Alexandria swept the Wausau Cylcones 4-0 and 7-3 this past weekend, in their first outer division series of the year.
Friday night the Blizzard jumped out to an early lead when Ryan Hadland scored a power play goal five minutes into the game. Charlie Larsen and Joe Gronholz assisted on Hadland’s 13th of the season. Hadland scored again in the waning moments of the first off assists from Ethan Moerke and Sean Kenny. Joe Gronholz extended the Blizzard lead to 3-0 early in the second period with a shorthanded goal from Kenny and Aidan Prochaska. Sean Kenny capped off the scoring in the opening minute of the 3rd period when Wyatt Johnson, for the second consecutive game, sent Kenny in all alone to put the Blizzard up 4-0. Matt Scribner also picked up an assist on Kenny’s 6th of the year. Alex Lamont was superb in net turning away all 18 shots for his 1st shutout of the season. Kenny led all scorers with 3 points, Hadland and Gronholz had 2 point nights.
Saturday night Ryan Hadland got the party started even earlier than Friday night with his 15th of the year one minute into the game off assists from Sean Kenny and Caleb Moore. Wausau fought back on Saturday though tying the game moments later and then taking a brief lead midway through the 1st period. However, it didn’t take long for Karsten Senden to tie the game back up on a beautiful deke out front after a beautiful pass from Jack Carter. Ethan Moerke also picked up an assist. The game took a turn midway through the 2nd period when Wausau took a number of penalties allowing the Blizzard to build a 4-2 lead off goals from Ryan Hadland and Matt Scribner. Wausau, still not giving up, got a late goal in the 2nd to cut the Blizzard lead to 4-3 entering the 3rd period. The Blizzard slammed the door in the 3rd period with 3 goals including Ryan Hadland’s Hat Trick and 5th goal of the weekend. Sean Kenny, Caleb Moore and Ethan Moerke also had 3 point nights with Joe Gronholz and Karsten Senden each pitching in a goal and an assist in the 7-3 victory. Alex Lamont secured his 3rd win in a row stopping 16 of 19 and improving his record to 6-2.
Alexandria (13-5-0-1) will travel to Willmar on Wednesday for a 7:10 pm puck drop, and then hit the Twin Cities for the Showcase in Blaine. They play the Texas Brahmas Sunday the 18th at 5:45 pm on Rink 4. The Norwich Sea Captains Monday the 19th at 6:15 pm on Rink 3, and the reigning Fraser Cup Champions Rochester Grizzlies Tuesday the 20th at 12:30 pm on Rink 2. Catch all the action on hockeytv.com
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