ST CLOUD OUTSCORED 13 TO FOUR IN CONSECUTIVE LOSSES TO MINOT
The Matchup: St. Cloud (14-11-2) fell to the first place Minot Minotauros (26-6-1) in a home series inside the friendly confines of the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex at Torrey Arena by scores of 7-1 and 6-3 on Jan. 5-6.
A Look at the Central: After the sweep, the Norsemen will fall to fourth place and claim in the Central Division. Minot will stay on top with the two victories this weekend and will go into next weekend holding onto 53 points.
Series Review: In game one, St. Cloud came out flying as Michael Coleman (Grand Forks, N.D.) got the home team on the board at the 7:49 mark of the first period. Minot responded to tie the contest at one when Colby Bear found the back of the net. This would be the first of a three goal period for the visitors ending the first intermission at 3-1. In the second stanza, Minot would receive another three goal period off the sticks of Chad Muller, Jack O’ Hansain and Fort Worth native Colby Woogk. In the third period, Joel Lehtinen wrapped up the scoring for Minot securing a 7-1 victory for the first place Minotauros.
In game two, The Norsemen once again got on the board with another Grand Forks native scoring in Braden Panzer. Minot would respond with a third three goal period in two nights when Niklas Ketonen, Nicholas Sewecke found the net. Jack O’Hanisain lit the lamp for his second goal of the series. Muller and Ketonen each got on the board in the second period for the Minotauros in the second period. Tyler Dysart (Sunnyvalle, Calif.) cut into the deficit at the 8:47 mark of the frame for St. Cloud. In the third period of play, O’Hanisain would tally his third goal of the series. Coleman finished the scoring for the Norsemen falling 6-3 to Minot on Saturday night.
Between The Pipes:
Game 1: Ryan Manzella (Eagan, Minn) and Max Weilandt (Northbrook, Ill.) turned aside 19 of 24 total shots for St. Cloud. Brady James made 15 saves on 16 shots for Minot.
Game 2: Weilandt made 20 saves for the Norsemen. Brady James secured his second win of the series after making 26 saves on 29 total shots from Norsemen skaters.
Up Next on the Schedule:
St. Cloud will travel to Minot, N.D. to face the Minotauros for a road test at Pepsi Maysa Arena on Jan 12-13. Puck drop will take place at 7:35 p.m. (C.T.)
Dain Solberg, Media Relations Intern