Ben Jones Lifts Iowa to 3-2 Overtime Win in Grand Rapids
February 23, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Wild News Release
Grand Rapids, Mich. - Ben Jones found the back of the net at 2:27 of overtime to lift the Iowa Wild to a 3-2 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena on Sunday evening. Brendan Gaunce and Hunter Haight also scored for Iowa, while Jesper Wallstedt stopped 38-of-40 shots in the win.
The Wild took a 1-0 lead 17:45 into the game. After Joseph Cecconi and Graeme Clarke combined to set up Gaunce at the point, Gaunce stepped to the top of the left circle and snapped a wrister past the glove of Sebastian Cossa (29 saves).
Haight doubled Iowa's advantage just 49 seconds later with a power-play goal. Clarke sent the puck to the left circle for Gaunce, who fired a pass into the slot for Haight to redirect through Cossa.
Amadeus Lombardi pulled Grand Rapids back within a goal with 25 seconds to play in the first period with a shot through traffic from the left wall.
Grand Rapids outshot Iowa 15-11 in the opening frame.
Sheldon Dries tied the contest with a backhand finish off a broken play at 19:42 of the second period.
The Griffins outshot the Wild 25-20 through 40 minutes.
Wallstedt turned aside 14 shots in the third period and another in overtime before Jones earned Iowa the extra point.
Jones collected a cross-ice pass from Carson Lambos behind his back, walked to the top of the right circle, and wired a shot between the legs of a defender to the far post to win the game. Clarke earned his third assist of the game on the overtime winner.
Grand Rapids outshot Iowa 40-32. The Wild went 1-for-6 with the man advantage and held the Griffins scoreless on six power plays.
Iowa returns to Wells Fargo Arena to host the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
Iowa Wild hockey is presented by Kwik Star. For more information on Iowa Wild hockey, please visit www.iowawild.com. Fans can purchase single-game tickets through the team's website at www.iowawild.com. Group tickets (10 or more), suites, Wild 365 memberships or premium tickets can be purchased by contacting the Iowa Wild Ticket Department at 515-564-8700 or tickets@iowawild.com. Season tickets for 2025-26 are on sale now. Fans can purchase season tickets for the upcoming season at https://www.iowawild.com/wild-365.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2025
- Barracuda Burned by Slow Start against Firebirds - San Jose Barracuda
- Agozzino Seals Overtime Win as Roadrunners Sweep Canucks - Tucson Roadrunners
- Firebirds Close out Homestand with Win over Barracuda - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Canucks Pick up a Point Despite 4-3 Overtime Loss to the Roadrunners - Abbotsford Canucks
- Griffins Fall to Wild in Overtime Battle - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Ben Jones Lifts Iowa to 3-2 Overtime Win in Grand Rapids - Iowa Wild
- Moose Tip Marlies in OT - Manitoba Moose
- Wolves Skate Past IceHogs 4-2 - Chicago Wolves
- Penguins Stunned in 5-4 Overtime Loss at Providence - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- IceHogs Comeback Isn't Enough, Lose 4-2 to Wolves - Rockford IceHogs
- Zherenko Superb as T-Birds Escape Bridgeport with Shootout Win - Springfield Thunderbirds
- P-Bruins Storm Back to Defeat Penguins in Overtime - Providence Bruins
- Anaheim Ducks Recall Oscar Dansk from San Diego - San Diego Gulls
- Stevenson, Bears Blank Checkers 2-0 - Hershey Bears
- Senators Snap Road Slump with 2-1 Shootout Win in Cleveland - Belleville Senators
- Game Day Preview - CGY at ONT - Calgary Wranglers
- Monsters Fall 2-1 in a Shootout to Senators - Cleveland Monsters
- Checkers Suffer Shutout in Rematch with Bears - Charlotte Checkers
- Wolf Pack Loan D Carter Berger to ECHL Bloomington - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game #50 Preview: Tucson Roadrunners vs Abbotsford Canucks - Tucson Roadrunners
- IceHogs Head East to Battle Wolves - Rockford IceHogs
- Game Preview: Bears at Checkers, 1 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Syracuse Crunch Sign Forward Spencer Kersten to AHL Contract, Loan to Orlando Solar Bears - Syracuse Crunch
- Wranglers Come up Short in 4-1 Defeat against Firebirds - Calgary Wranglers
- Reign Fall to Barracuda - Ontario Reign
- Roadrunners Open Homestand with 3-2 Victory Over Abbotsford - Tucson Roadrunners
- Hayden Scores Twice in Firebirds' Third Straight Win - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Condors Force OT to Get Point off San Diego - Bakersfield Condors
- The Abbotsford Canucks Fell 3-2 In A Tough Battle Against The Tucson Roadrunners - Abbotsford Canucks
- Carriere Stellar in 3-1 Win at Ontario - San Jose Barracuda
- Wild Win in Rockford 5-4 - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
