Weekend Recap: Chill Get Big Wins in Austin, Janesville
January 4, 2016 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Coulee Region Chill News Release
This last weekends games got an early start on New Years Eve as the Chill traveled to Austin, MN to take on the Austin Bruins. In a series that has seen both teams successful at each others home ice it was going to be anybody's game as Chill looked to finish 2015 with a win!
There was little action in the first with the exception of a goal from Justin Kendall (Larry Jungwirth assisted) to put Coulee Region up 1-0 early. Austin made necessary adjustments during the first intermission and came out firing, scoring goals at 6:32 and 7:40 (power play) into the second frame. Dominik Florian scored one halfway through the period to take the Bruins into the second intermission knotted up at two.
The third was all about the Chill. Nico Luka (Davis Zembergs, Scott Corbitt), Florian, and Caleb Schroer (unassisted) all scored at 5:30, 6:52, and 16:41, respectively, in the third to give Coulee Region a 5-2 victory over their out-of-division rivals from the West.
Matiss Kivlenieks, fresh off of leading his home country of Latvia to the championship title of the IIHF World Junior Div. 1 Group A Championship and being awarded as the Best Goaltender of the Tournament, got the win after saving 28 of 30 shots through the contest.
Coulee Region 5, Janesville Jets 0
After a day off on New Years Day the Chill traveled to take on their Wisconsin divisional foe, the Janesville Jets.
Coulee Region used their explosive third period from two nights before to take an early 2-0 lead on the Jets in the first off of goals from Aussie Miller (Alex Falconer, Shane Kuzmeski) and Florian (Theisen). The Chill didn't stop there as they put two more pucks in the back of the net in the second thanks to Nico Luka (Kevin Dineen, Justin Kendall) and a power play goal from Dineen (Luka). There was no scoring in the third until Matt Doran scored - unassisted - on a power play with an empty net to move the score to 5-0.
That's all the scoring that there'd be Saturday night as Kivlenieks stonewalled the Jets offense, saving 24/24 shots. After this weekend he improved his GAA to 2.72 and save percentage to .916%.
The Chill are back in action as they open up their 2016 home games this Friday and Saturday night against the Springfield Jr. Blues! Both pucks drop at 7pm. Go Chill!
Note: Saturdays game will be a La Crosse Freeze/Coulee Region Chill doubleheader with the Freeze game starting at 3pm. Be on the lookout for ticket deals this week!
North American Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2016
- Brahmas December Alumni Update - Lone Star Brahmas
- Hanson Named NAHL's Second Star of the Week - Philadelphia Rebels
- Kivlenieks Awarded 2nd Star of the Week; Luca Awarded Honorable Mention - Coulee Region Chill
- Shepard Gains Division Hardware Following Perfect Week - Bismarck Bobcats
- Romano Named East Division Star of the Week - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Tommy Nappier Named Star of the Week - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Graham Hunt Named South Division Star of the Week - Corpus Christi IceRays
- NAHL Announces Divisional Stars of the Week - NAHL
- Weekend Recap: Chill Get Big Wins in Austin, Janesville - Coulee Region Chill
- Weekend Recap: Odessa - Lone Star Brahmas
- Matiss Kivlenieks Leads Latvia to IIHF World Juniors Div. 1 Group a Championship - Coulee Region Chill
- IceRays Weekly - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Hanson Back Stops Rebels to 5-2 Victory over Ice Dogs - Philadelphia Rebels
- Jr. Blues Sweep Magicians - Springfield Jr. Blues
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