Saturday Scores: Blizzard back on track with win

November 30, 2014

Chicago 3 @ West Michigan 4 – Three periods of regulation and an overtime session were not enough to settle matters as the West Michigan Wolves defeated the Chicago Junior Bulldogs in a shootout 4-3 (1-0 SO). The shootout featured 18 attempts between both teams. West Michigan came back from a two-goal deficit to capture the victory. The Wolves trailed 3-1 after a goal by Chicago's Ryan Glennon at 16:37 in the second period. West Michigan knotted things up at 3-3 on a goal by Corey Siwula at 16:57 in the third period. Siwula had a great game for the Wolves, netting two goals. West Michigan excelled on the penalty kill, not giving up a single goal in three chances. The Wolves forced the Junior Bulldogs goalie Troy Pierce to work between the pipes, taking 38 shots. West Michigan's defensemen played an important role in the offense, chipping in three goals. West Michigan also had goals scored by Dakota Ulmer and Austin Buchholz, who scored one goal each. In addition, West Michigan received assists from Hunter Vorva, Josh Somers, Michael Tratar, Sean Smalley, and Devin Farkas, who contributed one each. Chicago stifled the Wolves' power play, and did not give up a single goal while down a man. The Junior Bulldogs were helped by Niko Moulakelis, who grabbed one goal. Moulakelis scored 13:15 into the second period to make the score 2-1 Chicago. Scott Coash Jr picked up the assist. Max Piper also scored for Chicago. Other players who recorded assists for Chicago were Jordan Pitlick, who had one. Vorva recorded 27 saves for West Michigan. Troy Pierce made 34 saves for Chicago on 37 shots. 

 

Twin City 4 @ Breezy Point 5 – The Breezy Point North Stars survived a determined comeback attempt by the Twin City Steel on the way to a 5-4 win. Breezy Point made the score 5-2 on a goal by Ryan Mezera at 13:37 in the second period, and Twin City got as close as 5-4 when Kyle Wagner scored 15:23 into the third period. The North Stars' penalty kill excelled, as Breezy Point gave up one goal despite allowing six power plays. The North Stars forced Steel's goalies to work between the pipes, launching 35 shots and forcing 30 saves. Darien Jones made 19 stops and Robbie Goor made 11. Breezy Point surpassed its usual scoring output this season. This season, the North Stars average 2.6 goals per contest. Breezy Point also got points from Nick Blanchette, who also finished with one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Breezy Point included Ryan Herbert, Benny Smieja, and Jordan Carey, who scored one goal each. Other players who recorded assists for Breezy Point were Felix Conrads and Joe Costello, who contributed one each and Tyler Larwood and Kole Kobel, who each chipped in two. The Steel kept Breezy Point's goalie busy throughout the game, and Jaxson Gosnell made 37 saves on 41 shots. Twin City was helped by Jay Paul, who registered one goal. Paul scored 4:03 into the second period to make the score 3-1 Breezy Point. David Becker provided the assist. Twin City also had goals scored by Jared Erickson and Chris Skordilis, who each put in one. In addition, Twin City received assists from Jon Plaszcz, Mikko Aho, and Russel Barone, who contributed one each.

 

Alexandria 9 @ Minnesota 4 – The Alexandria Blizzard's Tyler Sworsky had a big offensive game, scoring one goal and contributing four assists in his team's 9-4 win over the Minnesota Flying Aces. Sworsky got on the board by slotting home a goal 5:17 into the first period to make the score 2-0 Alexandria. Bo Gronseth assisted on the tally. Sworsky dished an assist on Eric Hewitt's goal that made the score 3-1 Alexandria at 2:16 into the second period. He then added assists on Gronseth's goal at 3:24 into the third, on Tony Arias's goal at 4:29 into the third, and on Gronseth's goal at 6:40 into the third. Alexandria forced its penalty killing units to work especially hard during the game, picking up nine minors and three majors for 63 minutes in penalty time. The Blizzard had been averaging 24.0 minutes in penalties per game. Alexandria forced Flying Aces' goalies to work between the pipes, racking up 40 shots and forcing 31 saves. Kevin OShea made 24 stops and Alec Horwitz made seven. The Blizzard's goal total was higher than their season average. This season, Alexandria averages 4.1 goals per contest. The defensemen of the Blizzard were also effective in Minnesota's zone, and came away with two goals. Alexandria also got points from Gronseth, who also racked up two goals and two assists, Gavin Mindt, who also registered one goal and one assist, Jody Randall, who also had one goal and one assist, and Aaron Ryback, who also grabbed one goal and three assists. Tyler Berginski also scored for Alexandria. In addition, Alexandria received assists from Nate Mettenburg, who had two and Kyle Jones, Matt Resch, Zach Fedie, and Hunter Saunders, who contributed one each. The Flying Aces were ineffective while on the power play, as they were held to two goals off of nine man advantages.

Minnesota was led by Jake Mullendore, who racked up one goal and three assists. Mullendore scored 6:10 into the second period to make the score 4-2 Alexandria. Minnesota also got a goal from Bradee Thompson as well. More assists for Minnesota came via Jesse Brown, who had one. Alexandria's Evan Bisek stopped 21 shots out of the 25 that he faced. The Blizzard registered one goal on six power play opportunities. 

 

La Crosse 4 @ St. Louis 2 – The La Crosse Freeze took the lead against the St. Louis Jr. Blues in the first period and maintained it until the end of the game to secure a tight 4-2 victory. Jack Sterne provided La Crosse with the game-winning tally when he scored 3:56 into the first period. Jace Cseter assisted on the tally. St. Louis' power play was ineffective against the Freeze's penalty kill, which allowed one goal while shorthanded. La Crosse was led by Jake Lipski, who racked up one goal. Lipski scored on the power play 13:19 into the second period to make the score 3-1 La Crosse. The Freeze had gained a power play chance when Palagrino Alec was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct. Cseter picked up the assist. The Jr. Blues were unable to stop La Crosse from sending pucks towards the net, and the Freeze eventually piled up 39 shots on goal. Team could not crack St. Louis' penalty kill and was held to two power play goals while having nine opportunities to play with the man advantage. La Crosse also got points from Hunter Smith, who also had one goal and one assist. La Crosse also got a goal from Daniel Toycen as well. Other players who recorded assists for La Crosse were Jared Bromberg, who had one. St. Louis was helped by Alex Klaesner, who tallied one goal. Klaesner scored 13:09 into the third period to make the score 3-2 La Crosse. Andrew Wingbermuehle assisted on the tally. St. Louis additionally got points from Tommy Heinzman, who also registered one goal and one assist to lead the team in points. In addition, St. Louis received assists from Yauch Sam and Chris Brown, who each chipped in one. Cameron Scheuren rejected 17 shots on goal for La Crosse. William Hindle recorded 35 saves for the Jr. Blues.

 

Great Falls 4 @ Bozeman 0 – The Bozeman Icedogs had trouble finding ways to stop the Great Falls Americans, which beat Icedogs, 4-0. Great Falls was paced by Michal Kliment, who racked up one goal. Kliment scored 9:12 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Great Falls. Adam Apangalook picked up the assist. The Americans' penalty kill was spotless, allowing no goals on three Bozeman power plays. Great Falls also had goals scored by Robert Kalata, Lucas Lomax, and Malachi Bushey, who each put in one. More assists for Great Falls came via Dylan Garton, Marvin Simmons, Zack Mese, Erik Gatson, Reed Link, Brendan Jester, and Miles Giorgione, who each chipped in one. Bozeman managed to stay out of the box better than usual, totaling one minor for two minutes in penalty time. Bozeman did not reach the goal total it has come to expect this season. The Icedogs average 2.1 goals per game. Lauren Massie recorded 23 saves for Great Falls. Bozeman's Denijs Romanovskis stopped 24 shots out of the 28 that he faced.

 

Texas 9 @ Sugar Land 2 – The Texas Jr. Brahmas had a four-goal lead after two periods and cruised the rest of the way en route to a 9-2 win over the Sugar Land Imperials. Texas was paced by Dixon Whitehead, who racked up one goal. Whitehead scored 16:05 into the first period to make the score 3-1 Texas. Zach McPherson picked up the assist. The Jr. Brahmas kept Sugar Land's goalie busy throughout the game, and Colton Anderson made 28 saves on 37 shots. Texas bested its season scoring average. The Jr. Brahmas average 3.0 goals per game. Texas additionally got points from Sam Gagnon, who also registered one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Texas included Anthony Koslow, who had three, Paolo DiGenova, who had two, and Jon Grimm and Daniel Skinner, who scored one goal each. More assists for Texas came via Chase Deacon, who had one, Nick Nitta, Thomas Puetz, and Devin Pierce, who contributed two each, and Mykyta Sheptytsky and Kurt Thiele, who each chipped in three. The Imperials were led by Matthew Winkle, who finished with one goal. Winkle scored 12:13 into the first period to make the score 1-1. Mason Smith provided the assist. Sugar Land also got a goal from Ryan Worley as well. In addition, Sugar Land received assists from Ryan Meyer, Aksel Campbell, and Alex Tilman, who contributed one each. Quinton Reynolds recorded 24 saves for Texas. The Jr. Brahmas registered two goals on four power play opportunities. 

 

Glacier 3 @ Billings 2 – Three periods of regulation and an overtime session were not enough to settle matters as Glacier defeated the Billings Bulls in a shootout 3-2 (1-0 SO). The shootout lasted for 10 attempts between the teams. Glacier was led by Blake Evennou, who racked up one goal and one assist. Evennou scored 9:44 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Glacier. Luke Dickison provided the assist. Tyler McMahon also scored for Glacier. In addition, Glacier received assists from Matt Gamblin and Karson Frisk, who each chipped in one. Billings forced Glacier goalie Ryan Lund to work between the pipes, taking 54 shots. The Bulls were helped by Tristan Henrichs, who had one goal. Henrichs scored 14:11 into the third period to make the score 2-2. TJ Theodosopoulos assisted on the tally. Billings also got a goal from Reed Kaiser as well. More assists for Billings came via Steven Thompson and Bryce Jensen, who contributed one each. Lund rejected 52 shots on goal for Glacier. Ray Smith recorded 27 saves for Billings. 

 

Gillette 7 @ Yellowstone 1 – N/A