ORLANDO, FLA – Week four in the Eastern Conference saw its lone unbeaten team taken down, some impressive work done by a team on the road and plenty of logjams atop the division standings.
The Adirondack Thunder finally fell back to earth a bit when the Cincinnati Cyclones brought down the Thunder. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Gladiators made a name for themselves with a sweep out in Idaho. Here is how the week went:
East Division
Adirondack Thunder (8-1-0-0, 16 points) Wednesday: win 3-2 (OT) at Kalamazoo, Friday: Loss 4-2 at Cincinnati, Saturday: win 1-0 at Toledo.
The Thunder began the week on the road, making a late comeback before defeating the Wings in overtime. Ryan Constant and David Shields each scored in the waning minutes of the third period to tie the game before Rob Bordson won it in the extra period. Goalie Ken Appleby made 25 saves in the victory. On Friday, the Thunder hit Cincinnati where Alexandre Carrier scored twice but the Cyclones answered with a pair of late tallies to end Adirondack’s win streak. They got right back on track Saturday night when Appleby threw a 31-save shutout at Toledo. Mitchell Heard had the game’s lone score.
Next up: Friday at Atlanta, Saturday at Greenville
Reading Royals (5-3-0-0, 10 points) Saturday: 5-1 win at Greenville, Sunday: 5-0 win at Greenville.
The Royals headed south to Greenville and feasted on the Swamp Rabbits, posting a pair of victories.
Robbie Czarnik, Adam Comrie, Kevin Young, Matt Hatch and Mike Pereira all scored in support of netminder Connor Knapp who made 30 saves in Saturday night’s win. On Sunday, Knapp was even better as he stopped all 30 shots he faced in a shutout victory. Maxime Lamarche, Yannick Tifu, Justin Crandall, Joe Rehkamp and Hatch all lit the goal light.
Next up: Wednesday – Wheeling, Friday – at Wheeling, Saturday – Norfolk, Sunday – Norfolk.
Elmira Jackals (4-5-0-0, 8 points) Friday: win 2-0 at South Carolina, Saturday: loss 4-1 at South Carolina.
Like Reading, Elmira also headed down Interstate 95 to South Carolina, stopping in North Charleston for a pair of games.
On Friday, Tyler Currier scored a goal in his third consecutive game and Mike Seidel added another as the Jakcals blanked the Stingrays. Goalie C.J. Motte was outstanding, stopping all 32 shots he faced. Saturday was a different story however as Seidel netted the Jackals lone goal in a loss.
Next up: Tuesday – at Norfolk, Friday – Norfolk, Saturday – Brampton.
Norfolk Admirals (4-5-0-0, 8 points) Friday: win 4-2 over Greenville, Saturday: win 6-2 over Wheeling, Sunday: loss 3-1 at South Carolina.
The Admirals had three games in three days, coming away with two wins before being stopped by the host Stingrays on Sunday.
Four different Ads, Alexandre Ranger, Greg Chase, Connor Rankin and Jordan Hill, each scored in support of goalie Ty Rimmer’s 23-save performance in Friday’s win. On Saturday, Josh Currie led the offense with two goals while Charles-Olivier Roussel, Steven Whitney, Rankin and Ranger each netted one. Rimmer once again was solid, making 36 saves. Sunday in South Carolina, Marc-Olivier Roy scored the lone Norfolk goal in a loss.
Next up: Tuesday – Elmira, Friday – at Elmira, Saturday – at Reading, Sunday – at Reading
Manchester Monarchs (3-4-0-0, 6 points) Friday: loss 4-2 at Brampton, Saturday: win 5-1 at Brampton, Sunday: loss 4-2 at Brampton.
The Monarchs spent the weekend in Ontario visiting the Beast. Brampton was not very inviting, taking two of the three games.
David Kolomatis and Joe Diamond each scored for the visiting Monarchs on Friday but it was not enough as Brampton doubled them up. Saturday was a much better contest as Matt White scored twice while Gasper Kopitar, Troy Power and Diamond each lit the lamp once. Netminder Michael Houser was rock solid, making 23 saves to earn the win. Kolomatis and White rach registered a goal on Sunday but again the host Beast came away with the win.
Next up: Tuesday – at Kalamazoo, Friday – Toledo, Saturday – Toledo, Sunday – Toledo
North Division
Toledo Walleye (4-4-0-1, 9 points) Wednesday: win 2-1 (SO) at Cincinnati, Friday: loss 4-1 at Fort Wayne, Saturday: loss 1-0 to Adirondack
The Walleye finally ended their season-beginning road trip before heading home to play in front of the Walleye faithful.
Wednesday in Cincinnati, the Walleye played a tight defensive game in taking down the Cyclones. Shane Berschbach scored the lone goal in regulation before Kyle Bonis and AJ Jenks connected in the shootout to get the victory. Goalie Jeff Lerg stopped 30 shots through the OT and two more in the skills competition to earn the win. Zach Nastasiuk had the lone Toledo goal on Friday in Fort Wayne before the Walleye heading home. The star in the home opener was Lerg who made 15 saves but Adirondack scored the game’s lone goal.
Next up: Friday – at Manchester, Saturday – at Manchester, Sunday – at Manchester
Kalamazoo Wings (4-5-1-0, 9 points) Wednesday: loss 3-2 (OT) to Adirondack, Friday: win 4-3 at Wheeling, Saturday: win 6-4 at Fort Wayne, Sunday: loss 5-2 to Fort Wayne.
The K-Wings had a busy week with four contests and splitting them up the middle for a 2-1-1-0 record.
Kalamazoo hosted Adirondack on Wednesday morning and looked to have the Thunder and a win in sight after goals by Colin Murray and Dane Fox. Unfortunately, the Thunder made a big comeback and won in OT. Adam Phillips was the star on Friday at Wheeling, scoring twice and adding an assist to lead the way to a win. Ludwig Blomstrand and Fox also scored in the contest. Saturday in Fort Wayne, Fox and Tyler Shattock both scored twice while Steve McGarth and Justin Taylor added one each while goalie Joel Martin stopped 46 shots to get the win. The Wings were tired by Sunday and it showed as Charlie Vasaturo and Alex Mallet had the only scores in a loss to the Komets.
Next up: Friday – Evansville, Saturday – Cincinnati, Sunday – at Brampton.
Wheeling Nailers (4-4-0-0, 8 points) Friday: loss 4-3 to Kalamazoo, Saturday: loss 6-2 at Norfolk.
The Nailers had just two games during the week and unfortunately lost both.
On Friday, Adam Krause, Ty Loney and Sahir Gill each scored and goalie Franky Palazzese made 23 saves but Kalamazoo had too much firepower for the Nailers to handle. On Saturday, Zack Torquato and Jarrett Burton lit the goal light but Wheeling again failed to win.
Next up: Tuesday – Cincinnati, Wednesday – at Reading, Friday – Reading, Saturday – Evansville, Sunday – Evansville.
Brampton Beast (3-6-1-0, 7 points) Friday: win 4-2 vs. Manchester, Saturday: loss 5-1 to Manchester, Sunday: win 4-2 vs. Manchester.
The Beast played host to Manchester for three games, coming away with bookend wins sandwiched around a loss.
Jeremie Blain, Mathew Malone, Mark MacMillan and Luc-Oliver Blain all scored goals on Friday night to help goalie Trevor Cann (29 saves) get the win. Scott Howes had the lone goal for the Beast on Saturday as the Monarchs got revenge. On Sunday, Brampton took the rubber game of the set as Bryan Mcgregor, Angelo Miceli, rookie Reggie Traccitto and Malone netted goals in front of Cann who stopped 27 of 29 shots.
Next up: Saturday – at Elmira, Sunday – Kalamazoo
South Division
Florida Everblades (8-4-0-0, 16 points) Tuesday: loss 2-0 at South Carolina, Saturday: win 3-2 at Orlando, Sunday: win 3-1 win at Orlando.
The Everblades continued a road trip with three divisional games including two against their in-state rivals and came away with two wins.
Despite a 23-save performance by goalie Anthony Peters, Florida was shut out by South Carolina on Tuesday. On Saturday, the Everblades visited Orlando for the first of 14 matchups in “The Sunshine Cup Series”. Mike Aviani, Corey Syvret and Evan Bloodoff all scored in support of goalie Daniel Altshuller who made 26 saves to earn the win. On Sunday, Florida won the rematch with the Solar Bears as Aviani, Mike Cornell and Brant Harris all posted goals in front of Peters who made 41 saves.
Next up: Tuesday – at Atlanta, Friday – Idaho, Saturday – Idaho
Atlanta Gladiators (6-2-1-0, 13 points) Wednesday: win 5-4 at Idaho, Friday: win 5-4 (OT) at Idaho, Saturday: win 3-1 at Idaho.
The Gladiators headed west to take on the Idaho Steelheads and left the host team gasping for air and a win as Atlanta swept the three games.
On Wednesday, five different players (Tyler Murovich, Derek Nesbitt, Brock Higgs, Garry Nunn and Brad Navin) scored as the Gradiators edged the Steelheads. Two days later, Nathan Condon, Nesbitt, Higgs and Murovich all scored in regulation before Mike Merrifield won the game in overtime. On Saturday, Max Everson, Eric Neiley and Higgs scored in support of goalie Kent Patterson who made 31 saves to earn the victory.
Next up: Tuesday – Florida, Thursday – at Greenville, Friday – Adirondack, Sunday – Greenville
South Carolina Stingrays (6-5-1-0, 13 points) Tuesday: win 2-0 vs. Florida, Friday: loss 2-0 to Elmira, Saturday: win 4-1 vs. Elmira, Sunday: win 3-1 vs. Norfolk.
The Stingrays had four games to play during the week, coming out successful in three of them.
The week started well with a shutout win over Florida. Joey Leach and Colin Mulvey had the goals in the win while goalie Vitek Vanecek made 21 save to get the win. Vanecek was the story on Friday, making 22 saves in the Stingrays loss. Andrew Rowe, Derek DeBlois, Brendan Ellis and Mulvey all scored on Saturday as South Carolina rebounded against the Jackals. Finally on Sunday, Stephan Vigier, Bobby Shea and Rowe scored to help Vanecek (17 saves) beat the Admirals.
Next up: Friday – Orlando, Saturday – Orlando
Orlando Solar Bears (4-3-1-0, 9 points) Saturday: loss 3-2 to Florida, Sunday: loss 3-1 to Florida.
The Solar Bears had two home games to play but both were against their in-state rivals from Estero. Despite its best efforts, Orlando came up on the short end twice.
On Saturday, Erik Bradford got the home team off on the right skate and Eeic Baier added a goal but the visiting Everblades had just too much bite. On Sunday, Jack Rodewald notched a score but it was too little too late as Florida cruised to a second straight win.
Next up: Thursday – Utah, Friday – at South Carolina, Saturday – at South Carolina
Greenville Swamp Rabbits (3-6-0-0, 6 points) Friday: loss 4-2 at Norfolk, Saturday: loss 5-1 at Reading, Sunday: loss 5-0 at Reading.
The Swamp Rabbits went north to play three games and found no luck as they lost all three contests.
Rob Kwiet and Domenic Alberga lit the lamp for Greenville on Friday night at the Scope in Norfolk but it was not enough to stop the host Admirals from winning. On Saturday, Brian Hart notched the lone Swamp Rabbits goal in Reading as Greenville fell again. Things did not get much better on Sunday as the Swamp Rabbits were blanked by the Royals.
Next up: Thursday – Atlanta, Saturday – Adirondack, Sunday – at Atlanta
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