Three more wins for Ice Hawks
Front-running Minnesota presses on

December 11, 2007

With only three blemishes on their record after 25 games, the Minnesota Ice Hawks continue to cruise through their Minnesota Junior Hockey League schedule, picking up three more wins last weekend.

“Every team in this league can win on any given night, so picking up six of six points in the standings is a great step towards our first team goal (of a regular-season championship),” said Ice Hawks coach Nick Fatis, whose team improved to 22-3 on the season.
        
The Ice Hawks began their weekend on Friday with a 4-3, come-from-behind victory over the St. Paul Lakers.  Down 3-1 in the second period, Minnesota rallied on goals by Dirk Foss, Jay Gorman and Danny Grady (game-winner).  Goaltender Mike Brach picked up the win in net with 10 saves.

The next night, Grady rang up four goals as the Ice Hawks skated to a 10-4 triumph over the St. Louis Lightning.  Ryan Goodmanson recorded four assists, while Brach turned aside 25 shots between the pipes.

On Sunday, Foss scored two more goals in the Ice Hawks’ 7-3 win over the Twin Cities Northern Lights.  Brandon Rohrig netted the game-winning marker, while Goodmanson added three more assists.  In goal, Ricky Doyen stopped 25 shots.

“In all honesty, we didn't play very well in any one game, but we did do some things very well,” said Fatis.  “That being said, we learned a lot about our team this past weekend and we all feel like we’re on the verge of taking a big step.”

And Grady might have taken the biggest step of all.  The 19-year-old from Mound, Minn., led the Ice Hawks’ offensive charge last weekend with five goals and three assists.

“Danny has the tools to become one of the best players in the country,” said Fatis.  “He's finding out that he can do whatever he wants when he does it at 100 percent, 100 percent of the time.

“All in all, this is the player Danny is, and I expect to see more of the same from him.”

Grady’s linemates, Foss and Gorman, are also drawing rave reviews from their coach.

“I bet Grady buys Dirk and Jay dinner at least once this week,” said Fatis.  “After all, they did to help Danny to his best weekend in junior hockey so far.”

Defensively, Bryce Wilcox has been nothing short of exceptional.

“Everyone is doing the job and no one is looking for credit, and we feel that’s the key to becoming a championship team.”

And one that grabs the attention of colleges.  According to Fatis, a number of his players are on the shortlist of a number of top programs nationally.

“Schools have been out looking at our guys nonstop,” he said.  “ We've had lots of D-III schools report in, but also some interest from pretty solid D-I programs as well.

“So many of these players have big potential.  They may be a year or two away, but the potential is there and it's being noticed.”

The Ice Hawks have a big test in front of them this weekend, as they host the Wisconsin Mustangs, the team they’re neck-and-neck with for first place in the standings, for two games.

Does the weekend hold any extra significance for Fatis and his charges?

“Maybe, maybe not,” said the coach.  “As the old saying goes, you can't win league in December, but you can lose it, so we need to make sure we play solid and leave no regrets.

“But win, lose or tie, we know we still control our own future.”

The Minnesota Owls stayed hot, knocking off the Wisconsin Mustangs in overtime on Saturday, 4-3.  Jake Swan put home the game-winner in the extra session, with Justin Neis and Nic Haley assisting (their second assists of the night).  Between the pipes, Phil Poeschl made 27 saves.  Matt Borndale and Loren Egan each struck for a goal and an assist for the Mustangs.

Scott Soberoski’s goal in overtime lifted the Owls to 3-2 win over the Granite City Lumberjacks on Sunday.  Swan and Nick Roscoe netted the other Minnesota markers, while Poeschl made 27 saves.  Nick Ellis and Kevin Bergquist lit the lamp for the Lumberjacks.

The Hudson Crusaders rolled off two wins over the Lightning last weekend, starting with a 12-0 whitewash on Friday.  Tyler Fischer recorded a hat trick and an assist in the win, while Kyle Romanchuk and Scott Liebsch each tallied two goals and three assists. Goaltender Adam Buegler stopped all 30 Lightning shots to secure the shutout.

Brady Mensing’s hat trick, including the game-winning goal, and assist powered the Crusaders to an 8-3 triumph over St. Louis on Sunday.  Jake Pumper added two goals for Hudson, while goaltender Sam Foley steered aside 25 shots.  Three different players scored for St. Louis.

The Mustangs opened their weekend with a 4-0 shutout of the Minnesota Flying Aces on Friday.  Brian Dahlbec kicked out all 23 Aces shots, with Christian Hjertquist (hat trick, one assist) and Borndale (three assists) doing most of the damage offensively.

Tyler Erickson’s overtime tally - his second point of the night - lifted the Northern Lights to a 6-5 win over the Flying Aces on Saturday.  Garrett Anderson and Britton Smith each scored two goals for the Lights, and goaltender Matt Toter turned aside 36 shots.  Charlie Britt connected for two goals and an assist for Minnesota.