Sunday wrapped up the regular season with big wins, tight games, and one final comeback

Photo Credit: Faith Healey

Louisiana 8 @ Texas R 0 - The Louisiana Drillers dominated the Texas Roadrunners for an 8-0 road win Sunday afternoon. In what was a display of a powerhouse offense, the Drillers took control early and never looked back in this one. In the first, Emerson LaRoche found the back of the net to grab the 1-0 lead for Louisiana with the assists coming from Riley Schmidt and Loghan Weber. A few minutes later the Drillers would add on, Carter Gnau scored one of his own with the assist from Lucas Dyer. In the second the offense kept its pace, as Dante Zaffarano buried the opportunity to push the lead further with the feed from Gnau. Weber would follow that with another score off the assist from Schmidt, then Draydin Johnson would tuck another to push it to a 5-0 game off the assist from Gnau. Dayton Ruppel capped off an explosive second with yet another goal with the set up pass from Weber. In the final frame, Loghan Weber would join in on the party and grab his own tally with the assist from Schmidt. Carter Tymchak would cap off the high-scoring affair for Louisiana and make it an 8-0 final, the assist coming from Logan Woods. In net for the Drillers, Cole Schmidt was able to turn away all 15 shots he faced and complete the shutout to help his team complete their regular season with a 46th win.

Carolina 7 @ Pelham 1 - The Carolina Rage ended their regular season on a high note, delivering a dominant 7-1 road victory over the Pelham Prowlers on Sunday. The Prowlers actually struck first in the opening period when Matthew Hunter found the back of the net off a feed from Jacob Harrison, but the Rage responded immediately to take control of the contest. Reece Beckwith sparked the Rage with a tally assisted by Cooper Angelelli and Parker Greenway, followed shortly by Anderson Cornwell burying a chance off assists from Beckwith and Nikolai Morrel to give Carolina a lead they would never relinquish. The Rage continued to pour on the pressure in the second frame, as Angelelli notched a goal behind setups from Tomas Kobela and Beckwith. Beckwith then added his second of the night, assisted by Kobela, to push the advantage to three heading into the final twenty minutes. The offensive onslaught reached its peak in the third period, with Nikolai Morrel scoring off feeds from Rob Wattie and Angelelli. Beckwith then finalized his hat trick on the power play with help from Cornwell and Kobela, before Garett Kocon capped off the scoring with a goal assisted by Beckwith and Parker Rowell. In net, Mason Orr provided a steady presence for the Rage, turning away 19 shots to protect the lead and secure the decisive victory. With the result, the Carolina Rage notched their 24th win of the year to officially close out their regular season campaign.

Minnesota W 1 @ Willmar 2 - The Minnesota Wilderness traveled to the Wilmar Warhawks for both team’s final game of the regular season. The Warhawks lead the season series, 5-3-0-0 against the Wilderness. In the first James Korpi would strike first for the Warhawks, 1-0. In the second period, the Wilderness would waste no time with an answer on a goal 45 seconds in by Ethan Glimme to tie it 1-1. With just under ten minutes to go in the second, Tanner Lozano would pot the eventual game winner, 2-1 for the Warhawks. In the third, no scoring would occur. Warhawks goaltender, Brian Sisti would save 33 of 34 shots for a 0.971 save percentage. Blake Belden of the Wilderness also stood tall saving 37 of 39 shots for a 0.949 save percentage. The Warhawks take this one 2-1.

New Mexico 4 @ El Paso 2 - The El Paso Rhinos looked to sweep the New Mexico Ice Wolves in a three game series this past weekend. The Rhinos and Ice Wolves are even at 5-5-0-0 for the season series. This time, the Ice Wolves would emerge victorious with a 4-2 win. The Ice Wolves would strike first with a goal by Cade Tilley at 11:18 of the first period. In the second, the Rhinos would score two in the last ten minutes of the period. Goals credited to Jaxon Mcknight and Cutter Daniel, 2-1. In the third, the Ice Wolves came roaring back with a goal 7 minutes in by Hunzeker Piersimoni to tie the game at two. Special teams would prove to be the difference, as Brock Seeger would pot two power play goals in the last ten minutes of the game for the Ice Wolves to take the lead, 4-2. Ice Wolves netminder, Joshua Middleton, would stand tall posting a 0.943 save percentage saving 33 of 35 shots. The Ice Wolves take this one 4-2.