Dixon Cup Championship games set for Monday

February 18, 2018

It was quite the selection and sweatin’ Sunday at the 2018 NAPHL Dixon Cup Championship at the Troy Sports Center as teams competed in their final round-robin games, as well as, the Semi-Finals later in the afternoon.

 

The Dixon Cup Championship Game match-ups are set for Monday morning.

 

 

Round-Robin, Game 3’s: In Division 1, top-seeded CarShield completed a perfect 3-0 run through the round-robin thanks to a 2-1 win over the Valley Forge Minutemen. Joe Winkelmann and Jared Wescott had the goals and Kyle McClellan made 27 saves. In the other Division 1 game, the Tampa Scorpions got 22 saves in a shutout from Marcus Alfaro and a goal from Stepan Pokorny in a 1-0 win over MeijerAAA. In Division 2, the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders completed their third win of the round-robin as they edged out the Sioux Falls Jr. Stampede in a shootout, 4-3. Kevin Ness had a goal and two assists in the win. In the other Division 2 game, the Esmark Stars got two goals from Nick Carretta in a 2-1 win over Elite Hockey to advance to the Semi-Finals.

 

Elite Hockey 1 vs Esmark 2 – (highlights)

Meijer 0 vs Tampa 1 – (highlights)

Rocky Mountain 4 vs Sioux Falls 3 (SO) – (highlights)

Valley Forge 1 vs CarShield 2 – (highlights)

Semi-Final #1: Esmark 4 vs. CarShield 2 – A fast start and a goal and two assists from Blake Rossi sent the #7 seed Esmark Stars to the Championship Game on Monday thanks to a 4-2 win in the Semi-Finals over top-seeded CarShield. The Stars were bolstered by three goals in the game’s first 12 minutes. Rossi opened the scoring, which was followed by goals from JT Schimizzi and Ethan Webb. In the 2nd period, the Stars made it 4-0 as Justin Adamski scored his second goal of the event. CarShield mounted a small comeback in the 3rd period as Joe Winkelmann scored his 5th and 6th goals of the playoffs, but it would not be enough as 22 saves from Tyrik Barkley secured the win for the Stars. (highlights)

Semi-Final #2: Tampa 2 vs. Rocky Mountain 0 – Tampa goalie Marcus Alfaro posted his second shutout of the day as the netminder made 25 saves in a shutout over #3-seeded Rocky Mountain to send the Scorpions to the title game. It wasn’t until the early 2nd period that Tampa got on the board as Vinny Prospal scored to put Tampa ahead 1-0. Late in the 3rd period, forward Stepan Pokorny added an empty-net goal, his 4th goal of the playoffs to secure the 2-0 win. RoughRiders goaltender Francisco Clark-Silva made 20 saves in the loss. (highlights)

 

Round-Robin, Game 3’s: In Division 1, Sioux Falls and Meijer punched their tickets to the Semi-Finals as Sioux Falls got 19 saves from Austin Cooley in a 2-1 win over Everett, while Meijer got 25 saves from goalie Michael Morelli in a 2-1 win over Madison. In Division 2, Rocky Mountain completed an undefeated run through the round-robin thanks to a 5-2 win over the Esmark Stars. Brent Keefer had a goal and three assists in the win. In the other game, the Arizona Bobcats defeated CarShield AAA, 5-2. Logan Valkama had a goal and two assists and Hunter Mitchell made 22 saves in the win.

 

CarShield 2 vs Arizona 5 – (highlights)

Meijer 2 vs Madison 1 – (highlights)

Rocky Mountain 5 vs Esmark 2 – (highlights)

Sioux Falls 2 vs Everett 1 – (highlights)

 

Semi Final #1: Arizona 3 vs. Sioux Falls 2 – Aidan Carney scored twice to lead the #6 seeded Arizona Bobcats to a 3-2 win over the #4 seed Sioux Falls Jr. Stampede in the first Semi-Final. Skylar Miller have Arizona a 1-0 lead in the 1st period. In the 2nd period, Charles Obobaifo Jr. tied things up for the Stampede. Carney then answered back with two straight goals to put the Bobcats up by two. The Jr. Stampede pulled to within one on a goal from Keith Schenkel, but Bobcats goalie Anthony Bonaldi held the fort the rest of the way, totaling 29 saves. Hobie Hedquist made 25 saves in the loss. (highlights)

 

Semi-Final #2: Meijer AAA 1 vs. Rocky Mountain 0 (2OT) – In a classic goaltending duel, it took extra time for the #8 seed Meijer to outlast the #3 seed Rocky Mountain, 1-0 in overtime. Meijer goaltender Carter Tahk made 26 saves in the shutout win, while Rocky Mountain goalie Logan Gorbitz made 34 saves in the overtime loss. The game-winning goal came as Meijer forward Jackson Dobbs stickhandled his way out of the corner and all alone in front, lifting a shot over the shoulder of Gorbitz to put Meijer into the Finals. (highlights)

 

In Division A, the Wenatchee Wolves completed a perfect 4-0 run through the round-robin thanks to a 2-1 win over Thunder Bay. Goaltender Austin Ryman made 30 saves in the win. With the win, Wenatchee punched their ticket to the consolation championship where they will face the Madison Capitols, who also 4-0 in Division B, which included a final day showdown 5-1 win over the Pursuit of Excellence. Joshua Linn, Matthew Jones and Tyler Nelson each had a goal and an assist in the win.

 

In Division A, it was a Semi-Final Showdown between the Washington Little Caps and Dallas Blackhawks Elite. Washington ended up taking home the win and advancing to the title game thanks to a 5-2 win. Reid Leibold and Zach Murray led the way with a goal and an assist apiece. In Division B, the winner of the round-robin was the Thunder Bay Kings. The Kings lost their final round-robin game to Shattuck-St. Mary’s, but it didn’t matter as they won the head-to-head tie-breaker over Valley Forge.