The Aberdeen Wings were in action Saturday night at the Larsen Ice Arena in Brookings taking on in-state NAHL opponents, the Blizzard. The Wings suffered a 3-1 loss the night before and would come out firing defeating Brookings 4-1.
Some Aberdeen Wings fans made the trip to Brookings, tailgating and bringing the Wings atmosphere on the road. In the first period, both teams battled for puck possession. Brookings outshot Aberdeen in the first period 9-5 with Wings goaltender #35 Andrew Shortridge (G-Eagle River, AK) stopping all. At the 17:50 mark, Wings forward #21 Bjorn Sigurdarson (F-Reykjavik, Iceland) would skate in on his own and score thanks to a beautiful pass from forward #19 Colin O’Neill (F-Odenton, MD). The Wings would go into the locker room up 1-0.
The second period would see more scoring, but also more penalties. The Wings however would get off to a quick start. At the 4:59 mark, Wings forward #19 Colin O’Neill would score thanks to assists from #18 Austin Swingle (F-St. Cloud, MN) and #21 Bjorn Sigurdarson. After an elbowing penalty was called on Brookings at the 5:57 mark, Wings forward #24 Ronnie Hein (F-Chelsea, MI) would score his 5th goal of the season off the rebound from a shot at the point from #15 Brendan Riordan (D-Downers Grove, IL) and deflection from #16 Kyle Haak (F-Okemos, MI). The Wings would also find themselves in the penalty box. With Wings defenseman #10 Tanner Okeson (D-Roseau, MN) serving a penalty in the box, Wings defenseman #29 Matt Sherman (D-White Lake, MI) would also go to the penalty box making it a 5-on-3 advantage for the Blizzard. Brookings defenseman Alex Copa would simply send a shot into traffic from the blue line. After bouncing around, the Blizzard would get a goal making it 3-1. Brookings outshot the Wings 18-7 in the 2nd period, though the one blind goal would be the only thing Wings goaltender #35 Andrew Shortridge would allow in the game.
The third period would change from back and forth puck possession and power plays to a physical, more intense period. Neither team would have great scoring opportunities. Making an extra push late in the game, Brookings pulled their goaltender for an extra skater. After a battle at mid-ice, Wings forward #24 Ronnie Hein would score on an empty netter for his 2nd goal of the game, 6th of the season. Wings would win 4-1. Goaltender #35 Andrew Shortridge stopped 34 of 35 shots on goal for his third win of the season. Aberdeen Wings improve to 4-2-0 on the season and match up with the Austin Bruins next weekend.
ABERDEEN WINGS Stars Of The Game
3rd Star – #21 Bjorn Sigurdarson (F-Reykjavik, Iceland)
2nd Star – #24 Ronnie Hein (F-Chelsea, MI)
1st Star – #35 Andrew Shortridge (G-Eagle River, AK)
BUTLER CAT HIT OF THE GAME
#18 Austin Swingle (F-St. Cloud, MN)