DESPITE CONSISTENT SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY STC DROPS ONE OF TWO GAMES
The Matchup: St. Cloud (23-20-6) split the league leading Minot Minotauros (42-13-1) in a two game weekend series falling by a score of 4-3 on March. 29 and defeating the Minotauros 2-1 on Saturday, March. 30. Both contests were played on the road at Pepsi Rink at Maysa Arena in Minot, N.D.
A Look at the Central: After this weekend, the Norsemen sit in fifth-place in the Central Division with 59 points. Minot has clinched the top playoff spot with 85 total points.
Series Review: The Norsemen opened up the scoring with a tally from Gavin Gunderson (Roseau, Minn./Niverville/BCHL) at the 11:52 mark of the first period. The Minotauros received two consecutive goals from Cayden Casey and Joel Lehtinen. St. Cloud would tie the contest up with a Hagen Moe (Grand Rapids, Mich./Springfield/NAHL) goal just a minute and forty seconds into the second period. Jordan Gibbs tied the game up once again for Minot. Adam Mahler would score the eventual game-winner. Hudson Blue (Costa Mesa, Calif./Sioux Falls Power/TIEHL U18) would make the game a one goal game late in the third but Minot would prevail 4-3 in regulation.
In game two, STC jumped out first with a goal from Gunderson which would be his 19th of the season. After a scoreless middle stanza, both teams traded goals with Colby Woogk tallying his 17th of the season and the game-winner. Tyler Dysart (Sunnyvale, Calif./New Jersey/NCDC) would score the last goal of the game as the Norsemen fell by a score of 2-1.
Between The Pipes:
In game one, Ryan Manzella (Eagan, Minn./Sioux Falls Power/TIEHL U18) made 26 saves on 30 shot attempts. Minotauros Goaltender, Brady James made 27 saves in the victory.
In game two, Max Weilandt (Northbrook, Ill./Dubuque/USHL) would turn aside 23 of 25 shots in the loss. For Minot, Lukas Swedin made 23 total saves.
Up Next on the Schedule:
The Norsemen will face the North Iowa Bulls on April 4-5 when they begin a home-and-home series. Game one will be played at the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex at Torrey Arena. Game two will be played at Mason City Arena in Mason City, IA. Both games will begin at 7:10 p.m. (C.T.)
Dain Solberg, Media Relations Intern