September 20, 2026 | Jacqueline Hixssen
Last night could have been a comeback for the books.
While the Wolverines ultimately fell to the Minnesota Mallards in a shootout, the game proved once again that this team can never be counted out.
The Mallards jumped out to a five-goal lead before the Wolverines finally broke through midway through the second period.
Caleb Mahar won a faceoff to keep the puck in the offensive zone, and after gaining possession, Oliver Morris found newcomer Michael Kotora in the crease. Kotora capitalized, putting the Wolverines on the board.
Jack McKenna then carried the puck into the Mallards’ zone before finding Balint Lobenwein, who fired one top shelf to cut the deficit to three.
Minnesota answered with one more before the end of the period, sending the Wolverines into the locker room trailing 6-2.
Then came the third.
Just five minutes into the final frame, the Wolverines found the back of the net on the power play. Aiden Lawson fired a shot from the blue line, and Mahar redirected it in front to make it 6-3.
Just over two minutes later, Chase Trompeter made a move around a Mallards defenseman before ripping a shot over the goaltender’s right shoulder, bringing the Wolverines within two.
Cale Quamme then delivered a beautiful cross-ice pass to Ryder McDonald, who one-timed it home with just over five minutes remaining to make it a one-goal game.
With goalie Drake Owens pulled for the extra attacker, the Wolverines continued to pressure. Landon Greenough carried the puck down the ice before finding Trompeter, who sent it into the slot for Harout Arutyunyan. Arutyunyan one-timed it home to tie the game and complete the five-goal comeback.
Neither team found the back of the net in overtime, sending the Wolverines to their first shootout of the season.
Trompeter went first for the Wolverines but was denied, while Owens stopped the Mallards’ opening attempt. Kotora then buried his shootout attempt to put the Wolverines on the board, but Minnesota converted on its next two attempts. Sheldon Rioux had the final opportunity for the Wolverines, but his shot was turned aside.
Despite the result, the Wolverines controlled the shot battle for nearly the entire night, finishing with 58 shots compared to Minnesota’s 41. The biggest difference came in the third period, when the Wolverines outshot the Mallards 23-6 while scoring four goals to erase a five-goal deficit.
Now, the Wolverines head straight into the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota.
The Wolverines open Showcase play Wednesday against one of the league’s newest additions, the Idaho Spud Kings, before facing the Amarillo Wranglers on Thursday and the Bismarck Bobcats on Saturday.
All Showcase games can be streamed live on NAHLtv.com.
