Jr. Blues blazing hot through first three games

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Midwest Hockey.info

From the sidelines, it appeared the expectations would have to be tempered somewhat for the Springfield Jr. Blues this season. Someone must have forgot to mention that to the team itself.

After sitting out the 2020-21 NAHL season, the Blues rolled into this fall with basically, an expansion lineup. There are still miles to go for the Blues, but three games in the team couldn’t look much better.

After back-to-back 4-1 win in Janesville on the weekend, the Blues kicked off the four games in four days Showcase event at the National Sports Center Super Rinks with a 7-0 shutout against the Jamestown Rebels. The Springfield win came in one of 14 games on the day – nine of them involving Midwest-based NAHL teams.

The Showcase event is traditionally held near the beginning of the season. This season it serves as the openers for many teams after a few, including the Jr. Blues and Jets, opened the season on the previous weekend.

Below is a rundown on games involving Midwest-based teams.

Springfield Jr. Blues 7 Jamestown Rebels 0

The Blues have outscored opponents 15-2 through its first three games and showed part of the reason, outshooting its opponent 38-14 at the Super Rinks.

The Blues had more than enough with a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes, but added two more in the middle period and another in the third.

Leo Bacallao (‘01/Madison, WI) paced the Blues attack with a two-goal game, others added by Jonathan Panisa (‘01/Irvine, CA); Connor Smith (‘03/Detroit, MI); James Callahan (‘02/Minneapolis, MN); Tristan Shewchuk (‘01/Saskatoon, SK) and Mac Gadowsky (‘02/State College, PA). Panisa also picked up three assists and Ethan Roberts (‘02/Cary, NC) picked up the 14-save shutout.

North Iowa Bulls 5 Minnesota Wilderness 1

The Bulls won the NA3HL Championship in the spring and then made the jump to Tier 2 play this fall. Three unanswered goals through the first two periods sent the team on its way to a winning start at a new level.

Ryan Coughlin (‘01/Charlotte, NC) and Michael Mesic (‘04/Plymouth, MI) both scored once and set up two others to lead the Bulls’ attack with other goals for: Jack Mesic (‘02/Plymouth, MI); Greg Japchen (‘01/Doylestown, PA); and Logan Dombrowsky (‘02/Stevens Point, WI).

Carsen Stokes (‘02/Prior Lake, Minn.) kicked out all but one of the 24 shots he faced to pick up the win in goal and the lone Wilderness tally came from Charlie Erickson (‘02/Two Harbors, MN).

Odessa Jackalopes 6 Chippewa Steel 3

After opening the season with a pair of wins against the Kenai River Brown Bears on home ice, the Steel fell for the first time as the Jackalopes, from the South Division doubled them up.

Matthew Brille (‘03/Bethesda, MD); Jack Brown (‘01/Woodbury, MN) and Barak Braslavski (‘01/San Jose, CA) fired the Steel goals.

Jackalopes scored the lone first period goal and led 3-1 heading to the third.

Aberdeen Wings 4 Johnstown Tomahawks 3

The Robertson Cup finalists opened the new season on a winning note, the difference being a 2-1 margin through the middle period as both teams scored once in the opening and closing frames.

Hugo Allais (‘01/Amiens, France); Chase Davis (‘02/Alpharetta, GA); Nate Mann (‘02/Hilton, N.Y.) and Cade Neilson (‘01/Nottingham, England) fired the Wings’ goals, Allais and Mann both added an assist and Kyle Gaffney (‘01/Plymouth, MI) set up three.

Minnesota Magicians 3 Shreveport Mudbugs 2

Coming off a weekend split, the Magicians drew the short straw out of the gate at the Showcase event, but made it work, knocking off the Robertson Cup champion Mudbugs as Trevor Kukkonen (‘01/Maple Grove, MN) broke a 2-2 deadlock with the game winner and lone goal of the third period.

Cam Boche (‘02/Lakeville, MN) and Nicholas Babbie (‘03/Sterling Heights, /MI) scored the other Magician goals and Brandon Millberg (‘01/Thornhill, ON) stopped 26 of 28 to pick up the win in goal.

Lone Star Brahmas 2 Minot Minotauros 0

The Central Division’s Minotauros peppered Graham Burke (‘01/Wilmington, DE) with 30 shots but couldn’t find a way past the Brahma’s keeper, spoiling a nice effort for Carter Clafton (‘02/Grand Rapids, MN) who stopped all but one of 21 shots he faced.

Brahmas sank the game winner with 28 seconds to play in the middle period, adding a clincher into an empty cage with 13 seconds to play in the third.

Austin Bruins 6 Wichita Falls Warriors 1

The Bruins broke a 1-1 draw after a period with three unanswered middle period markers and two more down the stretch.

Jens Richards (‘02/Callaway, MN) scored twice for the Bruins with others added by Alex Trombley (‘01/Howell, MI); Franklin Dovorany (‘01/Wausau, WI); Dylan Gajewsky (‘01/Woodhaven, MI) and Carson Riddle (‘01/Holly, MI).

Bruins were firing on all cylinders and outshot the Warriors by a 44-16 margin.

St. Cloud Norsemen 8 Danbury Hat Tricks 1

After a scoreless opening period, the Norsemen grabbed control of the contest with four unanswered middle period markers adding two more before the Hat Tricks finally hit the scoreboard four minutes into the third period.

Jackson Bisson (‘02/Edina, MN) led the way with two goals and a helper and other Norsemen goals came from Brandon Lajoie (‘01/Eagle River, AK); Chase Freiermuth (‘01/Hastings, MN); Ryan O’Neill (‘01/Roseville, MN); Kade Peterson (‘03/Fargo, ND); Evan Murr (’03/Stillwater, MN) and Blake Perbix (‘02/Princeton, MN).

Josh Langford (‘01/Frisco, TX) stopped 13 of 14 to pick up the win in goal for the Norsemen.

Northeast Generals 3 Bismarck Bobcats 2

With two wins from early the previous week, the Generals denied the Bobcats who fired singles in the first and third with three unanswered middle period markers.

Chase Beacom (‘03/Bloomington, MN) and Drew Holt (‘02/Eden Prairie, MN) scored the Bobcat goals.Ch