North Iowa gets on track

October 10, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release

After opening the season 0-6, the North Iowa Outlaws finally found the winning formula last weekend with two come-from-behind victories over Central Division-leading Bismarck.

"We learned what it takes to win hockey games," said Outlaws coach Dave Boitz. "We learned how to compete and what it takes to be successful in this league."

On Friday, the Bobcats held a 3-2 lead heading into the third before the Outlaws scored four goals in the final period - two by Joe Harcharik, his third and fourth of the evening - helping lift North Iowa to a 6-4 triumph.

North Iowa's Alex Breeden, Jared Smith and Steve McLeod each chipped in two assists in the win, while goaltender Robby Moss turned aside 29 shots.

"It was really awesome to get that first win, it really sets the tone," said Harcharik, who has five goals for seven points on the season. "Everybody worked hard and we earned that victory."

"It was a great team effort," Boitz said. "From special teams to goaltending, we worked our butts off and beat probably one of the best teams we've played all year."

The next night, North Iowa found itself in a familiar position heading into the third period - trailing 3-2 - before Ross Ring-Jarvi, Mike Wallgren and Jared Smith struck for goals to give the Outlaws a 5-3 victory. Goaltender Eric Babcook made 33 saves in the win.

The weekend not only translated into four points in the standings for the Outlaws, but more importantly a much-needed boost of confidence.

"This is a momentum-changer," said Harcharik, an 18-year-old from Johnston, Iowa. "Things are looking up and turning around for this team."

"It feels good to be on a streak and the guys deserve it," Boitz said. "We went through some rough times, but the guys battled hard and got the victory.

"We're not satisfied yet, but we're on our way," the coach added. "We'll just keep getting better and better."

Along with his club's resiliency, Boitz was happy with the play of his two netminders - Moss and Babcook - both of whom kept Bobcat shooters at bay at critical times.

"They made some key saves facing a lot of pressure," said the coach. "It's important to have solid goaltenders and I think we have what it takes to win in this league."

North Iowa is hoping it can keep its modest two-game winning streak alive as it takes to the road this coming weekend for a pair of games at Springfield.

Last Week's Scores/Highlights

Friday, October 6
Fairbanks 4 @ Alaska 3 (FBX: Love, GWG, A)
Mahoning Valley 7 @ Springfield 2 (MV: Fillinger, 2G, A)
Santa Fe 2 @ Texas 4 (TEX: Fuller, G, GWG)
Bismarck 4 @ North Iowa 6 (NI: Harcharik, 4G, A)
USNTDP 2 @ Alpena 4 (ALP: Rudasill-Craner, 2G, 2A)
Traverse City 1 @ Marquette 3 (MAR: Zuk, GWG)
Alexandria 3 @ Fargo-Moorhead 0 (ALX: Carlson, 41 saves)

Saturday, October 7
Alaska 1 @ Fairbanks 4 (FBX: Haddad, G, GWG)
So. Minnesota 2 @ St. Louis 6 (STL: Maroon, 2G)
Santa Fe 2 @ Texas 1 (SF: Kleidon, GWG)
Alexandria 0 @ Fargo-Moorhead 3 (FM: Okland, 29 saves)
Bismarck 3 @ North Iowa 5 (NI: Mobley, 2G)
USNTDP 1 @ Alpena 6 (ALP: Pierson, 2G, GWG)
Traverse City 5 @ Marquette 2 (TC: Mullen, G, GWG)
Mahoning Valley 0 @ Springfield 4 (SPR: Roy, 26 saves)

Sunday, October 8
So. Minnesota 1 @ St. Louis 2 (STL: Zuke, GWG)

Craner, Harcharik, Haddad named Sherwood Players of the Week

NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alpena forward Nolan Craner rang up two goals and five assists in two games as the IceDiggers skated to a pair of wins over the NTDP Under-17 Team. The 20-year-old from Plainwell, Mich., scored two goals, including the game-winner, and two assists in Alpena's 4-2 triumph on Friday and added three assists in a 6-1 win the next night.

Craner leads the NAHL in scoring with nine goals for 22 points after 10 games for the North Division leaders.

CENTRAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
North Iowa forward Joe Harcharik struck for four goals and two assists over the weekend as the Outlaws celebrated their first two victories of the season. On Friday, the Johnston, Iowa, native scored four goals, including two in the third period, and an assist as North Iowa defeated Bismarck, 5-3. The next night, the 18-year-old added another assist in the Outlaws' 5-3 win over the Bobcats.

Harcharik has five goals for seven points in six games on the season.

SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Fairbanks forward Nick Haddad tallied three goals and an assist in two wins over in-state rival Alaska. On Friday, the 19-year-old potted a goal and an assist in the Ice Dogs' 4-3 victory. The following evening, the Fairbanks native scored two goals, including the game-winner, as the Ice Dogs downed the Avalanche, 4-1.

After 11 games this season, Haddad has totaled five goals for 14 points.

OTHER NOMINEES: Alexandria forward Eric Borre and goaltender Dustin Carlson; Alpena forward Todd Rudasill; Bismarck forward Ross Janecyk; Fairbanks goaltender Shane Madolora; North Iowa defenseman Jerad Smith; Santa Fe forward Cody Omilusik and defenseman Thomas Kleidon; Texas forward Ryan Fuller and goaltender Thomas Tragust

Around the NAHL

FORMER ROADRUNNER TO NMU: Former RoadRunner Jared Brown has committed to Northern Michigan (CCHA) for the 2007-08 season. The 20-year-old forward from Gardner, Kan., led Santa Fe in scoring during the 2004-05 campaign with 22 goals for 57 points in 54 games.

CARLSON DAZZLES: Alexandria goaltender Dustin Carlson, 20, was sensational between the pipes last weekend as the Blizzard went 1-1 against Fargo-Moorhead. The Forest Lake, Minn., native stopped all 41 shots in Alex's 3-0 whitewash of the Jets on Friday and turned aside another 41 in the Blizzard's 3-0 loss the next night.

ITALIAN STALLION: Tornado goaltender Thomas Tragust, 20, turned aside 39 of 42 shots as Texas split a pair of games against South Division-leading Santa Fe last weekend. "Thomas has become very consistent and allows us a chance to win every game," Tornado coach Tony Curtale said of his Italian netminder. "He's making key saves at key times."

NO DOUBTING THOMAS: Santa Fe defenseman Thomas Kleidon, 17, scored the game-winning goal in the RoadRunners' 2-1 triumph over Texas on Saturday. "Some opponents try to test him because of his youth, but he continues to show he's ready for Junior A hockey," said RoadRunners coach Scott Langer of the White Bear Lake, Minn., native.

FAT 'CAT: Despite two losses at the hands of North Iowa, Bismarck forward Ross Janecyk, 20, added to his team-leading point totals with two goals and an assist last weekend. Janecyk, from Grand Rapids, Mich., has 13 points (five goals) after 11 games this season.

STANDING PAT: St. Louis' leading-scorer Pat Maroon, 18, struck for three goals last weekend as the Bandits swept a two-game set over Southern Minnesota. The Ferris State recruit has four goals for 13 points after nine games.

BLUE HEAVEN: Forward Mike Crowder, 18, notched two goals, including the game-winner, in Springfield's 4-0 shutout of Mahoning Valley on Saturday.

HUMPHREY BACK: Blake Humphrey was solid in his Roadrunners debut on Saturday night - a 2-1 Santa Fe win over Texas - notching an assist on the game-winning goal. The former Helena Bighorn rejoins former teammates Tibor Kutalek and Josh Kamrass. "It's only been one game, and he's only had one practice, but you can see that he's strong on the puck, uses the boards well and will definitely help make this team better," said RoadRunners coach Scott Langer.

OUTLAWS MAKE MOVES: North Iowa traded defenseman Kyle Follmer to Lincoln of the USHL for defenseman Eric Galt and future considerations. Follmer scored a goal and an assist in two games with the Outlaws. North Iowa also acquired Adam Krefski from Santa Fe. Krefski played with the NAHL's defunct Bozeman Icedogs last season before playing three games with Santa Fe.

Standings/Leaders

STANDINGS
North Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Alpena 10 7-3-0 14 .700 36 27
Traverse City 10 5-4-1 11 .550 36 34
USNTDP 10 5-5-0 10 .500 47 38
Marquette 8 4-4-0 8 .500 24 23
Mahoning Valley 9 4-5-0 8 .444 35 38

South Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Santa Fe 10 7-2-1 15 .750 38 20
St. Louis 9 7-1-1 15 .833 32 18
Fairbanks 11 6-5-0 12 .545 46 33
Texas 10 5-4-1 11 .550 29 31
Alaska 11 3-7-1 7 .318 29 40
Wichita Falls 8 2-5-1 5 .313 18 28

Central Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Bismarck 11 6-4-1 13 .591 35 44
Springfield 8 6-2-0 12 .750 32 19
Fargo-Moorhead 9 5-4-0 10 .556 26 24
Alexandria 9 4-5-0 8 .444 22 29
So. Minnesota 7 3-4-0 6 .429 23 19
North Iowa 8 2-6-0 4 .250 21 41

LEADING SCORERS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G A PTS
Craner, Nolan ALP F 10 9 13 22
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 10 7 14 21
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 11 9 7 16
Echternach, Jesse FMH F 9 8 6 14
Haddad, Nick FBX F 11 5 9 14
Shean, Joe FBX F 11 5 9 14
(four players tied with 13)

LEADING GOALTENDERS
PLAYER TEAM GPI MINS W-L-OTL GAA SPCT
Hopper, Nick SFE 9 544:02 7-2-0 1.65 .916
Ritter, Stephen MAR 6 359:16 4-2-0 1.67 .949
Tragust, Thomas TXS 6 365:00 3-2-1 1.81 .929
Nagle, Pat STL 5 304:31 3-1-1 1.97 .932
Reiter, Kenny STL 4 209:59 3-0-1 2.00 .940

GOALS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G
Craner, Nolan ALP F 10 9
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 11 9
Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 10 9

ASSISTS
PLAYER TEAM P GP A
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 10 14
Craner, Nolan ALP F 10 13
(three players tied with 9)

PENALTY MINUTES
PLAYER TEAM P GP PIM
Flink, Adam TXS F 10 54
Belanger, Neeco MAR F 8 42
Zuk, Brodie MAR F 8 41

The Week Ahead (All Times Local)

Thursday, October 12
Fairbanks @ Santa Fe, 7:05 pm

Friday, October 13
Bismarck @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:35 pm
Southern Minnesota @ Alexandria, 7:30 pm
North Iowa @ Springfield, 7:30 pm
Fairbanks @ Santa Fe, 7:05 pm
Texas @ Wichita Falls, 7:05 pm
USNTDP @ Marquette, 7:00 pm
Mahoning Valley @ Traverse City, 7:00 pm

Saturday, October 14
Bismarck @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:05 pm
Fairbanks @ Santa Fe, 7:05 pm
Alexandria @ Southern Minnesota, 7:05 pm
Texas @ Wichita Falls, 7:05 pm
North Iowa @ Springfield, 7:00 pm
Mahoning Valley @ Traverse City, 7:00 pm
USNTDP @ Marquette, 4:00 pm

Sunday, October 15
Marquette @ Alpena, 3:00 pm
Springfield @ St. Louis, 6:00 pm

North American Hockey League Stories from October 10, 2006

• Craner named North Division player of the week - Alpena IceDiggers
• U.S. Nat'l Under-18 Team Battles Top-Ranked Boston College and No. 13 New Hampshire - U.S. National Team
• North Iowa gets on track - NAHL

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