Outlaws rebound with victories

November 28, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release

After being outscored by Southern Minnesota in three losses, 8-1, the North Iowa Outlaws rebounded in a big way last weekend with three wins over Central Division opponents.

"We hit a bump in the road where we had a hard time scoring against the Express, but other than that we've played real well here the last few weeks," said Outlaws coach Dave Boitz, whose club improved to 11-14. "We got off to a horrible start (0-6) and now we're right in the thick of things in our division."

North Iowa opened its week the night before Thanksgiving with a 7-1 win over Alexandria. Joe Harcharik scored two goals and two assists in the win, while linemates Max Mobley (three assists) and Steve McLeod (goal, three assists) also made significant contributions offensively. Between the pipes, Jay Clark made 23 saves.

The Outlaws then headed to Bismarck for a pair of games, winning their first of two on Friday, 3-1. McLeod notched two goals in the victory, with Ross Ring-Jarvi netting the game-winner. Goaltender Robby Moss turned aside 30 shots.

The next night, Mike Wallgren's power-play goal in overtime lifted North Iowa to a 4-3 triumph. Daryl Dee, Ring-Jarvi and Mobley scored the other Outlaw goals, and Moss again stood tall in net, stopping 32 shots.

"We've gotten good goaltending, so that's really helped, and I think some of the returning guys got it going again, figured it out and got a little confidence," said Boitz. "We just seem to be playing a lot better defensively and doing what it takes to win games."

The newly-formed line of Mobley, Harcharik and McLeod paid immediate dividends last week.

"Max has been really good all year and Joe and Steve have been a little up and down, but they've been real consistent now for a few weeks," said Boitz. "We put them together and they were dynamite all weekend. They really compliment each other well."

In addition to its top line, others have contributed to North Iowa's well-rounded scoring attack. Include in that mix Ring-Jarvi, who for the past two seasons has assumed an unsung role but is now finding the back of the net in key situations, and Bryant Scarda, who was acquired recently in a trade with Green Bay of the USHL.

"All of our lines have been really balanced," said Boitz. "The pressure is coming equally from all four, and that's been a key for our team."

On the blue line, Dee, a 20-year-old, has anchored a young but promising defensive core.

"Those guys have really matured," said Boitz. "Daryl has been really solid for us back there, so that's made a difference as well."

STANDINGS/LEADERS

North Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Mahoning Valley 26 18-7-1 37 .712 109 79
Alpena 25 18-6-1 37 .740 94 74
Marquette 25 9-14-2 20 .400 72 90
Traverse City 25 8-13-4 20 .400 74 93
USNTDP 22 9-12-1 19 .432 83 81

South Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
St. Louis 24 21-2-1 43 .896 98 47
Santa Fe 22 15-4-3 33 .750 79 47
Texas 23 13-7-3 29 .630 75 69
Fairbanks 26 11-14-1 23 .442 89 92
Alaska 27 10-14-3 23 .426 67 91
Wichita Falls 22 10-10-2 22 .500 69 69

Central Division
TEAM GP W-L-OTL PTS PCT GF GA
Fargo-Moorhead 24 17-6-1 35 .729 85 62
Bismarck 27 10-12-5 25 .463 81 103
Southern Minnesota 24 11-12-1 23 .479 71 68
Springfield 24 11-12-1 23 .479 75 81
North Iowa 25 11-14-0 22 .440 71 92
Alexandria 23 7-16-0 14 .304 54 85

LEADING SCORERS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G A PTS
Rudasill, Todd ALP F 25 14 25 39
Craner, Nolan ALP F 25 16 22 38
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 26 21 13 34
Maroon, Pat STL F 21 13 21 34
Echternach, Jesse FMH F 24 14 19 33
Kretzer, Ryan SPR F 24 7 23 30
Shean, Joe FBX F 26 11 17 28
Pierson, Drew ALP F 25 11 17 28
Haddad, Nick FBX F 26 11 16 27
Longpre, Nathan MVY F 26 9 18 27

LEADING GOALTENDERS
PLAYER TEAM GPI MINS W-L-OTL GAA SPCT
Nagle, Pat STL 13 784:31 11-1-1 1.68 .939
Hopper, Nick SFE 20 1161:25 14-4-2 1.91 .912
Lee, Austin FMH 15 902:20 12-2-1 1.93 .941
Reiter, Kenny STL 11 633:44 9-1-1 2.27 .919
Bashor, Blake SME 8 470:09 4-4-0 2.55 .913

GOALS
PLAYER TEAM P GP G
Schmidt, Kyle FBX F 26 21
Craner, Nolan ALP F 25 16
Kutalek, Tibor SFE F 21 16

ASSISTS
PLAYER TEAM P GP A
Rudasill, Todd AID F 14 25
Kretzer, Ryan SPI F 7 23
Craner, Nolan AID F 16 22

PENALTY MINUTES
PLAYER TEAM P GP PIM
Yovanic, Paul TXS F 21 124
Flink, Adam TXS F 20 117
Belanger, Neeco MAR F 25 108

Boeckman, Jameson, McLeod named Sherwood Players of the Week

NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mahoning Valley forward Chad Boeckman recorded three goals and two assists last week as the Phantoms extended their winning streak to 12 games with three victories over Marquette. On Friday, the 19-year-old assisted on Adam Snead's game-winning goal in a 4-2 win. The next night, Boeckman scored a goal and assisted on Chad Fairbanks' game-winning marker in Mahoning Valley's 5-1 triumph. On Sunday, the St. Louis native scored two more goals in another 5-1 Phantoms victory.

SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Wichita Falls forward Skylur Jameson struck for four goals as the Wildcats extended their winning streak to five games with two wins over Springfield. On Friday, the 19-year-old recorded a hat trick, including the game-winning goal, in a 6-1 win over the Jr. Blues. The next night, the Long Beach, Calif., native scored the overtime game-winner in Wichita Falls' 2-1 triumph.

CENTRAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
North Iowa forward Steve McLeod scored three goals and four assists as the Outlaws skated to three wins over Central Division opponents last week. On Wednesday, the 20-year-old tallied a goal and three assists, including one on Casey Dion's game-winning goal, in a 7-1 win over Alexandria. The Atikokan, Ontario, native notched two goals in North Iowa's 3-1 win over Bismarck on Friday and added an assist in the Outlaws' 4-3 overtime victory over the Bobcats on Saturday.

OTHER NOMINEES: Alpena forward Erik Peterson; Bismarck defenseman Ryan Kayfes; Southern Minnesota forward Mike Montgomery and defensemen Jeff Carlson and Peter Kavaya; Texas forward John Bullis and defenseman Brian Reagan; Wichita Falls goaltender Cal Heeter

LAST WEEK'S SCORES/HIGHLIGHTS

Wednesday, November 22
Springfield 3 @ Texas 4 (OT) (TEX: De Costa, GWG)
Alexandria 1 @ North Iowa 7 (NI: Harcharik, 2G, 2A)
Alpena 1 @ Traverse City 3 (TC: Englebright, GWG)

Friday, November 24
Fairbanks 5 @ Alaska 4 (OT) (FBX: Shean, GWG, 2A)
So. Minnesota 7 @ Alexandria 4 (SM: Inderieden, GWG, G)
Santa Fe 3 @ Texas 5 (TEX: Brooks-Fuller-Bullis, G, A)
North Iowa 3 @ Bismarck 1 (NI: McLeod, 2G)
Springfield 1 @ Wichita Falls 6 (WF: Jameson, GWG, 2G)
Mahoning Valley 4 @ Marquette 2 (MV: Hirschfeld, 2G)
Alpena 3 @ USNTDP 1 (ALP: Yesue, G, A)

Saturday, November 25
Fairbanks 2 @ Alaska 3 (ALA: Nordenson, G, A)
Santa Fe 3 @ Texas 1 (SF: Kinne, GWG, A)
North Iowa 4 @ Bismarck 3 (OT) (NI: Wallgren, GWG)
Alexandria 2 @ Fargo-Moorhead 5 (FM: Hawkins, G, GWG)
St. Louis 5 @ Southern Minnesota 4 (STL: Warda, 2G, A)
Springfield 1 @ Wichita Falls 2 (OT) (WF:Jameson, GWG)
Mahoning Valley 5 @ Marquette 1 (MV: Hirschfeld, 2G)
Alpena 4 @ USNTDP 1 (ALP: Peterson, G, 2A)

Sunday, November 26
St. Louis 4 @ Southern Minnesota 1 (STL: Leone, GWG)
Fairbanks 5 @ Alaska 1 (FBX: Schmidt, GWG, G, A)
Traverse City 4 @ USNTDP 5 (OT) (USA: Schroeder, GWG, A)
Mahoning Valley 5 @ Marquette 1 (MV: Cloutier, 2G, 2A)

AROUND THE NAHL

PHAN-TASTIC NOVEMBER: With three more wins last weekend over Marquette, Mahoning Valley extended its winning streak to 12 games. The last time the Phantoms were defeated was back on Oct. 21 when they suffered a 10-1 loss to the U.S. Under-18 team.

BULLIS IS BACK: After missing six games with a sprained ankle, Texas forward John Bullis, 19, returned to the lineup with two goals and two assists as the Tornado went 2-1 last week. "John has responded well since returning," said Tornado coach Tony Curtale. "He plays with an edge every night."

WINNING WILDCATS: With Cal Heeter, 18, between the pipes, Wichita Falls has rolled off five straight wins. Last week, Heeter allowed only two goals-against in two victories over Springfield. He's allowed seven total during the Wildcats' winning streak.

ON THE REBOUND: Santa Fe has yet to lose two straight games this season. In games following losses, the RoadRunners are 7-0, including three shutouts, while outscoring their opponents 30-9.

FORWARD THINKING: Southern Minnesota defensemen Jeff Carlson, 20, and Peter Kavaya, 19, each chipped in a goal and two assists last week as the Express fashioned a 1-2 record. Carlson's 20 points in 24 games ranks him second in the NAHL in scoring among defensemen.

SPECIAL KAYFES: Despite two losses to North Iowa last weekend, Bismarck defenseman Ryan Kayfes, 19, recorded a goal and two assists. The Maple Grove, Minn., native now has three goals and 11 points after 23 games this season.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Friday, December 1
Bismarck @ Alexandria, 7:30 pm
Texas @ Fairbanks, 7:30 pm
Southern Minnesota @ St. Louis, 7:30 pm
Wichita Falls @ Santa Fe, 7:05 pm
USNTDP @ Mahoning Valley, 7:00 pm
Marquette @ Traverse City, 7:00 pm
Springfield @ North Iowa, 8:30 pm

Saturday, December 2
Texas @ Fairbanks, 7:30 pm
Southern @ Minnesota St. Louis, 7:30 pm
Alexandria @ Bismarck, 7:05 pm
Wichita Falls @ Santa Fe, 7:05 pm
USNTDP @ Mahoning Valley, 7:00 pm
Marquette @ Traverse City, 7:00 pm
North Iowa @ Springfield, 7:05 pm

Sunday, December 3
Alaska @ Fairbanks, 5:00 pm
Alpena @ Marquette, 3:00 pm

North American Hockey League Stories from November 28, 2006

• Boeckman named Player of the Week - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
• U.S. Nat'l Under-18 Team Travels to No. 10 North Dakota and NAHL's Fargo-Moorhead - U.S. National Team
• FM Jets Plan Numerous Promotions for Team USA Game Saturday - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
• Outlaws rebound with victories - NAHL
• Rangers Have Big Week - Marquette Rangers

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