Day 2 of the NAHL Showcase 2021 featured some of the closest competition in recent memory. With 14 games on the schedule, there are typically a few that have wide margins of victory. However, on Thursday, that was not the case as all 14 games were very close, with three goals being the largest margin of victory. The last four games of the day were decided by a goal.
It was also another day of firsts, as several new NAHL teams and coaches posted their first career wins. The day was also highlighted by the big crowds and over 250+ NCAA, NHL, and other scouts in checked in through the first two days of the NAHL showcase 2021.
NAHL Showcase 2021 Day 2 Recap Of All Games
Maryland 4 vs. Wichita Falls 2 – Maryland continued their hot start as they got a four-point game from Ryan Bottrill to beat the Wichita Falls Warriors, 4-2. The Warriors fell to 0-2 on the season. The game was tied at 2-2 through two periods as Luke Van Why scored a pair of goals for the Black Bears, with Carter Korpi and Jack Blanchett answering for the Warriors. In the 3rd period, Bottrill scored the game-winner midway through the period and Dylan Wegner also scored. Michael Morelli picked up the win with 17 saves, while Matthew O’Donnell took the loss with 17 saves.
Minot 5 vs. Corpus Christi 2 – Minot forward Colby Joseph scored two goals to lead the Minotauros to a 5-2 win over the IceRays. Minot jumped out to a 4-0 lead, which included 1st-period goals from Cole Mickel and Dean Schwenninger and 2nd-period goals from Jaksen Panzer and Joseph. The IceRays tried to make a game of things with 3rd-period goals from Nathan Butler and Braden Rourke, but another goal from Joseph late in the game secured the win. Minot goalie Thomas Kiesewtter made 17 saves in the win, while Joseph Weise made 24 saves in the loss.
Kenai River 2 vs. Johnstown 1 – Brown Bears goalie Nathan Dickey made 31 saves to lead Kenai River to their first win of the season as they beat Johnstown, 2-1. The Brown Bears got on the board first as Gramm McCormack scored halfway through the 1st period. Johnstown had an answer later in the period to make it 1-1 on a goal from Dustin Geregach. In the 2nd period, the Brown Bears netted the NAHL showcase 2021 day-2 game-winner as David Vieten scored a power-play goal. Tomahawks goalie Karsten Bourgoine made 17 saves in the loss.
Springfield 3 vs. Odessa 1 – The Jr. Blues improved their NAHL-best record to 4-0, including 2-0 at the Showcase as they beat Odessa, 3-1 behind 20 saves from Ethan Robertson. Springfield took a 1-0 lead in the 1st period thanks to a goal from Joey Dosan. The lead swelled to 2-0 in the 2nd period as Connor Smith scored for Springfield. Odessa had an answer to make it 2-1 less than two minutes later as Emerson Goode scored his third goal of the Showcase. However, an early 3rd-period goal from Noah Holt secured the win for Springfield. Jackalopes goalie Noah Rupprecht made 18 saves in the loss.
Maine 5 vs. Bismarck 2 – Maine goalie Gus Holt made 33 saves to lead the Nordiques to their first win of the season as they beat Bismarck, 5-2. It was all Nordiques in the 1st period as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead with goals from Aidan Connolly, Matthew Connor, Bryce Bollman, and Ignat Belov. The Bobcats tried to mount a comeback in the 2nd period with goals from Eddie Shepler and Drew Holt to make it 4-2, but a late goal in the 3rd period from Tyler Gaulin secured the 5-2 win. Bobcats goalie Erik Forss made 31 saves in the NAHL showcase 2021 day 2 loss.
El Paso 4 vs. Janesville 1 – The Rhinos got two goals from Alex Krause and 25 saves from Lassi Lehti as they moved to 2-0 on the season with a 4-1 win over the Jets. El Paso scored twice in the 1st period to take a 2-0 lead as Krause opened the scoring, which was followed by a goal from Jan Olenginski. In the 2nd period, the lead swelled to 4-0 as Krause scored again and Bo Cosman added a goal. The Jets would get on the board late in the 2nd period with their lone goal from Cy LeClerc. Jets goalie JJ Cataldo made 14 saves in the loss.
New Mexico 3 vs. Northeast 1 – The Ice Wolves moved to 2-0 on the season as they came from behind to beat the Northeast Generals, 3-1, handing the Generals their first loss of the young season. The Generals took a 1-0 lead early in the 2nd period as Landon Kolnik cleaned up a rebound. In the 3rd period, it was all New Mexico as Tony Leahy, Dillan Bentley, and Jeffrey Hutchinson all scored goals to secure the win. Ice Wolves goalie Owen Parker made 21 saves in the win, while Cameron Kuntar made 24 saves in the loss.
Jamestown 4 @ North Iowa 1 – Nolan Suggs made 33 saves to lead the Rebels to their first win of the season as they beat the North Iowa Bulls, 4-1. Jamestown was in control from the start, jumping out to a 2-0 lead with 1st-period goals from Noah Szretter and Owen West. The lead increased to 3-0 in the 2nd period as Reid Lune scored. The Rebels made it 4-0 early in the 3rd period as John Lundy found the back of the net. The Bulls lone goal on day 2 of the NAHL showcase 2021 came later in the 3rd period from Ryan Coughlin. Bulls goalie Jackson Baker made 27 saves in the loss.
New Jersey 5 vs. Chippewa 2 – Brandon Avezov scored twice to help the Titans pick up their first win of the season in a 5-2 win over the Steel. It was the Steel who snagged a 2-0 lead early in the 2nd period as Tyler Ryder and Jack Brown scored. After that, it was all Titans, which included three goals later in the 2nd period to take a 3-2 lead as Tommy Bannister, Levente Keresztes, and Avezov all scored. In the 3rd period, Avezov added his second of the game and Stephen Willey also scored. Ben Charette made 26 saves in the win, while Levi Gho made 13 saves in the loss.
Austin 5 vs. Fairbanks 2 – The Bruins moved to 2-0 on the season with a 5-2 win over the Ice Dogs. Nick Catalano scored twice in the win. The Bruins erupted for four goals in the 1st period, which included goals from Carson Riddle, Jens Richards, Liam Whitehouse, and Catalano. Catalano would add his second goal in the 3rd period. Fairbanks goals came from Jack Ring and Zachary Murray. Bruins goalie Hudson Hodges made 15 saves in the win, while Ryan Keyes made 29 saves in the loss.
Amarillo 5 vs. MN Wilderness 4 (OT) – Kristaps Skrastins recorded a hat-trick, which included the overtime-winner as Amarillo moved to 2-0 on the season thanks to a 5-4 win over the Wilderness, in the first overtime game at the NAHL Showcase. The Wilderness jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Bryce Howard and Cole Crusberg-Roseen. The Wranglers would then score four straight goals to take a 4-2 lead, including two goals from Skrastins and others from Dominic Schimizzi and Tommy Chunchukov. In the 3rd period, the Wilderness tied the game at 4-4 on goals from William Persson and Matthew McQuade. Jon Howe made 23 saves in the win and Jacob Zacharewicz made 18 saves in the loss.
Shreveport 1 vs. Aberdeen 0 – On June 22nd, the Mudbugs and Wings met in the Robertson Cup Championship Game. 86 days later, it was one of the marquee match-ups at the NAHL Showcase on Thursday as the teams did battle again in what turned out to be a defensive slobber-knocker. With the lone goal coming with less than four minutes remaining in the game from Burke Simpson, the Shreveport Mudbugs defeated the Wings, 1-0. Mudbugs goalie Devon Bobak made 25 saves in the shutout win, while Kyle Kozma made 22 saves in the loss.
Lone Star 3 vs. MN Magicians 2 – The Brahmas improved their record to 2-0 as they edged the Magicians on Thursday, 3-2. The game was even after two periods, with Artur Turansky scored both Brahmas goals and Cam Boche and Lucas Kanta answering for the Magicians. Midway through the 3rd period, the Brahmas netted the game-winner thanks to Jack Collins, who crashed the net to poke home the loose puck. Arthur Smith made 20 saves in the win, while Brandon Milberg made 18 saves in the loss.
Anchorage 2 vs. Danbury 1 – The Wolverines and head coach Mike Aitkens picked up their first NAHL win thanks to a 2-1 win on Thursday at the NAHL showcase 2021 over the winless Hat Tricks. Danbury opened the scoring in the 1st period from Jackson Hughes. In the 2nd period, Anchorage knotted the game at 1-1 as Drake Albers scored. With time running out in the 3rd period, the Wolverines got the game-winner off the stick of Jackson Krock, who pounced on a loose puck in the low slot. Raythan Robbins got in the win in goal, while Adam Johnson took the loss.
