Minot, N.D. — The St. Cloud Norsemen scored four third period goals and goaltender Ethan Dahlmeir (Lakeville, Minn.) held the door shut to earn his first career North American Hockey League shutout with a 4-0 victory over the Minotauros at Maysa Arena on Friday night.
Forward Chase Freiermuth (Hastings, Minn.) broke the game’s scoreless streak in the 49th minute, scoring the first goal of the game off a feed from defenseman Nick Young, to give St. Cloud the 1-0 lead. He’d later add an assist and empty net goal to notch a three-point night and help the Norsemen to the four-goal triumph.
Just 31 seconds after Freiermuth opened the scoring at 11:01 of the third period, forward Blake Perbix (Princeton, Minn. // Northern Michigan) picked up a rebound off a shot from Blake Mesenburg (Orono, Minn.) and flipped it past Minot goaltender Zach Sandy to quickly take the game from scoreless to 2-0 Norsemen. Rookie forward Kade Peterson (Fargo, N.D.) also earned an assist on the goal.
Less than four minutes later, newcomer Jack Whitmore found the back of the net for his first goal of the season. Whitmore joined the Norsemen, coming to St. Cloud off the New Mexico Ice Wolves roster, and netted his first of the season and fourth in the NAHL to make it 3-0 St. Cloud with less than five minutes in the game. Freiermuth and Peyton Hanson earned assists on the tally.
Freiermuth added an empty net goal with 30 seconds left to cap the scoring.
Dahlmeir made 22 saves in the shutout, as the Norsemen outshot Minot 34-22. Dahlmeir backstopped the Norsemen defensive effort and penalty kill, through five Minot power plays including a 5-on-3.
The win moved St. Cloud (9-5-0) into 3rd place in the Central Division standings with several games in hand. St. Cloud’s 2021-22 season is presented by Premier Real Estate.
The Norsemen finish the weekend series with the Minotauros at Maysa Arena on Saturday at 7:35 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live with Voice of the Norsemen Ashley Chase on the Lyon Sheet Metal & Heating Norsemen Network on HockeyTV.
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