Cloquet, MN | 1-6-24 | Jacqueline Hixssen
The Anchorage Wolverines attempted another come back tonight against the Minnesota Wilderness but fell short 4-3.
The Wilderness took the lead early tonight, much like game one, with their first two goals coming in at 2:03 and 3:47 in the first. Their third goal followed shortly after at the 13 minute marker.
With just over two minutes left in the frame, Trent Powell took a long shot from the blue line. The puck hit the right post to cross bar before escaping the net.
Captain Bryce Monrean took advantage of the Wolverines third power play of the night, putting Anchorage on the board at 4:13 in the second.
Anchorage’s defence held strong throughout the second, only allowing 6 SOG, all of which Liam Beerman saved.
Peteris Purmalis of the Wilderness was sent to the box on a slashing call, giving the Wolverines yet another power play.
Cole Christian lasered the puck from the right circle’s dot, closing Minnesota’s lead to one.
Just over five minutes into the final frame, things got chippy between the two teams.
Kade Shea checked a Minnesota player into the boards near the visiting bench. Connor Ferran, forward for Minnesota, and Cole Christian then dropped their mitts and donnybrook-ed it until two players hit the ice and ultimately got ejected.
Shea received a 2-minute checking from behind call to put the Anchorage Wolverines on a penalty kill.
Oliver Stumpel of the Minnesota Wilderness used the power play to widen their lead to 4-2, giving Anchorage just less than 14-minutes to try and make a come back to split the series.
Camden Shasby found Monrean for the second time of the night, lighting the lamp with 33 seconds left in the contest.
Anchorage won the face off and the rest of the game was spent in the Wilderness’ zone, but the Wolverines were unable to force the game to overtime, finalizing the score at 4-3.
The boys return to Alaska this week and head to Fairbanks for their last series before returning to their home ice.
After this weekend, the Wolverines remain in third place in the midwest division with 36 points.
