The Jamestown Ironmen completed the weekend sweep of the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings (8-5-1) with a 7-3 victory last night in North American Hockey League play at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena.
Both teams traded goals throughout the first two periods and headed into the second intermission with Jamestown (10-2-2) leading, 4-3. The Ironmen burst out of the gates in the third period, piling on three goals within the first 2:14. Jamestown outscored Kalamazoo, 3-0 in the final period, with goals from Dylan Zink, Joe Mottiqua and Tyler Dunagan (5).
The offensive attack of the Ironmen shined as Jamestown outshot Kalamazoo, 48-23, and had goals scored by seven different players including Elliot Tisdale, Daniel Cesarz (6), Ross Pavek and Payden Mielke. Assists were credited to Mottiqua, Mitch Hall, Dunagan, Even Ritt, Cesarz, Ryan Urso and Pavek.
Article Photos
Ironmen goalie Reid Mimmack deflects a shot in Saturday’s North American Hockey League game against Kalamazoo at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena. See additional photos at cu.post-journal.com
P-J photo by Scott Reagle
Reid Mimmack improved his record to 8-1 on the season, saving 20 of 23 shots as he manned the net for the Ironmen.
"We are having fun out there," said Ironmen Head Coach and General Manager Dan Daikawa. "We have had some good game plans, and done well executing them on the ice. Our team has a lot of confidence, trusts in each other and is doing what is necessary to win games."
Jamestown has now won six games in a row and sits atop the NAHL North Division nearly a quarter of the way through the season. The Ironmen earned four out of a possible four points during this past weekend's home stand, and will now ready for a trip to Port Huron next weekend. The Ironmen will return home on Friday, November 2, to square off against Michigan at 7 p.m.
On Friday, the Ironmen captured a 2-1 overtime victory over the K-Wings in North American Hockey League action at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena.
The back and forth, fast-paced contest stood scoreless all the way into the third period until Kalamazoo broke the scoring silence and took a 1-0 lead with 8:38 remaining in regulation.
The hometown team answered quickly, as Ironmen forward, Evan Ritt scored his fourth goal of the season off of a rebound in front of the net less than five minutes later, knotting up the game, 1-1.
That score held true through regulation and the game headed into overtime, where Daniel Cesarz snuck a wrist shot under the Kalamazoo goaltenders arm to seal the deal for the Ironmen, only 20 seconds into the extra period.
"They scored first, but our confidence in what we are doing is very strong right now," acknowledged Daikawa. "We never wavered and we continue to do the little things to win games."
Ironmen goaltender, Reid Mimmack kept his momentum rolling in net, saving 24 of the 25 shots he faced and moving his record to 7-1 on the season. Daniel Cesarz game-winning goal was his fifth score of the season, and the Ironmen forward also chipped in with an assist earlier in the game. Assists were also credited to Ritt and Brett Szajner on the game-clinching score.
Although, Jamestown failed to capitalize on six minutes of their own power play, they did an excellent job on the penalty kill once again, nullifying Kalamazoo's six minutes of strong handed play.
The two teams will square off again this evening at 5 p.m. at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena. The Salvation Army will be collecting warm clothing items in the Arena lobby before the game. Any fans who donate an article of warm clothing will receive $2 off their ticket to the game.