Blizzard update
March 22, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Alexandria Blizzard News Release
(Alexandria, MN) In an emotional week for the Minnesota Blizzard Hockey team, the squad regrouped, to post key on-ice victories in Montana. In the process, Minnesota moved past Bismarck into fourth place, in the North American Hockey League's Western Division, with two weeks to go in the regular season.
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2. Friday, March 11th
The Blizzard halted a four-game losing skid, with a 4-2 win in Helena. The Blizzard got a stroke of good fortune early in the game, as a pass dumped into Helena's zone found the back of the net, past Bighorns' goalie, Chad Beiswenger. Josh Frider (Moorhead, MN) was credited with his 13th goal of the season, with Andrew Olson (Alexandria, MN) collecting the assist. Minnesota expanded its lead to 2-0, with a single goal in the second period. Tony Selvog (Warroad, MN) capped off the Blizzard power-play chance with his 7th goal of the year, with assists to Sean Fish (Ramsey, MN) and Tim Manthey (Anoka, MN). Helena's Nate Rein tallied twice in the final eight minutes of the game, sandwiched around Olson's third period score, which was assisted by Frider. Helena pulled Beiswenger in the closing moments for an extra attacker, trying to wipe out Minnesota's one-goal lead. The strategy was foiled, though, as Minnesota clinched the win, on an empty-net goal by Shawn Bitzan (Alexandria, MN). Manthey and Aaron Castle (Roseau, MN) earned assists. Goalie Marcus Paulson collected his 22nd win between the pipes this season, stopping 32 of 34 Helena shots.
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3. The following evening
The Blizzard made some history, in the team's 6-5 shoot-out triumph at Bozeman. The win was the first ever for the Blizzard in Bozeman's home arena, the Valley Ice Garden. Offensive fireworks were plentiful, as the game see-sawed back and forth. Neither team led by more than one goal in regulation. The Icedogs scored first in the opening period, then Shawn Bitzan tallied the first of his two power-play goals, on assists from Dan Swanson (Menomonie, WI) and Tim Manthey (Anoka, MN). Forward Sam Windsor (Plymouth, MN) then found the back of the net at 12:32 of the first period. It was his ninth goal of the season, and was assisted by Paul Henderson (Menomonie, WI) and Sean Fish (Ramsey, MN). Bozeman tied the game early in the middle stanza, but the Blizzard regained the lead, on Swanson's 19th goal of the year. Assists on the power-play goal were credited to Manthey and Mark Horbacz (Hinckley, MN). Trailing 4-3 entering the final period, the Blizzard power play was put to the test again. With the Dogs' PA guy counting down the last 10 seconds in the Blizzard power play ("What's up with that?" as Cliff Clavin would say), Bitzan found himself open in the slot. Possibly for a dramatic flair, Bitzan patiently set up, and fired a laser past Bozeman goalie Matt Cleveland, with one second remaining in the power play. Swanson and Andrew Olson assisted, and the game was tied at four. Less than three minutes later, Minnesota regained the lead, on Olson's 12th goal of the season, with assists given to Bitzan and Josh Frider. Bozeman would not go away, though. With Cleveland pulled for an extra attacker, the Icedogs' Anton Kharin put a rebound shot past Marcus Paulson, to tie the game, 5-5. Neither squad scored in the overtime. The shoot-out required six rounds. Olson and Bozeman's Mike McMillan each tallied, in the opening round. Paulson would not allow any more Bozeman scores in the shoot-out, making key saves, on shots by Ryan Bunger and Bill Leahy. Bitzan tallied the other shoot-out score for Minnesota, to help lock up the win, and two important points, in the NAHL Western Division standings. With two wins to start the Montana trip, the Blizzard vaulted past Bismarck, into fourth place in the standings. Only the top four teams will compete in the Western Division playoffs, through Bismarck is guaranteed a spot in the NAHL National Tournament, as the host for the four-team event later this spring.
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4. On Sunday, March 13th
The Blizzard was blanked, 5-0 by a determined Billings squad. The penalty box was occupied far too often for Minnesota's liking, with 48 penalty minutes handed out to the Blizzard, compared to only 20 penalty minutes for Billings. Bulls Goalie Jon Anderson turned away 19 shots, to record his second shutout versus Minnesota this season. The win allowed Billings to take over sole possession of the lead in the NAHL West, by two points over the Fargo-Moorhead Jets. Billings closes its regular season this coming week, with two home games with Fargo-Moorhead. The Jets begin their four-game Montana trip in Billings Wednesday night, March 16th, then close the trip with another game in Billings four days later. The team that wins the regular season title in the West will be the likely first round opponent for Minnesota, should the Blizzard qualify for post-season play. Minnesota's two wins in Montana puts the Blizzard in a position, where the team controls its own playoff destiny.
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5. Time to play the waiting game:
The Blizzard hockey team will not play again until Good Friday. At this point, it may be beneficial, to allow some of the Blizzard players to get rested and healed up. This weekend, the Blizzard will do some scoreboard watching, as the Bismarck Bobcats will play at Helena Friday night, and Bozeman Saturday night. The Bobcats then close their regular season with a game versus the Blizzard on Friday, March 25th at the Runestone Community Center. Minnesota, meanwhile, will play its regular season finale one night later, versus Fargo-Moorhead on March 26th. Both Blizzard games will start at 7:00 PM.
Hockey fans: We want YOU, for the Blizzard's version of "March Madness": With key games in Alexandria March 25th and 26th, the Blizzard looks forward to seeing you, as the team looks to close in on its first-ever playoff berth. The stakes will be high, as the Blizzard hosts Bismarck on March 25th. The winner of that game could likely lock up the number four seed, for the NAHL Western Division playoffs. If you want to see intense, hard-hitting hockey, with playoff excitement between two rivals, the RCC in Alexandria is the place to be Easter weekend, for games Friday and Saturday nights. See you there!
North American Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2005
- Top Ten Roadrunners Set Their Sights on Final Four - Topeka Pilots
- U-17s take a win from Youngstown, 4-3 - U.S. National Team
- Team Sets New Records, Closing in On More - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Blizzard update - Alexandria Blizzard
- Barons Shouneyia Commits to Michigan State - Cleveland Barons
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