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NAHL North American Hockey League

Express on winning track

November 21, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release


Stuck in the bottom half of the Central Division standings, the Southern Minnesota Express made a move in the right direction last weekend with three wins over North Iowa highlighted by two shutouts.

"This was definitely a big weekend for us," said Express coach Pat Cullen, whose team improved to 10-10-1. "It was easily as well as we've played over a three-game span the entire season."

On Thursday, goaltender Lars Paulgaard turned aside all 39 shots as the Express silenced the Outlaws, 2-0. Mike Montgomery and Robby Spalding provided the offense with third-period goals.

The next night, Paulgaard pocketed his second shutout in as many nights (24 saves) in a 3-0 win over North Iowa. Jamie Ruff, Jeff Carlson and Jesse Junkermeir scored second-period goals for the Express.

Southern Minnesota finished its three-game sweep with a 3-1 win over North Iowa on Saturday. Junkermeir tallied the game-winning goal, with Andy Inderieden and Dustin Skinner adding the other markers. Paulgaard was again in top form, stopping 24 shots.

"Our team defense was sound all three games and our penalty killing didn't give up a goal the entire weekend," said Cullen.

"We also got timely goal scoring. We've been getting a lot of scoring chances, but we were having a tough time cashing in for several weeks. Hopefully, this is how it will be for the rest of the season."

Paulgaard, who went eight consecutive periods without allowing a goal, improved his record to 6-6-1 to compliment a 2.50 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.

"He was very steady with his rebound control and made big saves when we needed him to bail us out," said Cullen of the 19-year-old from Norway. "He gives us a chance to win every time he plays. He's playing well and we need that to continue."

Along with the defensive core having its best weekend of the season, Cullen was also pleased to see a number of different players coming through with timely goals.

"We've needed our veteran forwards to get on track offensively and they're starting to do that with more regularity," said the coach.

The Express has a big test in front of them as it continues its climb, taking on Alexandria on Friday before playing its next four games against NAHL-leading St. Louis.

"We didn't want to get too much further back in our division because of the parity, so this was a big weekend for us," said Cullen. "We need to continue to play good team defense and get the timely scoring we've been getting."

STANDINGS/LEADERS
North Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Alpena 22 16-5-1 33 .750 86 69
Mahoning Valley 23 15-7-1 31 .674 95 75
Marquette 22 9-11-2 20 .455 68 76
USNTDP 19 8-10-1 17 .447 76 70
Traverse City 23 7-13-3 17 .370 67 87

South Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
St. Louis 22 19-2-1 39 .886 89 42
Santa Fe 20 14-3-3 31 .775 73 41
Texas 20 11-6-3 25 .625 65 60
Wichita Falls 21 9-10-2 20 .476 63 68
Alaska 24 9-13-2 20 .417 59 79
Fairbanks 23 9-13-1 19 .413 77 84

Central Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Fargo-Moorhead 23 16-6-1 33 .717 80 60
Bismarck 25 10-11-4 24 .480 77 96
Springfield 22 11-11-0 22 .500 71 71
So. Minnesota 21 10-10-1 21 .500 59 55
North Iowa 22 8-14-0 16 .364 57 87
Alexandria 20 7-13-0 14 .350 47 66

LEADING SCORERS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G A PTS
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 22 14 24 38
Craner, Nolan ALP F 22 15 22 37
Maroon, Pat STL F 19 13 19 32
Echternach, Jesse FMH F 23 13 18 31
Kretzer, Ryan SPR F 22 6 23 29
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 23 16 11 27
Pierson, Drew ALP F 22 11 16 27
Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 20 15 10 25
Quigley, Matt MVY F 23 14 11 25
Longpre, Nathan MVY F 23 8 17 25

LEADING GOALTENDERS
PLAYER TEAM GPI MINS W-L-OTL GAA SPCT
Nagle, Pat STL 12 724:31 10-1-1 1.74 .938
Hopper, Nick SFE 18 1060:57 13-3-2 1.75 .920
Lee, Austin FMH 14 842:25 11-2-1 1.92 .941
Reiter, Kenny STL 10 573:44 8-1-1 2.09 .926
Tragust, Thomas TXS 14 854:32 7-4-3 2.46 .900

GOALS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 23 16
Craner, Nolan ALP F 22 15
Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 20 15

ASSISTS
PLAYER TEAM P GP A
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 22 24
Kretzer, Ryan SPR F 22 23
Craner, Nolan ALP F 22 22

PENALTY MINUTES
PLAYER TEAM P GP PIM
Yovanic, Paul TXS F 19 105
Flink, Adam TXS F 19 100
Belanger, Neeco MAR F 22 96

Stadler, Effinger, Paulgaard named Sherwood Players of the Week

NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alpena's Justin Stadler struck for two goals and two assists as the IceDiggers ran their winning streak to six games with a pair of victories over Marquette last weekend. On Friday, the 19-year-old scored the game-winning goal and an assist in a 5-3 win. The next night, the Livonia, Mich., native tallied a goal and assisted on Kerry Bence's game-tying goal in Alpena's 4-3 overtime win over the Rangers.


SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Wichita Falls forward Eddie Effinger, a 19-year-old from Belleville, Ill., scored the game-winning goal in overtime and assisted on Luke Salazar's first-period tally as the Wildcats defeated Texas on Friday, 3-2, marking the first time Wichita Falls has ever defeated the Tornado on the road in the regular season.


CENTRAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Southern Minnesota goaltender Lars Paulgaard backstopped the Express to three victories last weekend over North Iowa, including two shutouts. On Thursday, the 19-year-old made all 39 saves in the Express' 2-0 win. The next night, the Norway native stopped all 24 shots in a 3-0 triumph. Paulgaard ended his weekend with a 24-save performance on Sunday as Southern Minnesota skated to a 3-1 win over the Outlaws.


LAST WEEK's SCORES/HIGHLIGHTS
Monday, November 13
Springfield 5 @ St. Louis 3 (SPR: Berecz, 2G)

Thursday, November 16
Bismarck 5 @ Alaska 1 (BIS: Robert-Bengston, G, A)
So. Minnesota 2 @ North Iowa 0 (SM: Paulgaard, 39 saves)
Bismarck 3 @ Alaska 4 (SO) (ALA: Graffunder, 2G)

Friday, November 17
Alexandria 1 @ Fargo-Moorhead 4 (FM: Johnson, 2G, A)
Springfield 2 @ St. Louis 3 (STL: Bessing, GWG)
Wichita Falls 3 @ Texas 2 (OT) (WF: Effinger, GWG, A)
So. Minnesota 3 @ North Iowa 0 (SM: Paulgaard, 24 saves)
Traverse City 2 @ Mahoning Valley 5 (MV: Winter, G, GWG)
Alpena 5 @ Marquette 3 (ALP: Stadler, G, GWG)

Saturday, November 18
Bismarck 3 @ Alaska 4 (SO) (ALA: Grossi, G, SOG)
USNTDP 0 @ St. Louis 4 (STL: Reiter, 26 saves)
North Iowa 1 @ So. Minnesota 3 (SM: Junkermeir, GWG)
Fargo-Moorhead 1 @ Alexandria 2 (SO) (ALX: Galiardi, G, SOG)
Traverse City 1 @ Mahoning Valley 3 (MV: Graham, G, A)
Alpena 4 @ Marquette 3 (OT) (ALP: Hendrickson, G, GWG)

Sunday, November 19
USNTDP 1 @ St. Louis 3 (STL: Anderson, GWG, 2A)

AROUND THE NAHL

STREAKING: With two more wins last weekend over Traverse City, Mahoning Valley extended its winning streak to nine games. "These players have been doing the little things, which is tough for a young group such as ours," said Phantoms assistant coach Curtis Carr. "But they've been playing unbelievable defense, which has been a major part of our effort."

STREAKING II: Alpena, which won two games over Marquette last weekend, has strung together six straight victories. It's the longest winning streak in franchise history (the IceDiggers joined the NAHL in 2003).

AUSTIN'S POWERS: Fargo-Moorhead goaltender Austin Lee, an 18-year-old from Bloomington, Minn., and a Minnesota State-Mankato (WCHA) recruit, turned aside 61 of 63 shots in two games as the Jets picked up three points (a win and a shootout loss) against Alexandria last weekend.

BLUE LINE BONUS: Alpena defenseman Chris Hendrickson, 20, scored two goals, including the overtime game-winner, in the IceDiggers' 4-3 win over Marquette on Saturday. He added an assist on Friday. "Chris scored a very big goal for us (in OT)," said IceDiggers coach Kenny Miller. "He was very solid in our own end and has played that way all year long."

TURNING IT ON: Jake Hauswirth, 18, scored two goals - one shorthanded - in Marquette's 4-3 overtime loss to Alpena on Saturday. "Jake is beginning to emerge as an offensive weapon," said Rangers coach Leigh Mendelson of the Merrill, Wis., native.

JONNY BE GOOD: Alexandria forward Jonny Breuer, a 20-year-old from Albert, Lea, Minn., assisted on the game-tying goal and scored the game-winner in the shootout as the Blizzard downed Central Division-leading Fargo-Moorhead on Saturday, 2-1.

THE WEEK AHEAD
Wednesday, November 22
Springfield @ Texas, 7:30 pm
Alexandria @ North Iowa, 7:05 pm
Alpena @ Traverse City, 7:00 pm

Friday, November 24
Fairbanks @ Alaska, 7:30 pm
Southern Minnesota @ Alexandria, 7:30 pm
Santa Fe @ Texas, 7:30 pm
North Iowa @ Bismarck, 7:05 pm
Springfield @ Wichita Falls, 7:05 pm
Mahoning Valley @ Marquette, 7:00 pm
Alpena @ USNTDP, 7:00 pm

Saturday, November 25
Fairbanks @ Alaska, 7:30 pm
Santa Fe @ Texas, 7:30 pm
North Iowa @ Bismarck, 7:05 pm
Alexandria @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:05 pm
St. Louis @ Southern Minnesota, 7:05 pm
Springfield @ Wichita Falls, 7:05 pm
Mahoning Valley @ Marquette, 7:00 pm
Alpena @ USNTDP, 7:00 pm

Sunday, November 26
St. Louis @ Southern Minnesota, 5:05 pm
Fairbanks @ Alaska, 5:00 pm
Traverse City @ USNTDP, 3:00 pm
Mahoning Valley @ Marquette, 1:00 pm

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