Springfield Pics 9, Minnesota Squatch 4
The first final score of the 2025 Nationals is in the books, as the Springfield Pics have defeated the Minnesota Squatch by a 9-4 score. Maverick Labonte scored two goals and one assist, including the GWG. He was one of four Pics with three points, also including Travis Raisanen (1-2-3), Adam Botlo (1-2-3), Ryan Zabchuk (2-1-3) and Justin Hooper (2-1-3). Troy Huber made 26 saves on 30 shots for the win. The Pics hold a 1-0 record in Round Robin Division 1.
Metro Jets 4, Tampa Bay Juniors 3 (SO)
The Metro Jets won 4-3 in a shootout after being down 3-2 to Tampa Bay. The Jets were able to tie it up to end regulation and send it past OT to the shootout to earn two points. Metro’s Isaiah Winters scored the first two goals of the game, Jaxon Stone scored a goal and an assist, and Pierce Ashcroft put up two assists and the shootout winner. Luka Pivec scored the shootout insurance goal. Metro’s Rostislav Efremov stopped 38 of 41 shots and for the Juniors, Savva Serdiuk made 29 saves on 32 shots.
P.A.L. Jr. Islanders 8, Fresno Monsters 2
Eight different goal-scorers got the job done for the No. 9 seed P.A.L. Jr. Islanders as they defeated the No. 2 Fresno Monsters, 8-5. The Jr. Isles came back from a 5-4 deficit with four unanswered third period goals. William Prange scored the GWG, Brett LoGelfo scored a goal and added four assists, and James Clifford and Joe Sousa each had three points. Marks Dinsdorfts made 40 saves on 45 shots for the win.
Fort Wayne Spacemen 5, Potomac Patriots 4 (OT)
The Premier’s No. 7 seed Spacemen defeated the No. 6 Potomac Patriots by a score of 5-4 in overtime, with Ivan Barnashov sinking the OT goal with his second goal of the game. Alexis Toussaint scored a goal and added two assists, Bogdan Vysotsky had a goal and an assist, and Alex Elander-Varrin had two assists. Christopher Gingras stopped 27 of 31 shots in net. For Potomac, Bryce Grandbois had a hat trick and Viggo Boston stopped 29 of 34 shots in net.
Vernal Oilers 7, UNiversel Sherbrooke 3
The Premier’s top seed Vernal Oilers won 7-3 over Universel Sherbrooke to close the Day 1 action on Thursday. Kasper Pohjala started the scoring in the game with a breakaway goal and added three assists. Teammate Roni Alanko scored two goals and added two assists for four points, and Marek Mraz had two assists. In net, Michael Marandola stopped 15 of 18 shots for the win.
