Aberdeen, S.D. — The St. Cloud Norsemen completed a second weekend sweep in the Central Division, this time on the road against defending NAHL regular season and division champions with a 2-1 victory over the Wings. This marks the first time the Wings have been swept at home since the 2018-19 season.
The Norsemen are now 5-1-0 overall with a perfect 4-0 mark in the Central. St. Cloud is one of two teams with just one regulation loss across the North American Hockey League.
A pair of second period goals by Blake Mesenburg and Ryan O’Neill put the Norsemen on top. St. Cloud’s defense, backstopped by starting goaltender Josh Langford, weathered the late-game extra-attacker storm by the Wings and held strong to preserve the victory.
The Wings opened the scoring with a first period goal by Cade Neilson to take a 1-0 lead through 20 minutes of play.
St. Cloud responded in the second during a four-on-four scenario. A shot by Evan Murr started a flurry in front of Dominik Wasik in the Wings crease. Blake Perbix pounced on a rebound and Mesenburg chipped the puck home to tie the game 1-1.
The Norsemen went ahead with 1:23 to play in the second on a goal by O’Neill, his fifth of the season. Nick Young took the initial shot off a pass by Broten Sabo before O’Neill put it past Wasik and made it 2-1 St. Cloud.
Langford made 19 saves in the win, his second of the season.
The Norsemen are back home at the Municipal Athletic Complex next Friday, October 8 at 7:00 p.m. CT. Tickets are on sale at tickets.stcloudnorsemen.com, just $10 for adults, $8 for students, kids 6 & up, seniors and military, with kids 5 & under getting in free. Pregame happy hour with the Norsemen is from 6-7pm and that means 2-for-1 alcoholic beverages. Come help us Pack the MAC and cheer on your St. Cloud Norsemen!
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
Aberdeen – Goal: Cade Neilson; Assists: Patrick O’Connell, Parks Wallace
2nd Period
St. Cloud – Goal: Blake Mesenburg (2); Assists: Blake Perbix, Ryan O’Neill
St. Cloud – Goal: Ryan O’Neill (5); Assists: Nick Young, Broten Sabo
3rd Period
NONE
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