Cyclones season ends in game 3 of Fraser Cup Division Semifinal Series
(Wausau, WI) – The Fraser Cup Division Semifinal series between the Wausau Cyclones and Rochester Grizzlies saw the home team lose all three games leading to Rochester advancing to the Division Final.
Friday night the Cyclones battled back from a 2-0 deficit, scoring goals very late in the 1st and 3rd periods. Thomas Gerum scored with just 14 seconds remaining in the opening period, assisted by John Kriz and Easton Plachetka. Both teams would then go scoreless until the final minute of regulation when Connor Dvorak lit the lamp on a pass from Gerum and Landon Bechtolt, forcing overtime. It took eight shots and nearly 15 minutes, but ultimately Rochester scored, taking a 1-0 series lead. Wausau heavily outshot the visiting Grizzlies 52 to 27. Goaltender Tanner Bonjernoor made 24 saves in the contest.
Wausau bounced back in a big way on Saturday, scoring four unanswered goals to eventually win the game 5-2. Alec Mellon opened the scoring just under six minutes into the game, with an assist from Owen Gohm. Connor Dvorak had a huge second period, scoring twice with assists from Gerum, Frank Goodman, Jake Garrow and Jack Dawley. Plachetka added to the tally just over halfway through the 2nd period with an assist from Brady Knutsen. The Grizzles scored the first two goals of the 3rd period, but Wausau held strong and was rewarded with a Gerum goal, assisted by Mario Savino and Bechtolt with 95 seconds left in regulation. Bonjernoor got the nod again, making 28 saves in the win.
Back at home and with the season on the line, Wausau came up short on Sunday. The Cyclones were without one of their leading scorers in Micah Saxon, who sustained an injury on Saturday. The Grizzlies were able to survive a Mario Savino penalty shot attempt, win the special teams battle and score two empty net goals on their way to a 5-1 victory. The lone Cyclones goal was scored with less than 30 seconds remaining in the 2nd period, making it a 3-1 game at the time. Bonjernoor made 27 saves.
Stay connected during the off-season by following the Cyclones @wausaucyclones on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Subscribe to the Cyclones podcast “Inside Cyclones Hockey”, available on your favorite podcast network.
The Cyclones are members of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), one of three USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior leagues, serves as one of the top training grounds in the country by providing the best coaching, exposure and developmental vehicles available for student-athletes in its classification. The primary mission of the NA3HL is to provide a structured developmental environment for student-athletes who have aspirations of playing in the NAHL or United States Hockey League and eventually the NCAA or American College Hockey Association. For more information, visit wausaucyclones.com.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
