Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights 3, Mercer Chiefs 1
The Great 8’s are going to the Atlantic Division Final. The Atlantic’s No. 8 seed WBS Knights have finished their second straight 2-0 series win after defeating the Mercer Chiefs by a 3-1 score on Saturday. Ilya Baldin scored the GWG and added an assist, and in net, Gusts Valantis stayed as strong as he’s been with 27 saves on 28 shots.
The Knights will play the winner of the Rockets HC vs. P.A.L. Jr. Islanders series, which is tied 1-1.
Bold City Battalion 7, Florida Jr. Blades 1
The Battalion will push on in the Premier Florida Division Championships after a 7-1 defeat of the Florida Jr. Blades. Cayden Conover scored two goals, and three players – Bryson Walz, Emil Grinsvall and Sebastian Elrod – each had a goal and two assists. Evan Stringer made 30 saves on 31 shots. They will face the Florida Eels in a win-or-go-home matchup on Sunday.
P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 5, Rockets Hockey Club 4 (OT)
The Jr. Islanders forced a Game 3 in their Atlantic Division semifinal series against the Rockets Hockey Club with a 5-4 OT win. Joe Sousa scored the OT winner to help the Jr. Islanders get the win after they gave up a 4-0 lead with a four-goal Rockets comeback attempt. James Clifford scored two goals, Sousa added two assists for three points, and Justin Morrissey had a goal and an assist. Avery Hite stopped 47 of 51 shots for P.A.L., and Timothy Miller made 34 saves for the Rockets. Game 3 begins at 4:55 p.m. Sunday.
Springfield Pics 5, Northern Cyclones 1
The Pics will play in the New England Division Championships, after earning a 2-0 series win against the Northern Cyclones on Saturday night. Maverick Labonte scored twice in the 5-1 victory, Chris Foster had the GWG and an assist, Jacob Carey had a goal and an assist, and Nick Zanin posted three helpers. Troy Huber stopped 41 of 42 shots for the win in net. Ethan Jourden made 42 saves on 45 shots in net for the Cyclones.
Toledo Cherokee 5, Columbus Mavericks 4 (OT)
The Cherokee were 5-4 OT winners to claim the series victory and move on to next weekend’s Great Lakes Division championship series against the Metro Jets. Cameron Krause scored the OT winner, and Anthony DiFlora and Gerdas Paulauskas had a goal and an assist apiece. Caleb Kril put up 31 saves on 35 shots for the win, and Lukas Kamenicky was strong for the Mavericks with 64 saves on 69 shots.
Metro Jets 7, Cincinnati Cyclones 2
The Metro Jets closed out their series with the Cincinnati Cyclones after a 7-2 win. That sets up a Great Lakes Division championship series against the rival Toledo Cherokee. A.J. Zaccagni scored two goals and two assists, Jack Rivera and Alek John each put up three assists. Evan Cote and Sutton Majeske each had a goal and an assist.
Universel Sherbrooke 5, Hawkesbury Knights 3
Fort Wayne Spacemen 7, Chicago Cougars 1
The Fort Wayne Spacemen started their playoff run with a 7-1 victory against the Chicago Cougars on Saturday night. Dayrick Richard scored twice and added one assist, Tucker Tone and Jace Lacey each had a goal and an assist, and Alexis Toussaint registered three assists. Christopher Gingras made 14 saves on 15 shots for the win. Game 2 is at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
Northwest Express 4, Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings 3 (OT)
The Northwest Express extended their season by winning 4-3 in OT and forcing a Game 3 in their series with the Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings. #USPHLAllStars selection Dylan Wolf scored the #OTGWG, Preston Lundbohm had two assists and Rylan Freshwater made 41 saves on 44 shots. Deaken Shaw stopped 29 of 33 for the Riverkings. Game 3 will begin at 7 p.m. CST on Sunday night in Wisconsin Rapids!
Minnesota Squatch 10, Minnesota Mullets 4
The Oilers will make their third straight trip to the #USPHLNationals as Northwest Division Champions! The Oilers closed out their series against the Seattle Totems with a 6-1 victory for the game and 2-0 for the series. Gergo Schwartz scored twice, Filip Lezzani had a goal and two assists, Marsel Tynymbayev and Kasper Pohjala each had two assists, and Levente Hegedus made 25 saves on 26 shots. The Oilers’ third Nationals quest will begin March 20 in Wayne, N.J.
