KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Jamestown Ironmen remain in second place in the North Division after paying a visit to Kalamazoo and splitting a two-game set with the third place Junior K-Wings last weekend in North American Hockey League action.
Kalamazoo actually jumped into second place with a 3-2 victory on Saturday afternoon, but their time in front was short-lived. Jamestown regained a one-point lead on the No. 2 spot in the North with a 4-2 win on Sunday.
On Saturday, Kalamazoo scored the only first-period goal.
Jamestown answered early in the second period with a goal from Victor Johansson, assisted by Dylan Zink.
The Junior K-Wings wasted no time regaining the lead with a goal less than 15 seconds later.
Joe Mottiqua tied the game up once again with 8:50 left in the third period with an Ironmen goal assisted by Matthew Crocket. Kalamazoo answered right back once again, scoring less than a minute later to take the edge and seal the win.
Jamestown outshot Kalamazoo, 36-29 on the night and goaltender Joey Ballmer made 26 saves in the loss.
On Sunday, Kalamazoo again scored the only goal of the first period, and took a 2-0 lead 16:44 into the second.
Just when Kalamazoo looked like it was on its way to a weekend sweep, the Ironmen got right back into the game.
Tyler Dunagan and Luc Gerdes each scored a goal within 30 seconds and tied the score with less than two minutes remaining in the second period. Assists came from Huba Sekesi, Ross Pavek, Michael Mazzotta and Evan Ritt.
Jamestown owned the third period as Elliot Tisdale scored a short-handed goal 7:12 in with an assist from Mottiqua.
Tisdale's score gave the Ironmen a 3-2 lead and proved to be the game-winner. Gerdes added his second goal of the day with an empty-netter in the last minute of the game with the assist from Ryan Urso.
The Ironmen almost doubled Kalamazoo's shots, outshooting the home team, 41-22 while Ballmer made 20 saves in goal during the 4-2 win.
"Kalamazoo is a good team, and we are happy to get out with the split and be back in second place in the North," said Jamestown coach Dan Daikawa.
The Ironmen are shooting to hold onto that second spot in the division in order to earn a first-round bye in the playoffs. Jamestown's four remaining regular-season games are at home starting this weekend as the Ironmen play host to the Michigan Warriors at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena on Friday at 7 p.m. and on Saturday at 5 p.m.