Outlaws Capture Central Division Regular Season Title
March 8, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
North Iowa Outlaws News Release
Looking to lock up the Central Division Regular Season crown, the North Iowa Outlaws entered the Nelson Center on a mission. Springfield however was also on a mission to stop them and they took the lead in the opening period 1-0, before the Outlaws got the guns working. After falling behind, the Outlaws were determined not to be denied. Two power play goals, one from Krystian Dziubinski and a snipe from Shea Walters that gave the Outlaws the lead. Then Robby Moss took over as the goaltender from St Louis, MO made a huge save on Matt Larke in the slot with eight seconds to go. Off the ensuing face off Tyler Jundt cleared the puck and arms in celebration as the Outlaws held on for the 2-1 victory and captured the Central Division Crown.
"It great after our third year in the league, last place one year, scratching into the playoffs last and to come out and win this season in what is the toughest division in the league," Dave Boitz said after the win. "We had to preserver and they did that, I couldn't be more proud."
For the second night in a row the Jr Blues came out throwing rubber towards the net, outshooting the Outlaws 15-8 in the opening frame while both goaltenders played exceptional in between the pipes. Kyle Greco put home the first goal of the game for the Jr Blues as he made a few nice moves through the Outlaws defense and breaking free at the hash marks to beat Moss for the 1-0 lead.
Playing disapline hockey, the Outlaws earned a power play and made the Jr Blues pay as Krystian Dziubinski fired home a rebound passed Phil Cook tying the game at one. Later in the period Ricky Doriott showed restraint as he got under the skin of Springfield's Mike Crowder who eventually jumped Doriott from behind, throwing the gloves off and trying to start a fight with Doriott who attempted to skate away, earning Crowder a ticket to the locker room and North Iowa a nine minute power play. With the man advantage, the Outlaws had chances but Phil Cook made save after save to keep the game tied at 1 after two periods.
In the final frame North Iowa skated with a determination and dominated the period. Cook and Moss again stole the show in between the pipes but Springfield couldn't stay out of the box which in the end came back to bite them as Shea Walters sniped home a shot on the power play to give the Outlaws the lead. Still with work to do, Robby Moss showed why he is the best goaltender in the league, stopping chance after chance including a wide open Matt Larke with :08 seconds in the game to give the Outlaws their first ever Central Division Regular Season Championship.
"The road to St Louis goes through North Iowa," Boitz added, as his team will be the #1 seed with home ice advantage through the play-offs."
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North American Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2008
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