The Aberdeen Wings were on the road Friday taking on the Brookings Blizzard. The game would prove to be a pure NAHL Central battle for the first two periods. Both teams are playing for the 4th and final playoff spot in the NAHL Central division.
In the first period, the Wings would strike first on a pretty back-and-forth with #13 Michael Soucier (F-Caledon, Ontario) scoring the goal with assist to #11 Victor Ostling (F-Stockholm, Sweden). Later in the period, the Blizzard would tie it up 1-1 with a goal from Nate Colwell.
Late in the second period, recently acquired forward #23 Jackson Graalum (F-Fargo, ND) would score his first career NAHL goal with assists from #17 Will Hammer (F-St. Cloud, MN) and #15 Brendan Riordan (D-Downers Grove, IL). The Wings and Blizzard would keep shots on goal fairly even through much of the game.
With a 2-1 lead, the Wings came out in the third period really strong. At the 2:21 mark, Wings forward #11 Victor Ostling would score thanks to assists from #16 Kyle Haak (F-Okemos, MI) and #13 Michael Soucier. On the power play, the Wings would tally another from #13 Michael Soucier with assists to #11 Victor Ostling and #2 Ryan Cook (D-Lancaster, NY). At the 10:00 mark, after the Blizzard got physical on Wings goaltender #35 Andrew Shortridge (G-Eagle River, AK), Wings defenseman #29 Matt Sherman (D-White Lake, MI) and #25 Tucker DeYoung (F-Lake Bluff, IL) would drop the gloves with a couple Brookings players dropping them to the ice.
The Wings would lead 4-1 with seven minutes left. Brookings, trying to gain some ground on the scoreboard, would pull their goaltender for an extra attacker while on the power play. Wings forward #16 Kyle Haak would score the empty netter short-handed. Battling to the final seconds, newly acquired Wings forward #28 Grant Dukus (F-Trenton, MI) would score his first goal of the season. Assists were given to #14 Collin Hughes (F-Lino Lakes, MN) and #21 Bjorn Sigurdarson (F-Reykjavik, Iceland). Dukus was acquired through trade with the Port Mallard Ducks of the NA3HL after the Wings traded forward Austin Swingle to the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the NAHL South division.
The 6-1 victory for the Wings comes at a time when both Aberdeen and Brookings battle for the final spot in the NAHL playoffs.
BUTLER-CAT HIT OF THE GAME
Aberdeen #29 Matt Sherman (D-White Lake, MI)
SD WHEATGROWERS STARS OF THE GAME
3RD STAR – Aberdeen #35 Andrew Shortridge (G-Eagle River, AK)
2ND STAR – Aberdeen #11 Victor Ostling (F-Stockholm, Sweden)
1ST STAR – Aberdeen #13 Michael Soucier (F-Caledon, Ontario)
The Wings take on the Bismarck Bobcats at home tomorrow night inside the Odde Ice Center. General admission is $10, reserved seating $12. Anyone born in the month of February will receive FREE admission into Saturday night’s game.