Port Huron Beats Topeka 2-1 in Shootout
Published on September 15, 2011 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release
BLAINE, MN -* In two days at the 2011 NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota, the Port Huron Fighting Falcons have passed their win total from the entire 2010 portion of their inaugural season, as they earned a 2-1 shootout victory over the 2010-11 South Division champion Topeka RoadRunners.
Goalie Max Milosek made 41 saves to lead the Fighting Falcons to an impressive win over the RoadRunners, who won the President's Cup last year as the NAHL team with the best regular season record.
Easton Powers and Rick DeRosa scored in the shootout, while Milosek stopped all four RoadRunner attempts to clinch the victory.
Topeka struck first as Linus Johansson scored at 8:12 of the first period. Johansson's goal would be the last scored by Topeka, despite firing over 30 more shots at Milosek throughout the rest of the game.
Port Huron was outshot 20-5 in the second period, but Ian Miller's power play tally at 11:30 was the only goal scored by either team in the frame.
Milosek turned away nine more Topeka shots in the third period to send the game to overtime. The RoadRunners outshot the Fighting Falcons 39-13 at the end of regulation.
Both teams had a power play chance in overtime, but neither was able to capitalize, and Port Huron headed to the shootout for the second time in as many days.
Easton Powers got the nod as the first shooter, and beat Topeka's Josh Hillegas with a wrist shot to give Port Huron an early edge. Powers was unsuccessful in his shootout attempt Wednesday against Alexandria.
Rick DeRosa made a great play to beat Hillegas on Port Huron's fourth attempt, giving Milosek a chance to clinch the win with a save on Topeka's next attempt.
Ben Bahe, like the three RoadRunners before him, was unable to solve Milosek, and the Fighting Falcons got their second victory of the NAHL Showcase.
Port Huron's second victory of their inaugural season did not come until January 7, 2011. The Fighting Falcons have now defeated 2010-11 division winners in consecutive days, both in the shootout, and both by a score of 2-1.
For video from each shootout, visit the Port Huron Fighting Falcons Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/PHFightingFalcons.
In other North Division action, the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings fell to the Janesville Jets 2-1, the Michigan Warriors shutout the Corpus Christi Ice Rays 1-0, the Traverse City North Stars earned a 3-2 shootout win over the Odessa Jackalopes and the Jamestown Ironmen lost to the Amarillo Bulls 5-1.
Port Huron will take on the New Mexico Mustangs tomorrow at 10:00 CST. The Mustangs defeated the Chicago Hitmen 3-1 today, after falling to the Bismarck Bobcats 7-3 Wednesday. New Mexico is the only team on Port Huron's NAHL Showcase schedule that did not win their division last season.
All 2011 NAHL Showcase games will be streamed live at www.nahl.fasthockey.com.
2011-12 Season tickets are still available for just $150 at the Fighting Falcons office inside McMorran Arena. The team recently introduced the "Stars of Tomorrow" package, which includes a ticket to each of the team's seven biggest promotional nights of the season for $46. The first 200 fans to purchase a "Stars of Tomorrow" package will also receive a free round of golf at Black River Country Club.
For more information about season ticket packages, call the Fighting Falcons office at (810) 966-3800, or follow the Fighting Falcons on Facebook (Port Huron Fighting Falcons - NAHL) and Twitter (@PHhockeyNAHL!).
North American Hockey League Stories from September 15, 2011
- NAHL Showcase Results, Day 2 - NAHL
- Bulls Bounce Ironmen 5-1 - Amarillo Bulls
- Tafoya Scores First Goal in Wild Sweater - Wenatchee Wild
- Port Huron Beats Topeka 2-1 in Shootout - Port Huron Fighting Falcons
- Bobcats Rally, Top Avs 4-3 in OT - Bismarck Bobcats
- Schempp, Stars Edge Odessa, 3-2 - Traverse City North Stars
- Warriors Shutout Ice Rays to Move to 2-0 - Michigan Warriors
- Open for Business: Stars Topple Texas - Traverse City North Stars
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