Outlaws weekly
November 3, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
North Iowa Outlaws News Release
Mason City (IA) Leading for only the final 21:01 last weekend was still enough for the North Iowa Outlaws to come out with a two-game series split at the Bismarck Bobcats and maintain sole possession of second place in the North American Hockey League's Central Division. While the Outlaws did drop four points behind division-leading Alexandria, they did improve to 8-2-1 since the end of the NAHL Showcase in September.
Goaltender Thomas Callaghan (New Westminister, PA) was in net for both games facing an unbelievable 107 shots in the series as Bismarck fired 50 shots on Thursday and 51 on Saturday, both of which are season-highs for them. Nevertheless, Callaghan finished the weekend with a 93% save percentage, including 15 saves in the third period of North Iowa's 4-3 win on Saturday.
The Saturday game featured a pair of Outlaws' comebacks and a game winner from a true rookie. North Iowa rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 Bismarck leads before Jacob DeSano (Washington Township, MI) struck with 1:01 left in the second to give the Outlaws a 4-3 lead. It was their only lead of the entire weekend after trailing wire-to-wire in a 5-1 set-back at Bismarck on Thursday.
"It's a growing rivalry between us and (Bismarck) and the two games demonstrated that with the up-tempo play, hitting and just the overall feeling" noted Outlaws' head coach Jeff Crouse. "We had beaten them 20 straight times before they ended that streak so there is definitely revenge on their minds."
The special teams, especially the power play, remained a sore spot for the Outlaws as the team went just 1-12 (8.3%) with the only goal coming off a fluky deflection off a Bismarck defenseman on Saturday night. However, the penalty kill was better in the series. After Bismarck connected on each of their first two advantages on Thursday, the Outlaws killed off the next 13 opportunities the Bobcats' had including one late in the third on Saturday that helped North Iowa hold on for the win.
North Iowa has now won 12 of their last 13 in Bismarck, and despite a pair of recent wins by the Bobcats, have still taken 21 of 23 since February 2005. The Outlaws are 4-2 against Bismarck this season.
All five of North Iowa's goals this weekend came from a different player, continuing a season-long trend in which everything has been spread out. Along with DeSano, Travis Peckskamp (Sauk Rapids, MN), Brandon Brodhag (Brooklyn Park, MN), Jon Crouse (Alexandria, MN) and Matt Leer (Edina, MN) also tallied for the Outlaws.
Through 15 games, the Outlaws have had a player record multiple goals in only four of them. In fact, multiple points have been just as rare making Brodhag's goal and assist performance on Saturday extra special.
Brodhag (13 pts.) and Peckskamp (14 pts), who are the Outlaws' leading scorers, have tallied 27 of the team's 124 overall points which is still only 22% of the scoring meaning nearly 80% is still coming from the rest of the team.
"We have plenty of offensive firepower, which surprises teams because they look at the stats and don't necessarily see a guy with high numbers but there is a reason for that and its depth" added Crouse. "A couple players may end of separating themselves but right now we don't have any complaints."
The Outlaws finished their stretch of three consecutive road games by going 2-1-0, with a win the previous weekend at Owatonna.
Most Goals Allowed The five goals North Iowa allowed on Thursday at Bismarck was the most they gave up since the eight they let through against Team USA at the NAHL Showcase on September 21st.
October Success Over the last two seasons, the Outlaws are 11-3-1 in the month of October. Travis Peckskamp (Sauk Rapids, MN) lead the Outlaws with 9 pts (4g, 5a) this October.
Best Attendance Start Over their first five home games, the Outlaws are averaging 932 fans per game, which is the franchise's best start in attendance through October in its four year history. North Iowa is on pace to draw more than 25,000 fans.
Outlaws Last Week
Thurs. Oct. 30 @ Bismarck 1-5 Loss
Sat. Nov. 1 @ Bismarck 4-3 Win
Outlaws This Week
Sat. Nov. 8 vs. Owatonna 8:00pm
The North Iowa Outlaws Hockey Club is in its fourth season as members of the North American Hockey League. The NAHL is the nation's largest Junior A hockey league and is now in its 33nd year of operation. For more information, visit northiowaoutlaws.com or call (641) 424-5468.
Outlaws home games are played at the North Iowa Ice Arena in Mason City, IA. All games will be broadcasted on northiowaoutlaws.com and video broadcast through B/2 Network.
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