Your Aberdeen Wings kicked off the 2017-2018 season this past week in Blaine, MN at the NAHL Showcase! All 23 NAHL teams travel to Blaine to take part in a 4 day Hockey Extravaganza. The Wings ended the week going 2-1-1.
Springfield 2 vs. Aberdeen 1 – Jr. Blues goalie Jurja Ovecka made 40 saves to lead the Jr. Blues to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Aberdeen Wings in the final game of Day 1 of the NAHL Showcase. The Wings put in a dominant 1st period, which saw them lead 1-0 thanks to a goal from Nathan Burke. However, the Jr. Blues would make a game of it after that as Jordan Muzzillo would knot the game at 1-1 with a goal late in the 2nd period. The eventual game-winner came off the stick of Nikita Kozyrev in the 3rd period as Jr. Blues head coach Tyler Rennette picked up his first win behind the bench. Daniel Pavlicko took the loss for the Wings in goal, making 23 saves. Boxscore
Philadelphia 2 vs. Aberdeen 1 (OT) – Ryan Keane made 38 saves to lead the Philadelphia Rebels to a 2-1 overtime win over the Aberdeen Wings, keeping the Rebels perfect at the NAHL Showcase with a 2-0 record. The Rebels jumped ahead 1-0 with a 1st period power play goal from Carson Moniz. The Wings answered to tie the game at 1-1 in the 2nd period thanks to the first goal of the season for Joe Strada. After a scoreless 3rd period, the game would be decided in overtime as a turnover in the neutral zone led to a 2 on 1 break for the Rebels and forward Jensen Zerban buried a shot for the game-winner. Wings goalie Daniel Pavlicko made 16 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Aberdeen 5 vs. Johnstown 1 – The Wings put in a dominant performance to pick up their first win of the season as they got 28 saves from Cade Phipps in a 5-1 win over the Tomahawks. Five different players scored for Aberdeen, who got a 1st period goal from Riley Murphy and three more goals in the 2ndperiod from Joe Strada, Nathan Burke and Colton Fletcher to seize a 4-0 lead. Johnstown broke the shutout early in the 3rd period with a goal from Logan Stork. Aberdeen’s Andrew Walker rounded out the scoring with a goal late in the 3rd period. Johnstown goalie Jack Faulkner made 36 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Aberdeen 1 vs. New Jersey 0 – Aberdeen goalie Daniel Pavlicko posted his first career NAHL shutout to lead the Wings to a close 1-0 win over the New Jersey Titans. The Wings finished the Showcase with a 2-1-1 record, while New Jersey suffered their first loss of the event and went 3-1. The lone goal of the game came midway through the 3rd period on Ricky Carballo’s first goal of the season with assists to Nathan Burke and Dusan Kmec. Matt Ladd took the loss, making 22 saves. Boxscore
With the 5 points on the weekend the Wings currently sit atop the Central Division Standings with Minot who also went 2-1-1. Followed by Bismarck 2-2-0, Brookings 2-2-0, Austin 0-1-0-1 & the Wilderness 0-4-0.
The Wings open the Odde Ice Center this Friday night when they take on the Brookings Blizzard! Tickets are On Sale NOW at all 4 C-Express locations! Doors will open at 5:30 and the puck will drop at 7:15! You can also listen to the game on 94.1 The Rock, HubCityRadio.com or the Hub City Radio App. Or watch the action @ HockeyTV.com!