Bulls jump into first
November 12, 2004 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Billings Bulls News Release
Vaulting over the Fargo-Moorhead Jets and into first place in the hotly contested NAHL West, the Billings Bulls got a pair of standout performances amidst their fine team play. Capturing the Sher-wood NAHL Offensive Player of the Week for Week 7 of the season, Ian Schaser scored four gaols and an assists, including a hat trick on Wednesday, November 3, in a 5-3 win against Fairbanks. Two nights later, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota, native scored the third period game-winner against Bozeman and on Saturday, he set up the game tying goal in the third period, a game the Bulls eventually won in overtime, 3-2 over Helena.
The co-winner of the Sher-Wood NAHL Defensive Player of the Week for Week 7, Bulls defenseman Mike Mayra enjoyed success at both ends of the rink. The Anchorage, Alaska native tallied a goal and an assists against Fairbanks and added an assist against Helena, but in his own end he contributed even more, anchoring the Bulls penalty kill, which killed off 14 of 15 opportunities on the week; dishing out a number of huge bodychecks in all three games; and accumulating a plus-5 rating.
TWO-WIN WEEKEND VAULTS BULLS INTO FIRST
Bertsch OT Goal Clinches Win 11/06/04
In their first appearance at the Helena Ice Arena this 2004-05 season, the Billings Bulls went head-to-head with the Bighorns and cruised into overtime after the regulation time expired with both teams at two goals a piece. A Sean Bertsch goal with one minute remaining in overtime secured the Bulls the win, 3-2, holding their first place rank in the NAHL West Division.
Scoring Summary
First Period
No Scoring
Second Period
1, BIL, Anthony Cosmano (pp) (Mayra, Bertsch) 1:13.
Third Period
2, HEL, Jeff Olitch (pp) (unassisted) 3:36.
3, HEL, Andy Gevorkyan (unassisted) 7:49.
4, BIL, Brett Gorman (Schaser, Palmer) 9:42.
OT
5, BIL, Sean Bertsch (unassisted) 4:00
Saves
BIL, Anderson 41-43
HEL, Beiswenger 42-45
Bulls Claim West Division #1 Rank 11/05/04
Taking on the Bozeman Icedogs for the fifth time in regular season play, the Billings Bulls edged the Icedogs 3-2 to bring their overall regular season record to 10-2-2 to hold the NAHL West Division first place rank.
Scoring Summary
First Period
1, BOZ, Nick Biondo (McMillan, Moore) 11:50.
Second Period
2, BIL, Brian Kaufman (sh) (unassisted) 17:11.
Third Period
3, BOZ, Brett Beckfeld (Cunningham, McKelvie) 2:40.
4, BIL, Matt Palmer (Hoey, Mladenoff) 2:40.
5, BIL, Ian Schaser (Olson, Gorman) 5:16.
Saves
BIL, Anderson 32-34
BOZ, Cleveland 30-33
North American Hockey League Stories from November 12, 2004
- Veterans prove to be driving force in Roadrunners' early success - Topeka Pilots
- IceDiggers acquire forward Zimmerman from OHL - Alpena IceDiggers
- Bulls jump into first - Billings Bulls
- Solid goaltending gives Spirit four-point weekend - Alaska Avalanche
- Bandits begin home webcasts - St. Louis Bandits
- 'Horns boost blueline with Rodger, Ebbole - Helena Bighorns
- Lamoreaux's four points league Bobcats to win over Blizzard - Bismarck Bobcats
- Dallas Stars coach Tippett assists Tornado during practice - Texas Tornado
- Blizzard update - Alexandria Blizzard
- Wildcats 1-1-1 on road trip - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Jets fall from first place - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Phantoms win overtime shootout, sweep weekend vs. Toledo - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- NAHLers poised for first college commitments this week - NAHL
- Icedogs vs. Bighorns tonight - Bozeman Icedogs
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