Saturday night, the Aberdeen Wings brought the storm back home to Minot winning 4-1 in North American Hockey League action.
The Wings and Minotauros played in Aberdeen on Friday night with the Wings winning 3-2 after two 3rd period goals. Returning to the net Saturday night was Aberdeen Wings goaltender #1 Chad Catt (G-Williamstown, MI) after suffering an injury back on December 13th prior to a home game with the Wenatchee Wild. Through rehabilitation and some much needed rest, the team physician and Wings medical staff cleared Catt for practice this week and his return would be a solid performance.
In the first period, Minot fans as well as Wings fans watching on FASTHockey.com would get a chuckle as Wings forward #22 Zach Doerring (F-Chanhassen, MN) would unintentionally lay a big hit on one of the referees. After play had been whistled dead, Doerring was making his way back to the Wings bench as the referee was heading to the face-off circle. Both were not looking at their direction of travel and laid each other out on the ice. Moving forward, Minot would control the shots on goal 13 to 6 in the first period with Wings goalie Catt making all 13 saves. The first period would end with no score.
At the start of the 2nd period, the Aberdeen Wings would get on the board first with a goal at the 2:46 mark from #15 Jordan Heller (F-Bemidji, MN) with the assist accredited to #4 Jake Horton (D-Plymouth, MN). Later in the second period, Wings forward #21 Bjorn Sigurdarson (F-Reykjavik, Iceland) would find the backdoor goal thanks to an up-ice pass from #23 Derek Famula (D-Colorado Springs, CO) to #27 Erik Baskin (F-Minnetonka, MN), both would get an assist. The second period would end 2-0, silencing the Minot crowd.
In the final period, Minot would keep things closer and bring the crowd to their feet with a goal from Jake McCann at the 8:24 mark, making it 2-1. The Wings would get back the two goal lead with 6:22 remaining as #18 Austin Swingle (F-Sartell, MN) would find the back of the net, assists from #22 Zach Doerring and #8 Drew Doyon (F-Indianapolis, IN). With 2:17 left on the clock in regulation, Wings forward #16 Kyle Haak (F-Okemos, MI) would get hammered with a holding penalty after he and a Minot player would get tangled up along the boards. Even with the 5-on-4 advantage, Minot coach Marty Murray would elect to pull his goaltender for an extra skater making it 6-on-4 with an empty net. There would be no advantage however as the Wings would battle the Minotauros for puck possession at their own blue line and Wings defenseman #4 Jake Horton would send the puck nearly three-quarters length of the ice into the empty net for the goal making it 4-1. The goal would increase Horton’s league-leading goal total among defensemen to 12. An assist would also be given to #19 Colin O’Neill (F-Odenton, MD) and Wings goaltender #1 Chad Catt.
The Aberdeen Wings would count down the seconds as they sweep the Minot Minotauros for the second time this season with the 4-1 win on Saturday night.
BUTLER-CAT HIT OF THE GAME
Aberdeen – #22 Zach Doerring (F-Chanhassen, MN)…come on, you gotta
SOUTH DAKOTA WHEATGROWERS STARS OF THE GAME
3rd Star
Aberdeen – #18 Austin Swingle (F-Sartell, MN)
2nd Star
Aberdeen – #21 Bjorn Sigurdarson (F-Reykjavik, Iceland)
1st Star
Aberdeen – #1 Chad Catt (G-Williamstown, MI)
The Aberdeen Wings take on the Bismarck Bobcats on the road Tuesday, December 31st for the New Year’s Eve Extravaganza. You can hear the game on the Wings Radio Network (107.7-KABD), click on the “Listen Live” tab, or watch/listen on FASTHockey.com.
Then the Aberdeen Wings will be home both Friday and Saturday at the Odde Ice Center against the Austin Bruins. General admission tickets just $10, reserved seating $12. Check out ticket information online by clicking the “Tickets” tab.