The game between the xNorth Iowa Bulls and the Alexandria Blizzard was tight through all 60 minutes, but in the end xNorth Iowa emerged with a 5-3 win.
Each team kept the other at bay throughout the game, and Richie Marenis secured the win for the Bulls with a goal in the second period.
Marenis had two goals and two assists to lead xNorth Iowa. Marenis scored the first of his two goals short handed at 41 seconds into the second period to make the score 1-1. Matt Kroska picked up the assist. Marenis\’ next tally short handed made the score 3-2 xNorth Iowa with 2:10 left in the second period. Timothy Santopoalo provided the assist.
The Bulls kept Alexandria\’s goalie busy throughout the game, and Kyle Miller made 40 saves on 45 shots.
xNorth Iowa additionally got points from Santopoalo, who also registered two goals and one assist. Kurt Halbach also scored for xNorth Iowa. In addition, xNorth Iowa received assists from Chancie Hanson, Ron Lindgren, and Trey Gardner, who contributed one a piece.
The Blizzard forced their penalty killing units to work especially hard during the game, picking up seven minors and one major for 59 minutes in penalty time. The total exceeded the 30.0 minutes per game Alexandria had been spending in the box. The Blizzard stifled xNorth Iowa\’s power play, and did not give up a single goal while down a man.
Alexandria was led by Joe Anderson, who racked up two goals. Anderson scored the first of his two goals at 3:42 into the second period to make the score 2-1 Alexandria. Bo Gronseth assisted on the tally. Anderson\’s next tally made the score 4-3 xNorth Iowa with 18:16 left in the third period. Ian Ecklund picked up the assist. Alexandria also got a goal from Danny Pelzer as well. More assists for Alexandria came via Zach Kihle and Tom Schmidt, who each chipped in one.
Chris Amsden rejected 16 shots on goal for the Bulls. xNorth Iowa totaled 25 minutes in penalty time with five minors and one major and went 0-for-4 on the power play. The Blizzard registered zero goals on two power play opportunities. Alexandria ran into serious disciplinary problems during the contest, and Aammir Freese was ejected from the game.
