NAHL Blizzard gets by Minotauros in shootout.

Will Gauthier‘s goal in the fourth round lifted the host Brookings Blizzard to a 5-4 win in shootout in one of seven North American Hockey League games — five of them involving Midwest-based teams on Friday (Sept. 18).

Gauthier, 19, from Sault Ste. Marie, MI gave his team a 2-1 edge in the shootout, the other extra goal coming from Mikael Hakkarainen, 17 from Espoo Finland, who also had a goal during the game.

Kane Durment, 20, from Kildeer, IL paced the regulation attack with a goal and two assists for the Blizzard and other goals came from Blake Busch, 20, from Prior Lake, MN and Garrett Elmore, 19, from Tennessee.

Owen Larson, 18 from Minneapolis, paced the Minotauro’s attack with a pair of goals in regulation with Christian Mohs, 20 from Andover, MN had a goal in the game and another in the shootout, the other goal scored by James LaDouce, 20, from Freeland, MI.

Eric Hancock, 20, from North Royalton, OH stopped 31 of 35 in the game and three of four in the shootout to pick up the win for the Blizzard while Jon Flakne, 19, from Maple Plane, MN stopped 23 of 27 through the first 65 minutes and two of four through the penalty shots.

Brown Bears 4 at Jets 3 (ot)

The Kenai River Brown Bears spoiled the home opener of last season’s regular season champion Janesville Jets at the Janesville Ice Arena as Jack Gesert, 20 from Novi, MI finished off a hat trick with his goal 2:58 into overtime.

Janesville owned a 2-1 lead after a period and both teams added one more in the second, Gessert’s second getting his team  back on level terms just past the halfway mark of the third period.

Justin Bofshaver, 17, from Florida had the other Kenai River goal and assisted on all three of Gesert’s goals.

For the Jets, Joey Rutkowski, 20, from New York collected a goal and assist and Adam Winborg, 20, from Stockholm, Sweden had two assists. Other goals came from Robert Smits, 20, from Riga, Latvia and Cullen Munson, 19, from Edina, MN.

Brian Baker, 20, from Pennsylvania, stopped 37 of 40 in goal for the Brown Bears while Jack LaFontaine, 17, from Ontario handled 16 of 20 for the Jets.

Ice Rays 3 at Roadrunners 1

The visiting Ice Rays scored once in each period and that was more than enough for a 3-1 win against the host Roadrunners at the Kansas ExpoCenter.

Matt Jennings, 18, from Georgia evened the game at 1-1 for the Roadrunners at the 10:14 mark of the second, but a goal in the final minute of the middle frame and another near the eight minute mark lifted the Ice Rays to the win.

Michael Bevilacqua, 18, from New York; Andy McGlynn, 18 from St. Louis, MO and Ryan Cusin, 20, from Westland, MI each scored for the Ice Rays, Brad Power, 19, from Newfoundland assisting on two of them.

Graham Hunt, 20, from Massachusetts stopped 24 of 25 to grab the win for the Ice Rays and Vladimir Cibulka, 18, from Slovakia handled 14 of 17 for the Roadrunners.

Bruins 3 at Bobcats 6

The host Bobcats doubled up the visiting Austin Bruins 6-3 at the VFW Sports Center in Bismarck, a trio of unanswered second period goals sticking out as the difference in the contest. Both teams scored once in the first and twice in the final frame.

Aaron Herdt, 20, from Moorhead, MN, was in on all but one Bobcats’ goal, scoring two and assisting on three others. Travis Wood, 20, from Hudson, WI scored two and helped out on another two and Harrison Aide, 20, from Bottineau, ND also scored a pair for the winners.

Griffin Slightam, 19, from Rochester, MN; Jan Stefka, 18, from Czech Republic and Logan Haskins, 18, from Rochester, MN had the Bruins’ goals in the game.

Hunter Shepard, 20, from Cohasset, MN stopped 20 of 23 shots to pick up the win for the Bobcats and Jacob Berger, 18, from Minnetonka, MN handled 25 of 30 for the Bruins.

Ice Dogs 6 Wilderness 2

Fairbanks Ice Dogs picked up its third win of the young season with a 6-2 edge on the defending Robertson Cup Champion Minnesota Wilderness at the Northewoods Credit Union Arena in Cloquet, MN.

The teams, who met in Divisional playoffs last season, were even at 1-1 after a period but Fairbanks had two goals on each side of the lone Wilderness goal in the second and then added one more in the final frame.

Todd Burgess, 19, from Arizona and Liam Stirtzinger, 20, from California had two goals apiece in the win with other goals scored by Clay Cross, 20, from Arizona (with an assist as well) and Tyler Tomberlin, 20, from Andover, MN.

Brett Hekkila, 20, from Marquette, MI and Koby Bender, 18, from Cloquet, had the Wilderness markers.

Andrew Lindgren, 19, from Minneapolis stopped 21 of 23 shots to grab the win for the Ice Dogs and Chase Munroe, 20, from Naperville, IL stopped 19 of 25.

Two other games involved all east coast teams, Aston edging New Jersey 3-2 and Johnstown whipping Wilkes Barre 7-3.