Blizzard coming alive

January 2, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release

Struggling to find any consistency, the Alexandria Blizzard finally strung together its first two-game sweep of the season last weekend with a pair of victories over Southern Minnesota.

"Coming back from (holiday) break and getting a couple of wins, it was really nice," said Blizzard coach Brad Willner, whose club improved to 13-19-1.

On Saturday, Steve Sperry's third-period goal lifted the Blizzard to a 2-1 win over the Express. Alex Lundbohm scored the other Alexandria goal, while goaltender Dustin Carlson turned aside 35 shots.

The next night, the Blizzard downed Southern Minnesota in a shootout, 4-3. Defenseman Adam Hammerbeck recorded a goal and an assist in the win, with Luke Nesper and Mark Columbus connecting for the other Alexandria markers. Carlson was again solid between the pipes, stopping 32 shots in regulation and five of six in the shootout.

"As of late, we've been playing better," said Willner. "Things are starting to come together for the guys. They're working hard, and I think it's just a matter of everybody clicking together."

Willner also points to the late-November trade for Sperry from Marquette as a catalyst for his team's recent turnaround. Not only is Sperry averaging a point a game (10) for the Blizzard, but the deal which sent Derek Grogan to the Rangers has also created a sense of urgency in the locker room.

"It's funny how that affects your game and gets everyone focused again," said Willner of the first trade he's made in his two seasons behind the Blizzard's bench. "Ever since we did that, mentally we've been a different team on the ice."

The Blizzard's defense was exceptional against the Express, in particular Hammerbeck, a 20-year-old from Superior, Wis., in his second season with Alexandria.

"Being the veteran defenseman back there, he had a real good weekend," said Willner.

And the goaltending of Carlson, along with Ryan Leets, has been steady throughout the season. Carlson holds a .912 save percentage, with Leets at a formidable .900.

"It's good having two goaltenders that can play, and it's tough on us as coaches to make a decision on who to play, but they both have handled the situation very well when the other one has played," said Willner.

On a team struggling to put the puck in the net - the Blizzard is tied with Marquette with fewest goals scored with 88 - Rylan Galiardi, along with Nesper and Sperry, have been finding the scoresheet with more regularity of late.

"The guys are working a little bit harder than they did early on," said Willner. "Hopefully, that will continue for us as we head into the New Year."

STANDINGS/LEADERS
North Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Mahoning Valley 35 26-8-1 53 .757 153 92
Alpena 33 23-8-2 48 .727 128 98
Traverse City 35 12-18-5 29 .414 103 138
USNTDP 30 11-17-2 24 .400 99 112
Marquette 32 11-19-2 24 .375 88 116

South Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
St. Louis 33 25-6-2 52 .788 122 73
Santa Fe 32 23-5-4 50 .781 120 66
Texas 33 21-9-3 45 .682 116 96
Fairbanks 35 17-17-1 35 .500 119 123
Wichita Falls 33 12-18-3 27 .409 90 111
Alaska 36 11-20-5 27 .375 91 129

Central Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Fargo-Moorhead 32 22-9-1 45 .703 114 92
So. Minnesota 36 19-15-2 40 .556 115 96
Springfield 34 15-15-4 34 .500 99 108
North Iowa 33 14-17-2 30 .455 92 119
Bismarck 35 12-17-6 30 .429 99 131
Alexandria 33 13-19-1 27 .409 88 113

LEADING SCORERS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G A PTS
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 33 19 38 57
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 35 28 17 45
Echternach, Jesse FMH F 32 20 25 45
Maroon, Pat STL F 30 16 28 44
Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 31 24 18 42
Pierson, Drew ALP F 33 16 26 42
Shean, Joe FBX F 35 15 27 42
Craner, Nolan ALP F 30 17 23 40
Longpre, Nathan MVY F 35 14 23 37
(three players tied with 36 points)

LEADING GOALTENDERS
PLAYER TEAM GPI MINS W-L-OTL GAA SPCT
Hopper, Nick SFE 27 1590:36 19-5-3 1.85 .916
Nagle, Pat STL 19 1128:42 14-3-2 1.91 .934
Zapolski, Ryan MVY 32 1857:02 25-6-1 2.26 .930
Lee, Austin FMH 18 1042:52 13-3-1 2.42 .928
Paulgaard, Lars SME 27 1503:30 15-10-1 2.47 .916

GOALS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 35 28
Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 31 24
Echternach, Jesse FMH F 32 20

ASSISTS
PLAYER TEAM P GP A
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 33 38
Maroon, Pat STL F 30 28
Shean, Joe FBX F 35 27

PENALTY MINUTES
PLAYER TEAM P GP PIM
Flink, Adam TXS F 27 141
Belanger, Neeco MAR F 32 138
Yovanic, Paul TXS F 27 131

Kimmel, Sisson, Carlson named Sherwood Players of the Week

NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Traverse City forward Sabastion Kimmel recorded a goal and three assists as the North Stars split a pair of games with Alpena last weekend. On Saturday, the 18-year-old assisted on Nathan Urbaniak's game-tying goal and netted the final marker in the shootout in Traverse City's 5-4 win. The next night, the New Milford, Ct., native scored a goal and two assists as the North Stars fell to Alpena, 5-4.

SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
St. Louis forward Graham Sisson struck for three goals and three assists as the Bandits skated to a 2-1 record last week. On Friday, the 19-year-old scored the game-winning goal in St. Louis' 4-2 win over Springfield. The next night, the Chesterfield, Mo, native assisted on the Bandits' lone tally in a 3-1 loss to Texas before notching two goals, including the game-winner, and two assists in a 5-2 victory over the Tornado on New Year's Eve.

CENTRAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alexandria goaltender Dustin Carlson backstopped the Blizzard to a pair of wins over Southern Minnesota last weekend, turning aside 67 of 71 shots. On Saturday, the 20-year-old made 35 saves in the Blizzard's 2-1 victory. On New Year's Eve, the Forest Lake, Minn., native stopped 32 shots - and five of six in the shootout - in a 4-3 triumph over the Express.

OTHER NOMINEES: Alexandria forward Steve Sperry; Alpena forwards Erik Peterson and Justin Stadler; Bismarck forward Vince Unklesbay; Fargo-Moorhead forward Robby Philipp; Southern Minnesota forward Scott Kozlak; St. Louis defenseman Scooter Vaughan; Texas defenseman Brian Reagan

LAST WEEK'S SCORES/HIGHLIGHTS
Friday, December 29
St. Louis 4 @ Springfield 2 (STL: Vaughan, 3A)
Wichita Falls 3 @ Texas 4 (TEX: King, G, A)
Fargo-Moorhead 3 @ Bismarck 2 (FM: Adams, GWG)
So. Minnesota 5 @ North Iowa 4 (OT) (SM: Kozlak, GWG, A)

Saturday, December 30
Texas 3 @ St. Louis 1 (TEX: Reagan, G, GWG, A)
Bismarck @ Fargo-Moorhead (postponed)
Alexandria 2 @ Southern Minnesota 1 (ALX: Sperry, GWG)
North Iowa 1 @ Springfield 2 (SPR: Greco, GWG)
Alpena 4 @ Traverse City 5 (SO) (TC: Nagorsen, G, A)

Sunday, December 31
Fargo-Moorhead 5 @ Bismarck 3 (FM: Connolly, GWG, A)
Traverse City 4 @ Alpena 5 (ALP: Peterson-Stadler, G, 2A)
Texas 2 @ St. Louis 5 (STL: Sisson, G, GWG, 2A)
So. Minnesota 3 @ Alexandria 4 (SO) (ALX: Hammerbeck, G, A)
Springfield 2 @ North Iowa 3 (SO) (NI: Mobley, G, A)

AROUND THE NAHL
COACHING CHANGE IN MARQUETTE: The Rangers have released Leigh Mendelson from his contract as head coach. Randy Enders, who was serving as the team's assistant coach, will assume the role of interim head coach.

AVS' DIMMEN TO CANISIUS: Alaska defenseman Jeff Dimmen, 19, has committed to Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey) for the 2007-08 season. Now in his third NAHL season, the Colorado Springs, Colo., native has two goals and 17 points in 21 games this year.

BLUES' ROY TO HOLY CROSS: Second-year Springfield goaltender Adam Roy, 20, has committed to Holy Cross (Atlantic Hockey) for next season. On the year, the Feeding Hills, Mass., native holds a 13-11-4 record with a 3.00 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.

GIEBE SCORES FOR GERMANY: North Iowa defenseman Chris Giebe, 19, scored Team Germany's first goal in its 2-1 overtime win over the U.S. in the first game of the World Junior Championships in Sweden. Germany finished pool play with a 2-2 record.

FINE FINN: Former Fargo-Moorhead forward Kai Kantola (2005-06), 19, was named to the World Junior Championships as a member of Team Finland. Kantola is currently a freshman at Bowling Green State University.

A FINE LINE: Alpena linemates Erik Peterson, 18, and Justin Stadler, 19, combined for three goals and six assists as the IceDiggers split a pair of games with Traverse City. "Both Erik and Justin have a way of knowing where the other one is when they're out on the ice," said IceDiggers coach Kenny Miller. "Erik played two of the best games I've seen him play - he was very good for us. Justin has really turned it up of late and is being rewarded for his hard work."

ALUM LEADS D-I CHARGE: Eric Ehn (Capital Centre Pride, 2002-03), a junior at Air Force (Atlantic Hockey), leads the nation in Division I scoring with 36 points (16 goals) after 20 games.

LET'S MAKE A DEAL: St. Louis traded goaltender Kenny Reiter and defenseman Brock Shelgren to Fairbanks for goaltender Shane Madalora and defenseman Wes Love.

THE WEEK AHEAD
Thursday, January 4
Santa Fe @ Springfield, 7:30 pm
Alexandria @ Bismarck, 7:05 pm

Friday, January 5
Southern Minnesota @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:35 pm
North Iowa @ Fairbanks, 7:30 pm
Santa Fe @ Springfield, 7:30 pm
Alexandria @ Bismarck, 7:05 pm
Texas @ Wichita Falls, 7:05 pm
Alpena @ Mahoning Valley, 7:00 pm
Marquette @ Traverse City, 7:00 pm

Saturday, January 6
North Iowa @ Fairbanks, 7:30 pm
Southern Minnesota @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:05 pm
Texas @ Wichita Falls, 7:05 pm
Bismarck @ Alexandria, 7:00 pm
Alpena @ Mahoning Valley, 7:00 pm
Santa Fe @ Springfield, 7:00 pm
Marquette @ Traverse City, 7:00 pm

Sunday, January 7
Fargo-Moorhead @ Southern Minnesota, 5:05 pm
North Iowa @ Fairbanks, 5:00 pm
(all times local)

North American Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2007

• Team USA In Semifinals After 6-3 Win Over Finland - U.S. National Team
• Jets Prepare to Defend First Place this Weekend - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
• Blizzard coming alive - NAHL

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