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Squatch sweep Northwest Express, punch third straight ticket to nationals
Team opens with in first of three pool play games in New Jersey
BY JIM BOYLE Editor
The Minnesota Squatch continued their winning ways at the Furniture and Things Community Event Center this past weekend, clinching their third consecutive trip to nationals with a pair of wins over the Northwest Express.
The Squatch opened the series Friday, March 20, with a 5-1 victory at Cornerstone Automotive Rink, then followed with a 4-1 win the next night to complete the sweep in the best-of-three series.
SQUATCH MAKING A RUN AT NATIONALS
Nationals started March 25 and will run through March 29 at The Ice Vault in Wayne, New Jersey. The Minnesota Squatch opened with a dramatic pod-play winner on Wednesday that exacted a full 60 minutes of effort plus an overtime period. The Minnesota Squatch stormed back from a two-goal deficit to defeat the West Chester Wolves 5-4 in a shootout.
Coach Chic Pojar’ s squad used its speed in the third period and cash-in on three power-play opportunities to pull off the rally, then capped it with a clutch shootout winner from Eison Nee.
Minnesota scorers included Lukas Plank( 1), Eison Nee( 2), Alex Bever( 2).
“ We had a slow start, maybe bus legs played into it,” Pojar said, referring to the long bud ride to New Jersey.“ But we decided to use our speed in the 3rd and scored three power play goals to lift the team to victory.”
Then on Thursday the Squatch defeated Hawkesbury Knights 4-3 to put them on the brink of earning a spot in the semifinals on Saturday. Danylo Tsybulskyi scored two goals in the game and so did Nee.
Minnesota was scheduled to play one more pool play tilt against the Vernal Oilers at noon on Friday. A win ensures a prime spot in the semifinals today on Saturday, March 28. The winners of the semifinals will play for a national USPHL title onSunday, March 29.
For more information, visit: https:// usphl. com / premier / game-center / usphlpremier-playoff-hub / Games can be streamed on blackbearsports. tv. All game times are Eastern Time. Check out www. erstarnews for more results.
DOUG GLIMMERVEEN
Peyton Anderson celebrated Saturday, March 21 after the goaltender for the Minnesota Squatch helped the team defeat the Northwest Express to advance to the nationals in New Jersey.
DOUG GLIMMERVEEN
The Minnesota Squatch continued their winning ways at the Furniture and Things Community Event Center this past weekend, clinching their third consecutive trip to nationals with a pair of wins over the Northwest Express.
DOUG GLIMMERVEEN //
Upon conclusion of the Minnesota Squatch win on March 21 at the Furniture and Things Community Event Center, the celebration was on. For more photos and updates on play at the national tournament, visit www. erstarnews. com.