The Alexandria Blizzard headed to Rochester Friday for the opening game of the Fraser Cup Playoffs facing the Rochester Grizzlies. Both teams felt each other out during the 1st period and headed to the locker rooms still waiting on the first goal to be scored. The Grizzlies game out in the 2nd and scored at the 3:15 mark but Joe Gronholz answered back with an unassisted goal at the 5:04 mark to tie the game. In the final seconds of the 2nd, the Grizzlies regained the lead and took a 2-1 lead into the final 20 minutes. This time it was the Blizzard who came out strong with another Gronholz goal at the 2:34 mark with Tyler Kludt earning the assist to re-tie the game at 2-2. At the 12:27 mark of the 3rd, Rochester pulled ahead again but that lead was quickly erased by a Matt McIntyre goal a few seconds later at the 13:05 mark. The Blizzard sat tied at 3 until the 16:23 mark of the 3rd as Rochester scored 2 goals within 23 seconds to take a 5-3 lead and eventually added another late goal to take the 6-3 win in the opening game.
Coming back to the RCC Saturday night, the Blizzard looked to force a game 3 in the opening round of the playoffs and they wasted no time in their attempt. The Blizzard took the opening draw and Markus Olson scored 15 seconds into the game on a pass from Joe Gronholz but following Friday’s theme, a quick response lead to a Grizzlies goal at the 3:31 mark to tie the game. Rochester then took the lead at the 6:15 mark of the 1st and came out in the 2nd with a quick goal at the 4:20 mark which was answered by Bazl Cook at the 8:29 mark on a play from Caleb Waller and Parker Anthony cutting the lead to one. In the final seconds of the 2nd and on the power play, Rochester added their 4th goal to make it a 4-2 game. In the final 20 minutes, the Blizzard were unable to get one past the Rochester netminder and the Grizzlies added their 2nd power play goal at the 12:38 mark and skated on to a 5-2 win over the Blizzard and advance to the second round of the Fraser Cup Playoffs.
Thank you fans for all your support during the 2023-2024 season and special thanks to our season long sponsors and Vance Thompson Vision of Alexandria.
2023-2024 Season stats can be found HERE
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