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Recap: Mullets Complete Home Opener Sweep

By Dan Bradley, 10/03/17, 9:45AM CDT

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Six point weekend moves Mullets to 3rd place in Division Standings

Recap: Mullets Complete Home Opener Sweep

Six point weekend moves Mullets to 3rd place in Division Standings

By: Dan Bradley

Loud crowds and home ice were just what the Mullets needed, as the Mullies earned three home wins in an exciting weekend at Lichtscheidl Arena. Friday’s dramatic 2-1 victory over the Wisconsin Muskies was the first win for the Mullets of the season, with victories over the Ironwood Yoopers (7-3 on Saturday, 6-5 on Sunday) soon to follow. The win streak propelled the Mullets to 3rd Place in the USPHL Premiere Midwest-West Division standings.

In total, 11 skaters record a point for the Mullets this weekend, nine of whom had multiple points. Nate Holm led the way for the Mullets with 5 goals and 2 assists.

The Mullets (3-2, 6 pts) trail the undefeated Minnesota Blue Ox (5-0, 10 pts) and Wisconsin River Kings (4-0, 8 pts) in the Division.

FRIDAY:

Friday night saw a packed house for the Mullets regular season opener, and those in attendance were in for a treat. A goaltender duel between Duane Simmons of the Wisconsin Muskies, and Jack Bostedt of the Mullets was the focal point of the game, with neither team scoring in the first period.

Kyle Klatt of the Muskies got things going with the game’s first goal two minutes into the second period, assisted by Tristen Poliseno. The goal wasn’t without controversy, as there was a long argument as to whether or not Bostedt was interfered with on the shot. The goal stood, and the Muskies took a 1-0 lead. Despite outshooting Wisconsin 27-14 through two periods, the Mullets found themselves trailing 1-0 heading into the third period.

The Mullets were able to tie the game 1-1 following a goal from Nate Holm, his first of the season, at the 7:48 mark of the third period (assist to Tyler Kulas). The Mullets locked things down defensively, as it took the Muskies nearly 12 minutes into the third period before registering a shot. In the dying moments of regulation, Holm notched his second goal of the night (assisted by Jon Hansen), and the Mullets held on to win 2-1.

Three Stars of the Game:

  1. MULLETS - Nate Holm (2 G, 0A, GWG)

  2. MUSKIES - Duane Simmons (31 SA, 2GA)

  3. MULLETS - Jack Bostedt (17 SA, 1GA)

SATURDAY:

Saturday night’s game saw a new opponent in the rink, as the Ironwood Yoopers rode into town on a three game winning streak.

The Mullets picked up where they left off the night before, with Trevor Dixon scoring the game’s first goal (assisted by Ben Borreson). Slightly slower in pace than the night before, the Mullets carried a 1-0 lead into the locker room after the first period.

Both the Mullets and the Yoopers came to life in the second period. Joe Brophy scored 1:25 into the second period (assisted by Trevor Dixon) to give the Mullets a 2-0 lead, but the Yoopers answered right back. Goals from Zach Earl (assisted by Jordon Swenson) and Tyler Morrison (assisted by Caleb Griffin) tied the game at 2-2. But the scoring didn’t end there. The Mullets responded with goals from Joe Brophy (Dixon assist) and Trevor Gibson (assisted by Jon Hansen), and the Mullies left the ice leading 4-2 at the end of the second.

Physical play was the story of the third period, with a combined 40 minutes in penalties, Three players were also ejected at the 9:53 mark (Trevor Dixon and Murray Sieracki for Minnesota, Zach Earl for Ironwood). The Mullets broke the game wide open in the third period, with goals from Cooper Hoheisel (Jordan Gibson), Tommy Strelow (Nate Holm), and a power play goal from Hoheisel (Hansen). Caleb Griffin added a late goal for the Yoopers (assisted by Caleb Greenough and Sam Hanson), but the game had long been decided at that point, as the Mullets emerged victorious, winning 7-3. Goaltender Jack Bostedt earned his second win of the season, recording 16 saves on 19 shots. Julius Huset took the loss for the Yoopers, making 28 saves on 35 shots

Three Stars of the Game:

  1. MULLETS - Cooper Hoheisel (2G, 0A, PPG)

  2. MULLETS - Joe Brophy (2G, 0A)

  3. MULLETS - Trevor Dixon (1G, 2A)

SUNDAY:

Fresh off a statement win Saturday night, the Mullets looked to move above the .500 mark with their third win of the season. Jack Bostedt made his third consecutive start in net, and was countered by Leonardo Feneley, making his first start of the season.

The Mullets opened the game with a 1-2 punch, scoring twice in the first two minutes of regulation (Trevor Dixon from Cooper Hoheisel, Nate Holm from Tommy Strelow and Nolan Fredrick). The Mullets added another goal with :28 remaining in the first period from Nate Holm (unassisted) to take a 3-0 lead after one.

Coming out of the intermission, the Yoopers looked like an entirely different team, and the second period turned into the Sam Hanson Show. The Yoopers took advantage of the short line change for forwards, leading to multiple breakaway goals; first from Cale Bowman (unassisted), then a hat trick from Hanson (#1 from Greenough, #2 from Bowman, #3 from Caleb Griffin). A stunned Mullets team fell behind 4-3 after two periods of play.

Joe Brophy was quick to turn the tide in the third period, tying the game at 4-4 just 51 seconds into the third (assisted by Hoheisel and Holm). From there, the Mullets wouldn’t look back; Tyler Kulas gave Minnesota the lead (assists to Fredrick and Braxton Walby), and Nate Holm completed the hat trick on the powerplay(assisted by Hansen and Hoheisel) to give the Mullets a 6-4 lead. Hansen’s assist extended his point streak to 5 games, and is the only Mullet to record a point in every game this season.

Penalties played a factor late in the game, as the Yoopers had multiple 5-on-3 powerplays in the closing minutes. With the net empty and the extra attacker on for a 6-on-3, Jordon Swenson cut the lead to 6-5. While still on a 6-on-3 advantage, the Yoopers nearly tied the game with 5 seconds to go, but a sprawling, highlight-reel save from Jack Bostedt sealed the win for the Mullets, completing the weekend sweep with a 6-5 victory.

Three Stars of the Game:

  1. MULLETS: Nate Holm (3G, 1A)

  2. MULLETS: Cooper Hoheisel (0G, 3A)

  3. YOOPERS: Sam Hanson (3G, 0A)