Saturday Scores: Watertown Featured Some Puck Luck on the Road

Photo Credit: Sarah Cooper

Oklahoma 3 @ Shreveport 4 (OT) - The Oklahoma Warriors visited the Shreveport Mudbugs. Less than a minute into the game, the Mudbugs would score first with a goal from Jacob Stock, Evan Hoglund with the assist. The Warriors would answer quickly with an unassisted goal from Joey Derosa. The Warriors would score again immediately after with a goal from Mason Wright, William-Francisco Parent getting the assist. In the second period, the Warriors would score again on a power play with a goal from Bronson Sabol, Mason Wright, and William-Francisco Parent with the assist. The Mudbugs would answer with a goal from Jared Greiner, Johnathan Berndt, and Owen Case with the assist. The Mudbugs would score again to tie the game up with a goal from Jonah Jasser, assisted by Duke Ehrhard. The final period would go scoreless, leading to overtime. In overtime, Liam Wolf-Taulbee scored the game-winning goal for the Mudbugs, with Jared Greiner assisting. The Mudbugs defeat the Warriors in overtime, 4-3.

Philadelphia 3 @ New Jersey 4 (OT) - The Philadelphia Rebels took a short trip to New Jersey to take on the Titans. In the opening period, the Rebels would take an early lead with a power-play goal from Brayton Frick, Cam Wilson, and Ryan Ickes with the assist. In the second period, the Titans would get on the board with a goal from Jake Jarrell, Matt Hanscom, and Tate Pecknold picking up the assist. A minute later, the Rebels would answer with a goal from Alex Lunski, assisted by Brayton Frick and Billy Sheridan. To open the final period, the Titans would tie the game up again with a goal from Tate Pecknold, Owen Leahy, and Tyler Rothstein with the assist. The Rebels would answer once again with an unassisted goal from Ty Simonet. Right before the end of the game, the Titans would tie the game once again, Skogen Schrott scoring the game-tying goal, Owen Leahy and Blake Jones picking up the assist. In overtime, the Titans would find the game-winner with a goal from Ty Creech, Skogen Schrott, and Owen Leahy, his third, picking up the assist. The Titans defend their home with an overtime win over the Rebels 4-3.

Rochester 5 @ New Hampshire 1 - The Rochester Jr. Americans delivered a structured, disciplined performance in a 5–1 road win over the New Hampshire Mountain Kings, taking control early and never looking back. Rochester used a fast start and a dominant second period to build a cushion that they would comfortably protect the rest of the way. Rochester struck twice in the opening frame to set the tone, capitalizing on their puck possession and a lopsided 10–4 shot advantage. The Jr. Americans kept the pressure on in the second, breaking the game open with three more goals and overwhelming New Hampshire 20–7 on the shot clock. A power-play tally at 11:14 — finished by Colin Dustin, with helpers from Corson Maguire and Michael Sandruck — highlighted the middle-period surge, contributing to a commanding 5–0 lead through 40 minutes. New Hampshire pushed back in the third and finally broke through on the man advantage at 9:41, when Thomas Quast converted on the power play off a setup from Cole Roenick, but it stood as their only mark of the night. The Mountain Kings generated their strongest period offensively with eight shots, yet Rochester’s structure held firm. Goaltender Florian Wade was steady throughout, stopping 18 of 19 shots to secure the win in a full 60-minute effort. On the other side, New Hampshire split the crease after starter Jake Kunzon exited at 12:11 of the second; he and Gavin Weeks combined for 30 saves on 35 shots

Maryland 3 @ Maine 2 - The Maryland Black Bears used a decisive three-goal second period and a resilient defensive effort late to edge the Maine Nordiques 3–2 on the road, surviving a heavy Maine shot volume and multiple special-teams battles. After a scoreless opening frame highlighted by strong goaltending at both ends, Maryland seized control in the second period with a rapid offensive surge. Brady Anes opened the scoring at 17:22, finishing a setup from Daniel Johnson and Owen Drury. Less than a minute later at 16:27, Jaden Sikura doubled the lead off feeds from Liam Doherty and Anes, giving the Black Bears a sudden 2–0 advantage. Maine responded at 12:14 on the power play when Jack Klevby buried a chance created by Joe Gasperko and Austin Borggaard, trimming the deficit to 2–1. But Maryland had an answer of their own on a late-period power play: at 2:01, Ryan Franks struck for the eventual game-winner, converting on the man advantage with help from Harrison Smith and Joshua Frenette, restoring a two-goal cushion heading into the third. The Nordiques made things tight again early in the final frame, capitalizing on another power play at 5:15. Gasperko notched his second point of the night, with Josh Itri and Borggaard adding assists to make it 3–2. From there, Maryland leaned heavily on its structure and the steady play of goaltender Ryan Denes, who turned aside 31 of 33 shots in a full 60-minute effort. Maine pulled their goaltender multiple times in a frantic final minute, but Maryland held firm through a chaotic sequence of empty-net on/off exchanges. The Nordiques finished with a 33–28 edge in shots, but Maryland’s clinical second-period finishing and Denes’ backbone performance proved enough.

Northeast 5 @ Danbury 3 - The Northeast Generals rode a three-goal first period and a pair of timely third-period strikes to secure a 5–3 road victory over the Danbury Hat Tricks, with special teams and opportunistic scoring defining the night. The Generals exploded out of the gate with a trio of goals in the opening frame, striking in all situations. Tyler Kelly opened the scoring at 15:00 with a shorthanded, unassisted effort, setting the tone for a high-energy start. Just minutes later, at 7:55, Vinny Ipri buried a power-play goal — also unassisted — to double the lead. Alec Hall added to the surge at 5:02, making it 3–0 with another unassisted tally. Danbury finally answered at 4:38 when Kai Elkie converted on a setup from Matt Dabrowski, trimming the deficit to 3–1 after one. Danbury tightened the game in the second period, generating a 15–7 shot advantage and pulling within one when Austin Michaud finished a feed from Dabrowski at 9:31. Despite the Hat Tricks’ pressure, Generals goaltender Will Mizenko stood firm, preserving a 3–2 lead heading into the third. The Generals regained control late in the final frame, delivering the knockout punch with back-to-back goals. At 14:47, Kelly struck again — this time on the power play — burying what would stand as the game-winning goal, assisted by Finn Connor and Owen O’Rear. Just over a minute later at 13:12, Hall notched his second of the night off feeds from Kelly and Talen McBride, stretching the lead to 5–2. Danbury continued to push and clawed one back at 3:54 when Luke Melnik scored shorthanded from Matt Shpungin, but the gap proved too large to close. Despite being outshot 31–24, Northeast capitalized on their chances and leaned on Mizenko’s steady 60-minute effort to secure the win. Danbury rotated goaltenders after an early change, with Luke Brassil exiting at 5:02 of the first in favor of Jon Dukaric, who took the loss. Special teams were central to the outcome — the Generals netted both a power-play and shorthanded goal, while Danbury managed one of their own shorthanded.

Elmira 3 @ Johnstown 4 (OT) - The Elmira Aviators went on the road to Johnstown to take on the Tomahawks. Less than a minute into the game, the Tomahawks would get on the board with a goal from Emerson Marshall, Kalib Capecci with the assist. The Tomahawks would score again with an unassisted goal from Cameron Ross. To open the second period, the Tomahawks would score a third goal, this time Kirby Perler scoring, Sean Leetch and Charlie Zetterkvist with the assist. The Aviators would finally get on the board with a goal from Max Campbell, Zach Buffone with the assist. The Aviators would bring the game within one with another goal, Maximus Horn scoring the goal, assisted by Jack Kohlmann. In the final period, the Aviators would score the only goal to tie the game and send it to overtime. Andrew Horn scored and Yianni Koukoves and Matt Maglio picked up the assist. In overtime, the Tomahawks would finally answer, scoring the game-winning goal. Nick Jarmain saved the game for the Tomahawks, assisted by Nick Metelkin and Jacob Ingstrup. The Tomahawks hold off a comeback surge from the Aviators, defeating them 4-3.

Amarillo 2 @ Odessa 5 - The Odessa Jackalopes used a four-goal second period and a steady performance in net to pull away from the Amarillo Wranglers, securing a 5–2 home win despite being outshot 36–30. After a quiet first period with no scoring, Odessa erupted in the middle frame, seizing full control of the game. The Jackalopes struck for four goals in the second, building a commanding lead while holding Amarillo to just one response. The Wranglers pushed back with increased pressure — firing 15 shots in the period — but Odessa’s finishing touch proved decisive. Amarillo clawed one back in the second and added another in the third, but the gap was too wide to close. Odessa capped the night with a single third-period tally to lock down the victory, maintaining their multi-goal cushion throughout the final frame. Wranglers goaltender Charles Antoine-Girard played nearly the full game, briefly coming off for an empty-net sequence late, finishing with 59:28 of action. Odessa’s Kevin Jones stood tall in a full 60-minute performance, backstopping the win. Despite Amarillo’s 36–30 shot advantage, Odessa’s explosive second period proved the difference, delivering them a well-earned win on home ice.

Bismarck 6 @ St. Cloud 3 - The Bismarck Bobcats showcased their superior offensive strength, defeating the home-team St. Cloud Norsemen with a final score of 6-3. The Bobcats established a solid lead in the first forty, scoring two goals in the first and two in the second period, giving them a comfortable advantage. Key player Ben Osiashvili had an exceptional night, contributing to three goals, including one of his own and two assists. St. Cloud struggled to contain the Bobcats' attack, surrendering six goals while being heavily outshot 42 to 18 by the end of the night. Despite the high shot volume, the Bobcats were unsuccessful on the power play, going 0 for 4 while playing a disciplined game with only four penalty minutes. The Norsemen struggled with discipline, accumulating 33 minutes in the box, but the penalty kill did a great job defending. This impressive road victory confirms the Bismarck Bobcats remain winning and near the top of the Central Division, while the St. Cloud Norsemen struggle to find consistency against top Central Division teams.

Janesville 2 @ Chippewa 3 - The Chippewa Steel secured a hard-fought home victory, narrowly defeating the visiting Janesville Jets with a final score of 3-2. The Jets opened up the scoring, but the Steel responded quickly, scoring two goals in the first period. Chippewa's defense held strong against a massive offensive onslaught from Janesville, who registered a staggering 54 shots on the Steel netminder throughout the night. Despite the overwhelming shot disparity, the Steel scored their final goal in the second period, with Josh Bostedo netting a goal on the power play. The Jets made a late push in the third period with a power play goal from Wyatt Ezman, but the Steel's goaltender and defense locked it down for the 3-2 final. The game was relatively clean, with both teams combining for only 16 penalty minutes. After a struggling start to the season, the Chippewa Steel are improving their record to 4-13-2-0 and can overcome elite competition, while the Janesville Jets are looking to keep their record over .500.

Watertown 4 @ Austin 3 - The Watertown Shamrocks went on the road to Austin to take on the Bruins. The Shamrocks would start fast with a power-play goal from Owen Chartier, Erick Comstock, and Carter Sproule with the assist. The Shamrocks would score again with a goal from Justin Obrochta, Joe Rice, and Owen Fask picking up the assist. Before the end of regulation, the Shamrocks would score again with a goal from Edvins Berzins, assisted by Jake Pietila and Shae Gavin. In the second period, the Bruins would finally get on the board with a goal from Matsvei Marshchanok, Siamon Marshchanok, and Sam Kline with the assist. The Shamrocks would answer back with a power-play goal, an unassisted goal from Carter Sproule. The Bruins would answer back with a power-play goal of their own from Siamion Marshchanok, assisted by Nathan Williams and Connor Beckwith. In the final period, the Bruins would score another power-play goal from EJ Paddington to make it a one-point game, with Nathan Williams and Michael Coleman with the assist. But it was not enough as the Shamrocks held off the Bruins to take the win 4-3.

North Iowa 2 @ Aberdeen 4 - The Aberdeen Wings secured a solid home victory, defeating the visiting North Iowa Bulls with a final score of 4-2. Joe Coghlin opened the scoring for the Bulls, which gave them a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission. Both teams found the back of the net in the second period, and the Bulls maintained their one-goal lead. The Wings maintained offensive control throughout the night, outshooting the Bulls 35 to 28, and that pressure finally paid off. The final period saw the Wings pull away with three straight goals, including a late empty-netter from Sam Scheetz. This victory ensures the dominant Aberdeen Wings remain winning and solidify their position with a 13-4-1-1 record, while the North Iowa Bulls struggle to gain ground against the division's top teams.

Corpus Christi 1 @ Lone Star 5 - The Lone Star Brahmas secured a strong home victory, defeating the visiting Corpus Christi IceRays for the second night in a row. The scoring started quickly, with the IceRays taking a brief lead on a power-play goal by Easton Swift before the Brahmas immediately responded to tie it up. Lone Star took control of the game in the second period, scoring two goals from Gustav Lexell and Tyson Scanlon, establishing a 3-1 lead. The Brahmas' offense was relentless, scoring five total goals and heavily outshooting the IceRays 34 to 14 by the final horn. Both teams were extremely undisciplined tonight, which led to plenty of power play opportunities, especially for the IceRays. Despite the IceRays scoring on one of their eight power-play opportunities, the Brahmas' defense locked the game down. After this dominant performance, the Brahmas remain winning and are the top team in the division with an impressive 13-1-1-2 record. At the same time, the IceRays continue struggling to find consistency against the elite as they were unable to score more than one goal against Lone Star in both games this weekend.

New Mexico 5 @ El Paso 2 - The El Paso Rhinos play host for the second night in a row against the New Mexico Ice Wolves. With both teams tight in the South Division standings, this contest is crucial in securing positioning. The matchup kicked off with New Mexico lighting up the scoreboard first, thanks to an unassisted goal by Cayden Joramo, marking his first goal of the season. A little over 10 minutes later in the opening period, El Paso’s Troy Hunka evens the score when he found the back of the net. As the contest moved into the second period, New Mexico would score first again, this time with a tally by Brock Fairbanks at the 14:43 minute mark. Less than two minutes later, on a line change, El Paso’s Jackson Potulny scores a timely goal to even the scoreboard. Later on in the second period, New Mexico’s Nayan Pai gives the Ice Wolves a lead again when he found the back of the net around the six-minute mark. As the matchup moves into the final frame. Both teams traded chances. Second-year Ice Wolves veteran, Nayan Pai, added an insurance goal with less than seven minutes on the clock, to give New Mexico a 4-2 lead over El Paso. Following that unassisted insurance goal, New Mexico’s Jake Kasay built on their edge with his third tally of the year. The Rhinos would fall to the Ice Wolves 5-2. Between the pipes for New Mexico, Jackson Silverberg turned away 20 out of 22 shots, helping to lift his team to a victory.

Springfield 3 @ Fairbanks 2 - The Springfield Jr. Blues were coming off a victory over the Ice Dogs and were hungry to continue that momentum on Saturday night. The contest kicked off in the opening period with Springfield’s captain, Zach Howard, lighting the lamp first. Following two minutes behind him, Fairbanks’ Kyle Rohrer tallied his 10th of the season to even the contest 1-1. Moving into the middle frame, the Ice Dogs’ captain, Luca Ricciardi, secures a power-play goal at the 16:47 minute mark. That lead was short-lived when Springfield’s Mason Benedict found the back of the net a minute later to even the contest again. As the game moved into the final 20 minutes, both teams exchanged chances; however, it was Josh Zitzman who got it done for the Jr. Blues. With less than four minutes on the clock, the defenseman finds the back of the net on the man advantage to give Springfield the 3-2 victory and sweep over Fairbanks. Between the pipes for the Jr. Blues, Amir Valiullin stopped 30 out of 32 shots on net for his team.

Wisconsin 1 @ Anchorage 4 - Looking to respond to the 4-3 shootout loss the night before, the Wolverines were looking to rage at home. The matchup started with the Windigo lighting the lamp first, thanks to a tally by Peyton Mithmuangneua. Following less than two minutes later, Anchorage’s Ryan Bydal secured his eighty tally of the season to even the score heading into the second frame. The middle period featured the Wolverines extending their lead with two goals. Coming just out of the penalty box, Caleb Mahar finds the back of the net, securing the game-winning goal. Five minutes later, the Wolverines’ leading scorer finds the back of the net on the man advantage to give Anchorage a 3-1 lead. As the contest moved into the final 20 minutes, the Wolverines were looking to add insurance. With 3:07 left on the board, Sam Evert scored for the Wolverines, giving them now a 4-1 lead. The Windigo would eventually fall. Between the pipes for Anchorage, Kai Weigel picks up his first win as a Wolverine, spotlighting a 23-save performance.