Laukaitis OT winner lifts Magicians past Jr. Blues

The Minnesota Magicians got an early jump on the North American Hockey League weekend with a 5-4 overtime win at the Richfield Ice Arena against the visiting Springfield Jr. Blues Thursday (Oct. 12, 2017).

The Magicians started slowly in a back and forth contest that saw the Blues build a 3-0 first period lead with goals by Fletcher Fineman, 18, from Florida; Nikita Kozyrev, 19, from Estonia and Shane Haviland, 18, from New Jersey.

The hosts battled back with a 3-1 edge in the middle period and then pulled even with the lone goal of the final frame.

Bram Scheerer, 18, from Edina, MN; Kyler Grundy, 17, from Pleasant Prairie, WI and Cameron Buhl, 18, from South St. Paul, MN scored the second period goals for the Magicians and Ethan Stewart, 20, from Rockford, IL responded with the fourth Blues tally.

Arturas Laukaitis, 20, from Russia pulled the Magicians even in the seventh minute of the third period and the home team grabbed its first lead when Jarrett Lee, 18, from Hibbing, MN ended the contest 4:53 into the overtime segment.

Isaiah Saville, 17, from Alaska started in goal for the Magicians and came out after the third goal, late in the opening period. George McBey, 19, from Texas took over, allowing one goal on 29 shots and picking up the win. Evan Fear, 18, from Winnetka, IL made 29 stops in goal for the Blues.