Musketeers show scoring depth to reach Clark Cup final

Eight different goal scorers helped and no less than 13 players from the Sioux Musketeers hit the game sheet in its 8-3 United States Hockey League West Conference clinching win on home ice against the Waterloo Black Hawks on Tuesday (May 9, 2017).

After four close matches, the Musketeers wrapped up the five-game series with an overwhelming win, starting out with three unanswered first period goals at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City.

Tarek Baker, Jacob Wilson and Micah Miller each scored once in the first 20 minutes and middle period goals by Phillip Knies and Kristian Pospisil had the home side up 5-0 before the Black Hawks responded with two in the final 3:08 of the second period and another one just before the two-minute mark of the third to make things interesting.

Bailey Conger, Grant Gabriele and Ben Copeland had the Hawks’ goals, getting the visitors to within a pair, but Odeen Tufto’s goal with 6:17 to play clinched the Musketeers’ win before a short hander off the stick of Brian Rigali and an empty netter with 3:07 to go by Eeli Tolvanen completed the lopsided win.

Matiss Kilvlenieks stopped 35 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Musketeers while Robbie Beydoun, who started every game in the series, was forced to the bench after being beat four times on the first dozen shots. Peter Thome finished the game in goal for the Musketeers, handling 12 of 15 through the final 36:46.

The win brings both Conferences top finishers together for the Clark Cup as the Musketeers will hold home ice advantage against the Chicago Steel.