. During the second period, Charlie Emmons scored a goal with help from Faughnan and Saxton Tess. Brody Niesh scored assisted by Vladimir Saibel and August Classon. The third period remained scoreless. Nolan Francis made 5 saves and Peter Sterling made 28 saves for the Colorado Grit. Nicolas Rempel made 23 saves for the Lone Star Brahmas for the shutout.
Odessa 3 @ Corpus Christi 5 - During the first period, Stepan Kuznetzov scored a goal for the IceRays assisted by Cooper Conway and Max Ranstrom. In the second period, Charlie Smith scored a goal for the Jackalopes assisted by Caden Ghiossi. Carter Krenke scored assisted by Conway. During the third period, Nicholas Arrington scored an unassisted goal for the Jackalopes. IceRays’ Michael Valdez scored a goal with help from Will Reardon and Cody Kempf. Billy Biedermann scored a goal for Corpus Christi assisted by Raymond Perrault. Jack L’Esperance scored a goal for Odessa assisted by Braden Pietila and David Hamr. Biedermann scored another goal assisted by Krenke. Aries Carangi made 26 saves for the Odessa Jackalopes and Vlad Bryzgalov made 25 saves for the Corpus Christi IceRays.
Aberdeen 6 @ Minot 3 - In the first period, Cade Moxham scored a goal for the Wings assisted by Luke Backel and Bryce Johnson. Moxham scored another goal with help from Johnson and Backel. Landon Fleming put Minot on the board assisted by Billy Batten and Jesse Juhola. During the second period, John Small scored a goal for the Minotauros assisted by Ian Spencer. Matthew Martin-Gaudreault scored an unassisted goal for the Wings. In the third period, Owen Pitters made a goal assisted by Johnson. Minot’s Gavin Middendorf scored a goal with help from Spencer. Jack McDonough scored with help from Pitters. Moxham scored an unassisted goal for the hat trick. Gavin Grenuik made 30 saves for the Aberdeen Wings and Lukas Swedin made 26 saves for the Minot Minotauros.
Fairbanks 1 @ Anchorage 4 - A three point night from Toby Carlson led the way as the Anchorage Wolverines took down their rival, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs 4-1 on Friday night. Brock Devlin opened the scoring just 8:56 into the action before Daniel Bagnole doubled the lead just 100 seconds later. Ashton Breyer scored in the opening minute of the second period to increase the lead to three heading into the final frame. Fairbanks would get on the board about five minutes into the third as Aidan Bergner scored his seventh of the season but Carlson’s only goal and third point of the night helped seal the victory in the final moments. Michael Manzi netted the win in goal with 26 saves. Charlie Menard suffered the loss as he turned aside 23 shots.
