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NAHL North American Hockey League

Alexandria makes playoff push

March 27, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release


With the Central Division playoff picture still muddled heading into the final weekend of the regular season, the Alexandria Blizzard moved a step closer to securing one of the division's final two postseason berths with two wins over Fargo-Moorhead last weekend.

"Just being in the playoff race, the games that we've won, all the other teams that we're chasing have won, too, so we've said, 'You know what, we can't look for help from anybody else, we just have to go do it ourselves,'" said Blizzard coach Brad Willner, whose team is 7-0-1 in its last eight games.

Alexandria opened its weekend with a 4-3 win over the Jets on Friday. Rylan Galiardi (pictured left) struck for two goals and an assist in the victory, with Luke Nesper notching the game-winning goal. B.J. Gottsacker added two assists, while goaltender Dustin Carlson turned aside 21 shots.

The next night, Carlson stopped 28 shots, including all three in the shootout, as the Blizzard skated to a 2-1 triumph. Brett Burgau scored Alexandria's only goal in regulation, with Jerry Freismuth, Galiardi and Mikael Lickteig all connecting in the shootout.

"Those were big wins for us," said Willner. "This is the best we're playing all year. We're playing good defensively, Carlson is playing well and Galiardi has really stepped up; he's playing his best hockey of the year right now."

Willner points to the Blizzard's recent 11-day trip to Alaska as a catalyst for his team's recent surge.

"I think that was a big turning point," said the coach, whose club went 3-2 against the Ice Dogs and Avalanche. "A lot of time spent together on the road and in the hotel... guys gelled after that which is always a good thing.

"Basically, since our trip up there, we've said this is playoff hockey," Willner added. "If we want to make the playoffs, we have to win to keep going."

In fourth place with 58 points and two games remaining, the Blizzard is in control of its own destiny. North Iowa (60 points, two games remaining), Springfield (57, two games) and Bismarck (56, two games) are also in the hunt for the last two postseason berths in the Central.

"It think it's great," said Willner of the division's parity. "It makes it exciting and it makes every game important. In the long run, it will help us heading into the playoffs knowing that we've been in playoff mode now for the last three weeks, and knowing that it's a do-and-die mentality."

With Carlson taking charge between the pipes, Galiardi, a 20-year-old from Calgary, has emerged offensively as of late. Lined with Freismuth and Gottsacker, the Blizzard's leading-scorer has five goals and three assists in his past five games.

"That whole line is starting to play well together right now, and Gally's best of hockey of the season has been the last 4-5 games," said Willner. "He's starting to get a little more serious interest than what he was getting before from Division I schools."

A mainstay on the blue line, defenseman Adam Hammerbeck, also in his last year of juniors, has turned his game up a notch for the betterment of the team and his college prospects.

"If these guys want to get to Division I, we have to make the playoffs," said Willner. "[If our season ends next weekend], it's tough for people to come see us play again, so, as a team, we have to make the playoffs to help each guy trying to get to college."

Alexandria wraps up its regular season this weekend in Bismarck, where a pair of wins would launch the Blizzard into the postseason and a first-round matchup with either Fargo-Moorhead or Southern Minnesota, the only two teams to clinch berths in the Central.

"If we go to Bismarck and play well, we don't have to get help from anybody else, and that's what the guys want," said Willner. "We know if we go up there and take care of business, we're in, so there's nobody else to look to but ourselves."

STANDINGS/LEADERS

North Division

TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA

yMahoning Valley 60 45-14-1 91 .758 274 165

xAlpena 61 36-20-5 77 .631 226 191

xUSNTDP 60 28-28-4 60 .500 208 206

xMarquette 59 24-30-5 53 .449 177 214

Traverse City 60 18-37-5 41 .342 170 267

South Division

TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA

ySt. Louis 60 43-14-3 89 .742 222 145

xSanta Fe 59 39-16-4 82 .695 200 144

xTexas 60 36-18-6 78 .650 203 168

xFairbanks 62 34-24-4 72 .581 223 203

Wichita Falls 62 22-34-6 50 .403 175 227

Alaska 59 15-37-7 37 .314 138 221

Central Division TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA

yFargo-Moorhead 60 35-19-6 76 .633 211 190

xSo. Minnesota 60 33-23-4 70 .583 196 172

North Iowa 60 27-27-6 60 .500 172 193

Alexandria 60 27-29-4 58 .483 160 188

Springfield 60 26-29-5 57 .475 183 193

Bismarck 60 25-29-6 56 .467 188 216

x - clinched playoff berth

y - clinched division title

LEADING SCORERS

PLAYER TEAM P GP G A PTS

Maroon, Pat STL F 56 40 55 95

Rudasill, Todd ALP F 58 31 53 84

Shean, Joe FBX F 62 23 57 80

Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 62 46 33 79

Cloutier, Dustin MVY F 50 41 38 79

Echternach, Jesse FMH F 59 35 44 79

Pierson, Drew ALP F 61 35 42 77

Connolly, Chris FMH F 60 20 55 75

Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 57 40 29 69

Craner, Nolan ALP F 58 25 38 63

LEADING GOALTENDERS

PLAYER TEAM GPI MINS W-L-OTL GAA SPCT

Hopper, Nick SFE 46 2684:05 29-12-3 2.17 .913

Nagle, Pat STL 35 2071:12 24-8-3 2.23 .921

Zapolski, Ryan MVY 49 2882:02 40-8-1 2.35 .928

Clark, Jay NIO 28 1576:40 13-11-3 2.47 .917

Paulgaard, Lars SME 49 2758:34 28-18-2 2.54 .916

GOALS

PLAYER TEAM P GP G

Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 62 46

Cloutier, Dustin MVY F 50 41

(two players tied with 40)

ASSISTS

PLAYER TEAM POS GP A

Shean, Joe FBX F 62 57

Maroon, Pat STL F 56 55

Connolly, Chris FMH F 60 55

Pierson, Roadhouse, Galiardi named Sherwood Players of the Week

NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Alpena forward Drew Pierson notched three goals and three assists last weekend as the IceDiggers picked up three points in two games against North Division-champion Mahoning Valley. On Friday, the 20-year-old scored a goal and an assist in a 4-1 victory. The next night, the Army recruit from Pleasant Prairie, Wis., struck for two goals and two assists in 5-4 shootout loss to the Phantoms.

"Drew is one of the hottest players in the league right now, and his hard work is paying off," said IceDiggers coach-GM Kenny Miller.

SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Texas forward Sean Roadhouse struck for five goals and three assists last weekend as the Tornado skated to a two-game sweep over Wichita Falls. On Friday, the 19-year-old scored two goals and two assists in Texas' 5-2 win. The next night, the Tulsa, Okla., native recorded a hat trick, including the game-winning goal, and an assist as the Tornado downed the Wildcats, 6-3.

"Sean is stepping up his game at the right time for us," said Tornado coach-GM Tony Curtale.

CENTRAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Alexandria forward Rylan Galiardi tallied three goals and an assist last weekend as the Blizzard completed a two-game sweep of Central Division-champion Fargo-Moorhead. On Friday, the 20-year-old scored two goals and an assist as Alexandria grounded the Jets, 4-3. The next night, the Calgary native netted a shootout goal in a 2-1 victory.

"Rylan is playing his best hockey of the year right now," said Blizzard coach Brad Willner.

HONORABLE MENTION: Alexandria goaltender Dustin Carlson; Alpena goaltender Mike Jarboe; Mahoning Valley forward Chris Fairbanks; North Iowa forward Steve McLeod and goaltender Jay Clark; Texas defenseman Jake Newton

LAST WEEK'S SCORES/HIGHLIGHTS...

Thursday, March 22

Springfield 5 @ Mahoning Valley 2 (SPR: Roy, 41 saves)

Friday, March 23

Fargo-Moorhead 3 @ Alexandria 4 (ALX: Galiardi, 2G, A)

Santa Fe 3 @ Fairbanks 2 (SO) (SF: Hopper, 30 saves)

Wichita Falls 2 @ Texas 5 (TEX: Roadhouse, 2G, A)

Alaska 1 @ North Iowa 4 (NI: McLeod, GWG, 2A)

Alpena 4 @ Mahoning Valley 1 (ALP: Rudasill, GWG, 2A)

USNTDP 3 @ Marquette 4 (MAR: Belanger, G, A)

St. Louis 1 @ Traverse City 4 (TC: Greener, 2G)

Springfield 4 @ USNTDP 5 (SO) (USA: vanRiemsdyk, G, SOG, A)

Saturday, March 24

Santa Fe 2 @ Fairbanks 1 (SF: Omilusik, GWG)

Alaska 3 @ North Iowa 4 (NI: Mjelleli, 2G)

Texas 6 @ Wichita Falls 3 (TEX: Roadhouse, 2G, GWG)

Fargo-Moorhead 1 @ Alexandria 2 (SO) (ALX: Carlson, 28 saves)

Alpena 4 @ Mahoning Valley 5 (SO) (MV: Fairbanks, G, 2A)

USNTDP 3 @ Marquette 2 (SO) (USA: Murray, 30 saves)

St. Louis 5 @ Traverse City 1 (STL: Maroon, 2G, GWG)

Springfield 3 @ USNTDP 7 (USA: Shattenkirk, 2G, GWG)

AROUND THE NAHL...

GRAHAM TO FERRIS STATE: Mahoning Valley center Derek Graham has committed to Ferris State University (CCHA) for the 2008-09 season. This year, the Schoolcraft, Mich., native has 18 goals and 57 points after 51 games.

SOUTHERN COMFORT: With its 5-1 win over Traverse City on Saturday, St. Louis clinched the South Division title. With 89 points, the Bandits are two points behind Mahoning Valley for the NAHL's regular-season championship. Both teams have two games remaining.

NEWTON IMPRESSES: With a goal and four assists in a two-game sweep of Wichita Falls last weekend, first-year Texas defenseman Jake Newton, 18, is now tied for 20th in league scoring among blueliners. "He's proven he may be the best rookie defenseman in the league," said Tornado coach-GM Tony Curtale of the California native. "His numbers as a rookie defenseman are some of the best in our history."

BIG BEN: University of Maine sophomore goaltender Ben Bishop (Texas, 2004-05) stopped 68 of 70 shots helping lift the Black Bears to a pair of wins in the East Division Regionals of the NCAA tournament and a berth to the Frozen Four.

CLARK IN COMMAND: North Iowa goaltender Jay Clark, 20, backstopped the Outlaws to a pair of wins last weekend, turning aside 54 of 58 shots. The Army recruit from Baudette, Minn., has won his last three outings and is 5-0-1 in his last six starts.

EHN NAMED AHA'S BEST: Air Force junior forward Eric Ehn (Capital Centre Pride, 2002-03) was named the Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year after setting a new league scoring record with 16 goals and 29 assists for 45 points, helping the Falcons to the AHA championship and a berth to the NCAAs.

MAROON CLOSES IN: St. Louis forward Pat Maroon, 18, all but locked up the league's scoring title last weekend with his three-goal, one-assist effort in Traverse City. The Ferris State recruit now has 95 points, 11 more than Alpena's Todd Rudasill with two games to play.

OUTLAWS SCORE FOR CHARITY: As part of their charitable partnership to donate $25 for each goal scored at the North Iowa Ice Arena to Hertko Hollow, a summer camp for kids with diabetes, the Outlaws and Shoneman Realtors raised $2,300 this season (62 goals).

THE WEEK AHEAD...

Thursday, March 29

Santa Fe @ Alaska, 7:30 pm

Friday, March 30

North Iowa @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:35 pm

Santa Fe @ Alaska, 7:30 pm

St. Louis @ Texas, 7:30 pm

Alexandria @ Bismarck, 7:05 pm

Springfield @ Southern Minnesota, 7:05 pm

USNTDP @ Mahoning Valley, 7:00 pm

Traverse City @ Marquette, 7:00 pm

Saturday, March 31

Santa Fe @ Alaska, 7:30 pm

St. Louis @ Texas, 7:30 pm

Alexandria @ Bismarck, 7:05 pm

North Iowa @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:05 pm

Springfield @ Southern Minnesota, 7:05 pm

USNTDP @ Mahoning Valley, 7:00 pm

Traverse City @ Marquette, 7:00 pm

Sunday, April 1

Alpena @ Marquette, 1:00 pm

(all times local)

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