Six unanswered goals would catapult the Aberdeen Wings over the Minot Minotauros in North American Hockey League action on Thursday night.
The Aberdeen Wings (23-17-3) snapped a 6-game losing streak on Thursday against the Minot Minotauros (19-23-3) who swept the Wings at home two weeks ago. This week, the Aberdeen Wings also acquired forward Davis DeKorte, an assistant captain with the Springfield Jr. Blues of the NAHL. He did not dress Thursday night.
In front of 1,388 faithful Wings fans on a Thursday night, the Aberdeen Wings came on to the ice with intensity. For half of the first period, the Wings and Minotauros would battle back and forth. At the 9:22 mark, Minot would get on the board as Jacob Howie would score on a breakaway against Wings goaltender #1 Chad Catt (G-Williamstown, MI). Minutes later, the Minotauros would get another goal this time off the stick of Grand Forks, ND native Jon Lizotte. The 2-0 lead would take a lot of steam out of the Wings’ engine. And with seconds remaining, Minot would find a loose puck increasing their lead to 3-0 as the final horn of the period blew. Minot outshot Aberdeen in the first period 13-9.
The second period would start with a goaltending change as Wings rookie #30 Henry Dill (G-Columbus, OH) would occupy the crease. Just inside the 2nd period, the Wings would get on the board as #21 Bjorn Sigurdarson (F-Reykjavik, Iceland) would chip in his 9th goal of the season with assists from #19 Colin O’Neill (F-Odenton, MD) and #3 Daniel Billett (F-Highlands Ranch, CO). With the score now 3-1, mid-way through the period the Wings would get another goal this time from the stick of #15 Jordan Heller (F-Bemidji, MN) for his 11th goal of the season. Assists would come from #4 Jake Horton (D-Plymouth, MN) and #11 TJ Roo (F-Coon Rapids, MN). Now just 3-2 the Wings would get their 3rd unanswered goal as #9 Patrick Steinhauser (F-Plymouth, MN) would gather a loose puck to #24 Jonathan Grebosky (F-Pittsburgh, PA) who would carry around the Minotauros net and find #4 Jake Horton for a precision goal, pin-pointing the shot over the right shoulder of Minot’s goaltender Brandon Wildung. The Wings would tie up the game 3-3 at the end of the 2nd period outshooting Minot 16-9.
In the third period, the Wings would simply take over the game with three more goals. At the 13:35 mark #9 Patrick Steinhauser would score with assists from #24 Jonathan Grebosky and #22 Zach Doerring (F-Chanhassen, MN). Then at the 14:30 mark, Wings defenseman #20 Dillon Eichstadt (D-Bemidji, MN) would crank home his 3rd goal and 26th point of the season with helpers from #11 TJ Roo and #21 Bjorn Sigurdarson. With just over a minute left, Minot would pull their goaltender for an extra attacker down 5-3 and Wings forward #15 Jordan Heller would tip the puck pass the Minot defense and play it back to #16 Kyle Haak (F-Okemos, MI) as he crashed into the net scoring the goal first. The Wings would come away with the victory 6-3. After replacing Catt, Wings goaltender #30 Henry Dill would stop all 21 shots faced.
BUTLER-CAT HIT OF THE GAME
Aberdeen – #8 Drew Doyon (F-Indianapolis, IN)
SOUTH DAKOTA WHEATGROWERS STARS OF THE GAME
3RD STAR
Aberdeen – #9 Patrick Steinhauser (F-Plymouth, MN)
2ND STAR
Aberdeen – #15 Jordan Heller (F-Bemidji, MN)
1ST STAR
Aberdeen – #4 Jake Horton (D-Plymouth, MN)
The Aberdeen Wings are on the road Friday in Brookings taking on the Blizzard. You can watch/listen on FASTHockey.com or the Wings Radio Network. Then on Saturday, the Wings return to the Odde Ice Center against the Brookings Blizzard. General admission tickets just $10, reserved seating $12. Get your tickets now or come early for the best seat in the barn. You’ll see undoubtedly the best show in the entire NAHL with the #1 attendance in the NAHL-Central Division for three years straight.