ALEXANDRIA BLIZZARD DEFEATED BINGHAMPTON BUZZ AND NORTHEAST GENERALS AT NA3HL SHOWCASE
“We have a well balanced team and can run four lines that play well with a good defensive core … Our goal is to win the Western Division.” – Head Coach Jeff Crouse.
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The Blizzard started off the 4-game weekend with a trip to Granite City of Friday night. Granite city would get on the board in the 1st period to take the 1-0 lead. The game would remain that way until the third when Connor Zgoda notched his second goal of the season to even the game at one. Ashton Collings netted the game winner in overtime to give the Blizzard the win over Granite City. It took 1:59 into overtime for Collings to grab his 12th of the season and lift his team to victory. Kyle Abrahamson was nearly perfect as he denied 32 of 33 shots he faced.
The Blizzard traveled down to Blaine for the first of three NA3HL showcase games. Mason Buchanan netted the Blizzard’s lone goal of the game halfway through the 1st period. The Blizzard had plenty of chances to score the rest of the game, however they were unable to score again. New Mexico would score late in the 3rd period to put them up 2-1 which would be the final score. Kyle Abrahamson certainly had nothing to hang his head over though, as he padded away 29/31 for the Blizzard, despite the loss.
Day two of the showcase saw the Blizzard taking on the Binghamton Buzz. Blizzard goals in the first came from Zach Benson and Markus Olson. Binghamton would cut the blizzard lead in half in the 1st period and the game would skid into the first intermission deadlocked at 2-1. The Blizzard added goals in the second from Caleb Waller and Blake Breiland. All in all it was four separate goal scorers that powered the Blizzard to a 4-2 victory. Kyle Abrahamson would pick up the win in net stopping 24 shots.
The final day of the showcase saw the Blizzard taking on the Fraser Cup runners up in the Northeast Generals. The Blizzard started the scoring early and often with a three goal first period. Kaden Roness put the Blizzard up with effort in the first, Dillan Smidt scored his second of the season and Ashton Collings added another goal to push the lead to 3-0 after the 1st period. The Blizzard added goals from Collings, Caleb Waller and Markus Olson in the 2nd period to push the lead to 6-2. Blake Brieland and Jacob Simpson joined the fun with goals of their own for Alexandria in the third to help the Blizzard pick up the 8-3 win. Kyle Abrahamson picked up the win in net stopping 39 shots.
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SUN: ALEXANDRIA BLIZZARD (1) at NEW MEXICO ICE WOLVES (2)
MON: ALEXANDRIA BLIZZARD (4) at BINGHAMPTON BUZZ (2)
TUES: NORTHEAST GENERALS (3) at ALEXANDRIA BLIZZARD (8)