Friday Finals: Lone Star Scores Victory in Showdown with Shreveport

Hugo Zetterlund potted two goals in the victory for Lone Star

Danbury 3 vs. New Jersey 2 (SO) - The Danbury Hat Tricks battled back from a third-period deficit to secure a thrilling 3-2 shootout victory over the New Jersey Titans on Friday afternoon at Danbury Ice Arena. After a scoreless opening period, Joseph Krausfeldt put Danbury ahead at 12:46 of the second before Tomas Pribyl answered just over a minute later to even the score. Joshua Kitsis struck at 10:07 to give New Jersey a 2-1 advantage heading into the final frame. With the Hat Tricks trailing, Brent Beswick delivered the equalizer on the power play at 9:16 of the third, assisted by Zach Buffone and Simon Wang. Neither side could break the deadlock through overtime, sending the contest to a shootout. Dominiks Domokejevs and Simon Wang converted their attempts for Danbury, while goaltender Ty Ferguson made two shootout saves to seal the comeback victory. Ferguson finished with 33 saves on 35 shots, while New Jersey's Andrew Bely recorded 26 saves.

Maryland 3 vs. New Hampshire 2 - The Maryland Black Bears erased a one-goal deficit in the third period to rally past the New Hampshire Mountain Kings 3-2 on Friday night at Delta Dental Arena. Following a scoreless opening frame, Matthew Shpungin broke the deadlock at 17:26 of the second period to give Maryland the early advantage. New Hampshire responded with two unanswered goals as Aidan Patton struck on the power play at 10:42 before Evan Ferraro found the back of the net at 6:19 to put the Mountain Kings ahead 2-1 entering the final period. Maryland wasted little time answering, with Dominick Mack scoring just 2:24 into the third to even the contest. With 3:11 remaining, Ajay Rai delivered the game-winner off assists from Brayden Wade and Vincent Glos to complete the comeback. Black Bears goaltender Cole Werthman turned aside 27 of 29 shots, while New Hampshire's Matthew Smith Jr. made 35 saves.

Philadelphia 4 vs. Elmira 3 - The Philadelphia Rebels held off a late push from the Elmira Aviators to secure a 4-3 victory on Friday night at Hollydell Ice Arena. Elmira struck first just 2:13 into the opening period when Timofei Korober found the back of the net, but Philadelphia quickly turned the tables with goals from Justin Vlassis and Jake Schultz to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission. Matthew Maglio brought the Aviators even with a power-play goal midway through the second period before Oscar Djurberg restored Philadelphia's advantage with 1:49 remaining. The Rebels extended their lead to 4-2 early in the third as Emmet McClaine capitalized on a setup from Schultz. Elmira refused to go quietly, with Maximus McGuire converting on the power play at 5:20 to pull the Aviators within one, but Philadelphia slammed the door on any comeback hopes. Schultz finished with a goal and an assist, while Rebels goaltender Benjamin Varsa turned aside 27 shots to secure the victory. 

St. Cloud 2 vs. Bismarck 1 - The St. Cloud Norsemen weathered a relentless offensive attack from the Bismarck Bobcats to earn a hard-fought 2-1 victory Friday night at the Municipal Athletic Complex. Cristian Nichols opened the scoring just 3:48 into the first period, finishing a play set up by Dante Rodriguez and Tucker Lovejoy to give St. Cloud an early advantage. A scoreless second period kept the Norsemen ahead by one despite Bismarck's continued pressure. With just 1:56 remaining in regulation, Rodriguez doubled St. Cloud's lead off an assist from Brandon Rodenwald, putting the Norsemen in control. However, the Bobcats refused to surrender as Maddox Malmquist struck on the power play with only 26 seconds left, cutting the deficit to one and setting up a frantic finish. St. Cloud held firm in the closing seconds, backed by a stellar performance from goaltender Axel Kylin, who stopped 31 of 32 shots. Rodriguez led the Norsemen with a goal and an assist as St. Cloud secured the victory despite being outshot 32-18.

Janesville 4 vs. Minnesota M 3 - Grant Dillard delivered a hat trick as the Janesville Jets outlasted the Minnesota Mallards in a thrilling 4-3 battle Friday night at Forest Lake Sports Center. After a scoreless opening period, Dillard broke the deadlock early in the second before Ben Likness answered for Minnesota to send the teams into the final frame tied at one. Janesville came out firing in the third, with Owen Shadrick restoring the lead before Dillard struck again to build a 3-1 advantage. The Mallards stormed back behind goals from Aiden Ferriera and Colby Lauzon just 2:44 apart, erasing the deficit and tying the contest at three. However, Dillard had the final say, completing his hat trick with a power-play goal at 8:29 to put Janesville ahead for good. The Jets controlled the shot battle 47-32, while goaltender Kyle Jones turned aside 29 shots to secure the victory. Minnesota netminder Roman Batih made 42 saves for the evening.

Houston 1 vs Corpus Christi 5 - In a dominating display at Hilliard Center, the Corpus Christi IceRays crushed the Houston Bulls 5-1 in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 3,828 fans. The IceRays set the tone early with a power play goal by Jacob Wingfield at 12:47 of the first period, assisted by Chayse Laurie and Nikita Konevych. Just 90 seconds later, Makar Kultuklu doubled the lead with an unassisted strike. As if two goals weren't enough, Michael Sandruck capitalized on another power play opportunity at 2:03 of the first period, assisted by Kultuklu and Oliver Czaja. The second period saw Houston's Ivan Bercik claw back a goal at 7:06 with a power play conversion, but Corpus Christi's Michael Azzarone responded at 14:41, assisted by Charles Norris III and Anthony Pedalino. The game was effectively put to bed when Justin Thibault netted an empty-netter at 3:01 of the third period, with assists from Sandruck and Thomas Duhamel. Standout performances were aplenty for the IceRays. Yegor Batsokin was solid in goal, saving 21 of 22 shots. Makar Kultuklu shone brightly as the first star with his goal and assist, while Michael Sandruck earned the second star with a goal and an assist. The IceRays were lethal on the power play, converting three of their seven opportunities.

Springfield 1 vs Minnesota W 3 - In a thrilling encounter at the Northwoods Credit Union Arena, the Minnesota Wilderness clinched a decisive 3-1 victory over the Springfield Jr. Blues. The action-packed second period was where the game came alive. The opening goal came at 8:47 when Davis Damrow, with assists from Jackson Knight and Kash Crawford, put Minnesota on the scoreboard. Just under a minute later, Springfield's Tristan Kriech equalized at 7:55, assisted by Dean Gasser. However, the Wilderness quickly reclaimed their lead at 4:21 with Jackson Reeves netting the second goal, assisted by Owen Smith and Frantisek Netusil. Not resting on their laurels, Frantisek Netusil sealed the deal for the Wilderness with an unassisted third goal at 3:50, showcasing his prowess. Minnesota's goaltender, Oliver Kanat, was a fortress, stopping 25 out of 26 shots and earning him the third star of the night. Springfield's Leyton Rinehart put up a valiant effort with 37 saves on 40 shots. Despite Springfield's attempts, they struggled to capitalize, going 0-for-5 on power plays. The Wilderness dominated the shot count with 40 compared to Springfield's 26, a reflection of their aggressive play and strategic forechecking. Frantisek Netusil's performance earned him the first star, while Kash Crawford's contributions were recognized with the second star.

Oklahoma 5 vs Odessa 4 - In an electrifying showdown at the Ector County Coliseum, the Oklahoma Warriors edged the Odessa Jackalopes 5-4 in a thrilling contest that had fans on the edge of their seats—even if they weren’t there in person. The Warriors drew first blood with Jackson Hone scoring at 19:09 of the first period, assisted by Olivier Laverdiere. Just over a minute later, Jack Dunne doubled the lead at 8:03, and Jeremy Sprung piled on at 7:03, leaving Odessa in a 3-0 hole early in the game. Odessa's Hunter Toms sparked a comeback with a goal at 5:58 of the first period. The second period saw the Jackalopes clawing back with Max Donatelli and Bjorn Bahneman finding the net at 9:01 and 11:14, respectively, leveling the score. However, Olivier Laverdiere struck back for the Warriors at 12:18, only for Kaid Pawlanta to tie it again at 6:52. The game-winner came in the third period when Hone scored his second of the night at 10:29, sealing the victory for the Warriors. Goalie Jakob Hanlan stood tall for Oklahoma, making 32 saves on 36 shots, while Odessa's Cody Niesen stopped 22 of 24 shots. Olivier Laverdiere's performance was standout, contributing a goal and an assist, while Bjorn Bahneman's playmaking earned him a goal and two assists. Despite the loss, the Jackalopes' resilience was commendable, pushing the Warriors to their limits.

Grand Junction 4 vs New Mexico 3 (SO) - In an highly contested showdown at the Outpost Ice Arena, the Grand Junction River Hawks emerged victorious over the New Mexico Ice Wolves in a nail-biting 4-3 shootout victory. The opening goal sparked excitement at 19:02 of the second period when Gabe Iervella found the net, assisted by Lincoln Martin and Will Cymbaluk. The Ice Wolves responded fiercely with Antoine Demers scoring a power-play goal at 10:11 of the first period, with Noah Teng on the assist. The second period saw a power-play masterclass from the Ice Wolves, with Anthony Leech and Oskar Edberg scoring at 15:52 and 13:05, respectively, showing off their precision and teamwork with assists from Killian Kissane, Tyler Hess, Pete Luecke, and Conner Boulay. However, the River Hawks mounted a comeback. Tyson Matthews netted a goal at 5:43 of the third period, assisted by Holden Gallagher and Luke Zimpfer. Just when it seemed the Ice Wolves might hold on, Alexander Hjorth stunned the crowd with a dramatic goal at 1:02, sending the game into a shootout. In the shootout, Alexander Hjorth and Will Cymbaluk clinched the win for the River Hawks with their decisive goals. Micah Adams of the River Hawks was stellar in goal, making 15 saves, while Blake Clark of the Ice Wolves was equally commendable with 21 saves. The Ice Wolves’ power play was a standout, converting three of four opportunities, but ultimately, the River Hawks' resilience secured their victory.

Shreveport 2 vs Lone Star 6 - In a thrilling matchup at the NYTEX Sports Centre, the Lone Star Brahmas outplayed the Shreveport Mudbugs with a commanding 6-2 victory. The home crowd of 2,027 fans witnessed an electrifying performance, especially during the power plays. The Brahmas struck early with Sam Black opening the scoring at 15:13 of the first period, capitalizing on a power play with assists from Alexander Oliver and Jackson Vaites. Just under three minutes later, Hugo Zetterlund extended the lead at 12:19 with another power play goal, assisted by Oliver and Vincenzo Capano. The Mudbugs responded in the second period with Antoine Cormier's goal at 18:17, assisted by Evan Hoglund. However, Niko Smilovic restored the Brahmas' two-goal advantage at 15:10 of the second period, courtesy of Jake Tavares' assist. In the third period, Jake Tavares and Sam Black, again on a power play, solidified the Brahmas' dominance with goals at 6:57 and 5:42, respectively. Hugo Zetterlund put the final nail in the coffin with his second power-play goal at 2:13, once more assisted by Oliver and Capano. Gunner Gullstrand's goal at 18:12 provided some consolation for the Mudbugs. Standout performances included Alexander Oliver's remarkable four-assist game and Leo Gabriel's solid goaltending, stopping 28 of 30 shots. The Mudbugs' Kristers Plepis faced a barrage, saving 11 out of 17 shots. The Brahmas' power play shone brightly, converting four out of eight opportunities. This victory not only boosts Lone Star's season standing but also extends their winning streak to three games.

Austin 1 vs Minot 2 - In a thrilling contest at The Pepsi Rink, the Minot Minotauros edged past the Austin Bruins with a 2-1 victory, much to the delight of 1,723 fervent fans. The evening began with fireworks as Hugo Thulin of the Bruins opened the scoring at 03:46 of the first period, assisted by Tevin Stukel and Carson Craig, giving the visitors an early lead. However, the Minotauros responded with resilience. Mario Fate leveled the score with a power-play goal at 05:09 of the first period, thanks to assists from Thomas Lahtinen and Jacob Faith. This crucial equalizer set the tone for a defensive battle that lasted into the third period. The game-winner came courtesy of Lucca Ori, who found the net at 02:05 of the third period, assisted by Briggs Knott and Michael Solominsky. Ori's strike highlighted the Minotauros' relentless offensive pressure, which saw them outshoot the Bruins 28-20. Goaltender Lukas Hoglind was instrumental in securing the win, stopping 19 of 20 shots, earning him the third star of the game. Meanwhile, Dilans Birkans stood tall for the Bruins with 26 saves, despite the loss. The victory reinforces the Minotauros' stronghold in the Central Division, boasting a 10-2-0-0 record, while the Bruins look to regroup after a three-game losing streak.

Billings 6 vs Ogden 5 (SO) - In a matchup at the Weber County Sports Complex, the Ogden Mustangs fell to the Billings Cattle Punchers 6-5 in a shootout. The Mustangs roared into the game with Sam Gero netting a power-play goal at 17:40 of the first period, assisted by Ty Simonet and Cooper Struckel. Just moments later, Wyatt Sancibrian extended their lead with a short-handed goal at 2:09, showcasing the Mustangs' fierce penalty kill. The second period saw an explosion of goals, with Cooper Struckel scoring twice for Ogden at 16:03 and 5:37. However, Billings retaliated with goals from Waylon Gardipy at 15:37 and 1:33. Gardipy, a standout performer, also assisted Joey Fankhanel's goal early in the third period at 2:14. Micah Seery tied it up with a power-play goal at 16:25, and River Freeman scored at 00:34 to push the game into overtime. Both goaltenders, Jack Foy for Ogden and Nicolas Rempel for Billings, faced a barrage of shots. Foy made 28 saves on 33 shots, while Rempel turned away 43 of 48 attempts. The game was a test of endurance and skill, with each team capitalizing on power-play opportunities—Billings scoring thrice and Ogden once. Despite Ogden's spirited effort, Billings clinched victory in the shootout, extending their perfect away record.

Amarillo 2 vs El Paso 4 - In a thrilling encounter at the El Paso County Event Center, the El Paso Rhinos claimed a 4-2 victory over the Amarillo Wranglers, much to the delight of the 2,669 spectators. The Rhinos set the tone early, with Justin Ouellet scoring the opening goal at 5:55 of the first period, assisted by Alexi Gregoire and Austin Michaud. Just under two minutes later, Jack Wheaton extended the lead with an unassisted strike at 4:03 of the first period. The Wranglers fought back in the second period, reducing the deficit to one with Nikolai Kharinov's goal at 13:43, assisted by Alexander Kharinov and Owen Durigan. However, the Rhinos responded with vigor in the third period. Jesse Gauthier netted a crucial power-play goal at 18:42, with assists from Brandon Gauthier and Alexi Gregoire. Not long after, Brandon Gauthier sealed the game with a goal at 19:46, thanks to the setup by Chase Nyitray and Jesse Gauthier. Logan Hughes stood tall in the Rhinos' net, saving 28 of 30 shots, while Adam Frank was valiant for the Wranglers, facing 50 shots and making 45 saves. Amarillo's Harout Arutyunyan managed to sneak one past Hughes at 8:03 of the third period, assisted by Griffen Haagenson and Logan Petlansky, but it wasn't enough to shift the momentum. The Rhinos capitalized on one of their five power-play opportunities, showcasing their offensive prowess. Standout performances included Brandon Gauthier and Jesse Gauthier, who played pivotal roles in securing the win for El Paso.

Pueblo 3 vs Idaho Falls 4 (SO) - In an exciting showdown at the Mountain America Center, the Idaho Falls Spud Kings narrowly edged out the Pueblo Peppers 4-3 in a dramatic shootout victory. The opening goal came at 4:39 of the first period when Dayton Tailfeathers capitalized on a power play, assisted by Joey Aiello, giving the Spud Kings an early lead. The second period saw a flurry of goals, beginning with Tyler Atchison's strike at 4:40, assisted by Csnade Erdosi. Just moments later, Taven James extended the lead to 3-0 with a power play goal at 2:03, thanks to assists from Ryan Turner and Jackson Stocker. The Peppers responded fiercely, with Michael Hennessy scoring at 6:39, followed by Marcus Jackson's power play goal at 15:03, assisted by Trevor Bodie, slicing the deficit to one. In the third period, Mykyta Bondariev leveled the score at 14:34, assisted by Jaeger Wood, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish. The game remained deadlocked through overtime, leading to a shootout where Idaho Falls' Ronnie Wade clinched victory with the decisive goal. Goaltender Andrew McLouth stood strong for the Spud Kings, saving 20 of 23 shots, while Zachary Stahl of the Peppers impressed with 25 saves on 28 shots. The Spud Kings' resilience in penalty killing and effective power plays were pivotal in their triumph. Despite Pueblo's spirited comeback, Idaho Falls' tactical prowess and clutch performances secured the win in a captivating contest.

Wisconsin 1 vs Fairbanks 4 - In a thrilling matchup at the Big Dipper Ice Arena, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs emerged victorious over the Wisconsin Windigo with a final score of 4-1. The opening goal was notched by Christopher Hodges at 7:46 of the second period, capitalizing on assists from Mason Knaffla and Ben Green. Just under four minutes later, Dub Eunice III doubled the lead with a power play goal at 4:09 in the second period, assisted by Tyler McCracken and Dean Andrews. The third period saw Ryder Millar extend the Ice Dogs’ lead to 3-0 with a goal at 15:22, courtesy of assists from Oliver Barna and Hodges. Oliver Barna himself added the final touch on the scoreboard with a power play goal at 4:06, with assists from Green and Andrews. Despite a spirited response, Devin Berg managed to net a consolation goal for the Windigo at 2:04 in the third period, assisted by Gabriel Braun and Brayden Severin. Standout performances included goaltender Izaak Kalis, who thwarted 17 of 18 shots, and Oliver Barna’s offensive prowess with a goal and an assist. The Ice Dogs dominated the power play, converting two out of four opportunities.

Anchorage 5 vs Kenai River 2 - In a spirited clash at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex, the Anchorage Wolverines triumphed over the Kenai River Brown Bears with a final score of 5-2. The opening goal came at 16:03 of the first period, courtesy of Jason Bourdoukofsky, setting the tone for the Wolverines. Caleb Mahar doubled the lead with a power-play goal at 11:13 of the same period. Just over a minute later, Benson Peterson extended the advantage to 3-0, again on the power play. The Brown Bears fought back in the second period, with Jackson Strukel netting at 9:11, assisted by Benjamin Tauscher and Karim Kazhibekov. However, Jason Bourdoukofsky responded with his second goal at 2:49 of the third period. Roy Messick attempted a late comeback for the Bears, scoring at 16:51, but Seth Carlson sealed the victory for Anchorage with an empty-netter at 1:01. Standout performances included Filip Hornáček’s solid goaltending, saving 25 of 27 shots for the Wolverines. On the Bears' side, Devin Rustlie faced a barrage, saving 19 of 23 shots. Anchorage capitalized on power plays, scoring twice from four opportunities, showcasing their special teams' prowess.