Round 2 of the Western USPHL Premier playoffs is complete. So here’s a look at how things went in the Mountain Division and look ahead to this week’s Division Championship showdown.
(3) PUEBLO BULLS AT (2) OGDEN MUSTANGS
MUSTANGS WIN 3-GAME SERIES: 2-1
This series started rough for the Pueblo Bulls, as the team bus experienced mechanical issues on its way to Ogden, but the Rock Springs Prospectors came to the rescue and got the Bulls to Ogden. This delay resulted in Pueblo arriving only a couple hours before gametime, and it showed early on for the Bulls. Ogden opened up the scoring in this series on an Andrew Alonzo goal just 5 minutes into the first period, and Ogden did not let off the pressure. Lukas Björk was doing everything he could to keep the puck out of the net, but Luke Faas would put another shot past Björk with just under 3 minutes remaining in the 1st period. Late in the period, a bench minor on Ogden resulted in a powerplay for Pueblo, and Riley Dueber would put one past David-Örs Mag with just 64 seconds remaining in the first.
In the 2nd period, Ogden kept up the pressure as Lewis Izadi stormed into Pueblo’s zone and put a laser past Björk to reinstate the 2-goal lead. Another 2-on-1 with 6 minutes remaining in the 2nd would see Jacob Williams bury a pass from Mustangs Captain, Jake Meure, to put the Mustangs up 4-1. Early in the 3rd period Pueblo was on the powerplay, but an atrocious giveaway by Pueblo’s defense in front of their netminder allowed Izadi to score his second of the night, forcing Alexander TImmons to come in relief of Björk. Then just past the halfway point of the final period, Ogden’s Kevin Martin would speed into the zone and make it a 6-1 game, followed-up by Alonzo for his second of the game to make it 7-1. Ogden would take Game 1.
The Bulls looked well rested for Game 2 and it showed. However, Ogden’s Jackson Ferry would put Pueblo down 1-0 on a 5-on-3 powerplay goal just half way through the first period. Jared Weisert woud give Ogden a 2-0 lead off a beautiful goal with just 69 seconds remaining in the first. Unfortunately, emotions were running high at the end of the 1st period and a Pueblo player would be disqualified for abuse of official.
Cooler heads prevailed in the 2nd period and there was a lot of good back and forth, but no goals were scored. In the 3rd period, Pueblo’s Thomas Soucy would carry the puck into the offensive zone and get Pueblo on the board – Pueblo was coming alive. Pueblo kept applying pressure and was forced to pull the goalie with less than two minutes remaining in the game. With only 67 seconds left in the period, Axel Claesson would rifle a shot past Owen Yancey to force overtime. It took just 4 minutes into the overtime period for Pueblo’s Soucy to wrap around the net and bury the puck for his second of the game to force the decisive Game 3.
The scoring in Game 3 would be opened by the Mustangs on a deflection goal by Dmitri Voyatzis at 13:53, and a few minutes later Keith Orlando would put the Mustangs up 2-0 on a beautiful play. Approximately 5 minutes into the 2nd period, Pueblo would get called on a slashing penalty and Ogden takes a 3-0 lead off a tip-in by Jacob Williams. Orlando would provide more breathing room for the Mustangs, scoring his second of the game with just over 6 minutes remaining in the 2nd period. In the 3rd period the Mustangs played defensively focused and sound hockey, not giving the Pueblo Bulls much of anything. Some late penalty trouble put Pueblo down on a 5-minute major with just under six minutes remaining in the game, and Luke Faas would put Ogden up 5-0. David-Örs Mag would shutout the Bulls and the Ogden Mustangs advance to their first ever USPHL Nationals. The Mustangs must now head down the I-15 to face off against the Utah Outliers to determine who will become the Mountain Division Champion.
Pigeonhole Hockey Podcast 3 Stars of Series:
1: (G) David-Örs Mag, 02-Brasov, Romania (OM)
2. (F) Andrew Alonzo, 03-Bonney Lake, Washington (OM)
3: (G) Alex Timmons, 02-Stillwater, Minnesota (PB)
(5) IDAHO FALLS SPUD KINGS AT (1) UTAH OUTLIERS
OUTLIERS WIN 3-GAME SERIES: 2-0
The series was dominated by Utah. In the first game, the Outliers opened up the scoring with a goal by Emrik Froding. With just over 5 minutes remaining in the 1st period, Paul Waldhauser would put the Outliers up 2-0, and less than a minute later, Lucas Oulette would put the Outliers up 3-0. The Spud Kings picked up where they left off last week against the Eagles, as they took repeated 5-minute major penalties. Leyton Pettypiece and Matthew Koepke would put in a pair of goals to make it 5-0. Though, just a minute later, Spud Kings forward Justin Davis would break in alone shorthanded and off the impending rebound George Goodwin would pick up the loose puck and get his team their first of the contest, making it 5-1. The Outliers would also find themselves in penalty trouble, going down 5-on-3 for a full two-minutes but would kill off both penalties and carry that momentum into their next goal, as Koepke would get his second of the game. Late in the third and with all the momentum, Utah would bury another couple goals off the sticks of Nikolas Schwab and Isiah Parris for a final score of 8-1.
Utah came out of the gates on fire for Game 2, putting in their first goal off the stick of David Outkin just 47 seconds into the game, but then both teams settled into the game nicely with no further goals were scored in the period. The second period was a different story, with Utah opening up the flood gates and scoring 3 goals in 57 seconds and putting them up 4-0 – goal scorers included Miles McCue, Lucas Oulette and Magnus Einarson. Late in the period, Brian Fiddes and David Utkin would score two quick goals for the Outliers only13 seconds apart and they would go up 6-0. In the 3rd period Connor Mariner would score and McCue and Parris would each score their second of the game. Thomas Pigeon had an excellent 25-save shutout performance in the 9-0 victory. The Outliers stamp their tickets to Nationals and will now host the Ogden Mustangs next weekend to determine which team is the Mountain Division Champion.
Pigeonhole Hockey Podcast 3 Stars of Series:
1: (D) Matthew Koepke, 02-Vernon Hills, Illinois (UO)
2. (C) Blake Rothstein, 02-Massapequa, New York (UO)
3: (F) Miles McCue-02, Plano, Texas (UO)
Round 3: Best-of-3 Series
Week ending March 19, 2023
(1) Utah Outliers host (2) Ogden Mustangs
Winner is Division Champion
Summary
Both Ogden and Utah are advancing to the national championship tournament in Utica, New York. Both teams want the division championship, but both teams also want to put forward their best teams the following week as both organizations have a high probability of becoming the National Champion. Smart hockey is critical. They cannot fight or afford an series penalties or altercations. Smart, clean hockey and both teams arrive healthy and happy in New York. Utah is the stronger team and should win the series, however Ogden is their nemesis and knows how to beat Utah – so if any team is going to take them down and prevent the three-peat, it’s Ogden.
GET OUT AND SUPPORT YOUR TEAMS!
Outliers vs. Mustangs series begins Friday, 17 March at 7:05pm MST at Acord Ice Center in West Valley City!
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Author: CD, Host, Pigeonhole Hockey Podcast
Photo credit: @bayleighsphoto on Instagram
