Mavericks, Mallards open USPHL play with two wins

Two of the three United States Premier Hockey League Premier Midwest divisions kicked off the 2021-22 schedule on the September 17-18 weekend with Columbus Mavericks and Rum River Mallards both double winners.  

The Mavs kicked off the season with a pair of Great Lakes Division home games at OhioHealth Chiller arena against the Cincinnati Cyclones, defeating the new team 4-2 Friday night, then wrapping up the sweep with a 5-1 edge on Satuday.  

In the Midwest-West, the Dells Ducks played host to the Rum River Mallards, coming up way short in its first two home games of the season. The Mallards blasted off with a 13-4 in the season opener for both teams, wrapping it up with an 8-1 decision in the second game. 

Cyclones 2, 1 @ Mavericks 4, 5 

In the opening game, the Mavericks grabbed a 2-1 first period lead adding another in the second and both teams wrapping up with one in the final period. 

Ethan Bishara (‘02/Clarence Center, NY) paced the Mavericks with a two-goal game with others for Jared Burkhart (‘02/The Colony, TX) and Nik Jozefiak (‘02/Powell, OH).  

Garrett Elliott (‘04/Northern Kentucky, KY) and Willie Seibel (‘04/Loveland, OH) scored the Cyclone goals and Blake Mitchell (‘02/Liberty Township, OH) stopped 38 shots in goal. 

In the second game, five different goal scorers hit the game sheet including Jozefiak; Bishara; Chance Settles (‘01/Newark, OH); Colin Crowley (‘04/Mississauga, ON) and Jadon Beard (‘04/Columbus, OH).  

Zach Waizmann (‘03/Dublin, OH) patrolled the crease in both games, kicking out 68 shots and picking up a couple W’s. 

Drake Barnish (‘01/Columbus, OH) scored the lone Cyclones’ goal, Jack Cooper (‘02/Hamilton, OH) kicked out 38 shots. 

Mallards 13, 8 Ducks 4, 1

A year ago, Mallards collected its second win of the season at the Christmas Showcase, but they didn’t wait around on the new season, scoring 21 goals on its way for a perfect road weeend.

Held to a narrow 3-2 edge after a period, five unanswered goals in the second and a 5-2 edge through the final 20 put the game away.

Cooper Brodzinski (’01/Grand Rapids, MN) exploded for six Mallards’ goals, Jared Petty (’02/Elk River, MN) scoring two and setting up five others. Easton Parnell (’03/Cambridge, MN) also scored twice, other goals added by Parker Mitchell (’03/Mora, MN); Kai Nicholson (’02/Ottawa, ON) and Seth Grandjambe (‘Fort McCoy, First Nation).

Ducks’ s goals came from Jack Kopfstein (’05/Vista, CA); Jake Cartland (’02/Mukwonago, WI); Bryce Jacobsen (’02/DeForest, WI) and Caden Glamkowski (’04/St. Charles, IL).

In the Saturday game, Mallards fired two first period goals, three more in the second and added a sixth before the Ducks hit the board in the final period.

Mitchell, Petty and Noah Heiderschied (’03/Cambridge, MN) both scored twice for the Mallards with others added by Tyler Schmitt (’03/Big Lake, MN) and Jake Brown (’03/Cambridge, MN).

Logan Dineen (’01/Peyton, CO) scored the lone Ducks’ goal.