Magicians Weekly
Published on February 15, 2016 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Minnesota Magicians News Release
View from the Minnesota Magicians Goal
(Minnesota Magicians)
The Minnesota Magicians picked up 1 of 4 possible points during an important home stand last weekend at Richfield Ice Arena. After falling in a shootout to the Coulee Region Chill on Friday, the Magic were defeated at the hands of the Brookings Blizzard on Saturday. As a result, the Magicians now sit 3 points out of the Central Division's final playoff spot with 19 games to go in the regular season. Upcoming this weekend are match ups with the Austin Bruins and the Cloquet Wilderness.
Weekend Recap:
Friday
The Coulee Region Chill came to town on Friday night and got the scoring started with a goal midway through period one. After taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, the Chill came out in the second and quickly expanded upon their lead with two more goals in the first five minutes of the period. Needing a spark, the Magicians got one on a powerplay goal by
Kyle Amundson ( Johnny Panvica, Casey Jerry ) to cut the Coulee lead to 3-1. A short time later, Matt Sherman found the back of the net for a shorthanded goal assisted by Jacob Gammicchia to make the score a much more manageable 3-2 heading into the second intermission.
In the third period, the Magicians were able to tie the game on a powerplay goal from
Casey Jerry ( Kyle Wagner, Jack Christensen) . Deadlocked at 3-3 midway through the final frame, the Chill were able to answer the Magicians' surge with a goal of their own to retake the lead. Next, assistant Captain Brady Heppner answered for the Magicians on a goal assisted by Spencer Kuhlman and Kyle Amundson to tie the game at 4 goals apiece. Heppner's goal would be the last goal of regulation and the game proceeded to overtime.
After a scoreless 3 vs. 3 overtime session, a shootout was needed to determine the winner. Both Magicians shooters failed to score, and 2 out of 3 Coulee shooters were able to beat goaltender Will Ulrich to secure the victory and an extra point in the standings. Ulrich stopped 34 out of the 38 shots that he faced during regulation and overtime in the loss.
Saturday
On Saturday, the Brookings Blizzard visited Richfield Ice Arena in an important Central Division game. The winner of the contest would move into sole possession of the fourth and final Central Division playoff spot.
In the first period, the Magicians got the scoring started on a goal from
Brady Heppner assisted by Jack Christensen and Matt Sherman. Brookings was able to answer with a goal of their own and the teams entered the second period tied at 1-1. In the second period, the Blizzard were able to take a brief lead before Matt Sherman scored his second goal of the weekend ( Brady Heppner, Jack Christensen ) to even the score once again. Heading into the third period, it appeared to be anybody's hockey game, but 3 unanswered goals from Brookings in the final 20-minutes of regulation was enough for them to coast to a 5-2 victory.
The Magicians will travel to Austin, Minnesota on Friday of this week to take on the Bruins at Riverside Arena. The following night, the Magicians will return to home ice in a game against the Cloquet Wilderness at 7:00 PM.
Central Division Standings
Bismarck 40 25 14 1 51 .638 138 96 624 12-8-1 13-6-0
Minot 43 23 16 4 50 .581 129 123 670 9-9-2 14-7-2
Austin 42 22 19 1 45 .536 137 117 915 11-10-1 11-9-0
Brookings 42 17 19 6 40 .476 113 147 677 12-7-2 5-12-4
MN Magicians 41 16 20 5 37 .451 112 141 656 9-10-1 7-10-4
Aberdeen 41 14 19 8 36 .439 83 120 537 7-10-3 7-9-5
Images from this story
 View from the Minnesota Magicians Goal |
North American Hockey League Stories from February 15, 2016
- Magicians Weekly - Minnesota Magicians
- Wilderness Get Two Wins over the Weekend - Minnesota Wilderness
- Dryden McKay Named South Division Star of the Week - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Top Prospects Starts Today - NAHL
- Kendall Named 2nd Star of the Week; Dineen Honorable Mention - Coulee Region Chill
- NAHL Announces Divisional Stars of the Week - NAHL
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