Big double win weekends for Norsemen, Wilderness

The Minnesota Wilderness wrapped up 13-goal, two-win weekend with an 8-4 win against the visiting Kenai River Brown Bears Saturday (September 25, 2021) as the six Midwest-based North American Hockey League (NAHL) weekend series wrapped up.

The other team to pick up a weekend sweep was the St. Cloud Norsemen who also enjoyed a big offensive weekend, an 8-3 win against the visiting Bismarck Bobcats wrapping up a 13-goal series for them as well.

All four of the other series wrapped up in splits as the Fairbanks Ice Dogs responded to a 3-2 loss Friday with a 4-3 shootout edge against the host Janesville Jets Saturday; the Minot Minotauros became the first team to defeat the Austin Bruins in regulation time with a 3-2 edge; the Anchorage Wolverines rebounded from a 6-5 loss Friday with a bounce back 4-3 edge against the Minnesota Magicians Saturday and the North Iowa Bulls responded to its 3-2 loss Friday with a 6-5 edge against the Aberdeen Wings.

Wilderness 8 Brown Bears 4

The Wilderness trailed 2-1 after a period but scored a pair of unanswered middle period goals to take control and three more in the opening 5:02 of the third to widen the gap.

Eight different goal scorers stepped up, led by Gunnar Thoreson (’02/Andover, MN ) who added three assists while Ethan Wohlers (’01/Valencia, CA — Massachusetts) and Aaron Pionk (’03/Hermantown, MN) who both set up a pair. Other goals came from: Hayden Kruse (’03/Niswa, MN); Bobby Metz (’01/Bloomfield, MN — Colgate); Bobby Ruoho (’01/Verona, WI); Nicholas Rexine (’02/Syracuse, NY) and William Persson (’01/Borklinge, Sweden).

Norsemen 8 Bobcats 3

Even at 2-2 after a period, Norsemen broke it even with a 4-1 margin through the middle frame and never looked back.

Logan Kittleson (’01/Burnsville, MN) scored a pair for the winners, Ryan O’Neil (’01/Roseville, MN) scoring a goal and three helpers and Evan Murr (’03/Stillwater, MN) adding a goal and two assists.

Other Norsemen goals came from: Sam Duerr (’02/Chicago, IL — Maine); Brandon Lajoie (’01/Eagle River, AK); Hunter Hanson (’02/Blaine, MN) and Marc Lund (’03/Edina, MN).

Chase Beacom (’03/Bloomington, MN — St. Cloud State); Chris Kernan (’02/Maple Grove, MN) and Drew Holt (’02/Eden Prairie).

Tomas Bolo (’02/Zilina, Slovakia) turned in a solid effort in goal for the Norsemen, kicking out 32 of 35 shots faced.

Ice Dogs 4 Jets 3 (SO)

Third period goals from William Gustavsson (’01/Kungsbacka, Sweden) and Robby Newton (’01/Milwaukee, WI — Wisconsin) helped the Jets rally back from a 3-1 deficit, for a point, but following a scoreless overtime period, the Jets were shutout in a three-player shootout, allowing the Ice Dogs an opening to snatch the win.

Jake Sacratini (’01/Pincourt, QC — American International College) scored the other Jets’ goal and Michael D’Orazio (’04/Beaconsfield, QC) stopped 34 shots in regulation and overtime adding two more on three Shootout attempts.

Minotauros 3 Bruins 2

Four of the five goals scored in this game came in the middle period, setting the stage for Joseph Colby (’02/Brandon, MB) who completed a rally back from a 2-0 deficit with the game winner in the third period for the Minotauros.

Zack Simon (’01/Orono, MN) and Mason Campbell (’01/St. Paul, MN) fired the other Minot goals, Carson Riddle (’01/Holly, MI) and Jens Richards (’02/Callaway, MN) scoring the early goals for the Bruins.

Carter Clafton (’02/Grand Rapids, MN) picked up the win in goal with 27 saves for the Minotauros.

Wolverines 4 Magicians 3

Magicians carried a 2-1 lead out of the first period but a pair of unanswered middle period goals had the Wolverines in front. Magicians tied it early in the third but the game winner came in the sixth minute of the final period.

Cam Boche (’02/Lakeville, MN); Will Magnuson (’02/Prior Lake, MN) and Hunter Longhi (’02/Colinsville, IL — Harvard) scored the Magician goals.

Bulls 6 Wings 5

Three goals in five minutes had the Bulls up 3-0 in the opening period, but the Wings rallied back, scoring the next four.

Another pair in the second half of the middle period had the Bulls up 5-4 heading to the final frame and Hunter Bulger (’02/St. Louis, MO) sank the game winner in the fifth minute of the third period. Wings got one back in the final minute but couldn’t get any closer.

Other Bulls’ goals came from: Greg Japchen (’01/Doylestown, PA — Union); Jack Mesic (’02/Plymouth, MI — Ferris State); Logan Dombrowsky (’02/Stevens Point, WI); Simone Dadie (’03/Brunico, Italy) and Anthony Domina (’03/Severna Park, MD).

For the Wings, Jackson Yee (’01/Livonia, MI) scored a pair with others for Landry Schmuck (’03/Huntsville, AL); Jacob Bosse (’01/Longeuil, QC) and Maksis Brimanis (’01/Cincinnati, OH).