Cyclones split series with defending champion Rochester Grizzlies
(Wausau, WI) –The Wausau Cyclones took on the Rochester Grizzlies over the weekend as the Cyclones took on the top team in the Central Division. Wausau fell 2-0 Friday night and won 3-2 in the final seconds on Saturday, which moved their season record to (5-12-3-0).
Friday night, Rochester got on the board first at 7:33 of the 2nd period when Austin Meers netted his team leading 8th goal of the season. The game would remain 1-0 all the way until 19:01 of the final frame as Austin Meers scored an empty-net goal to secure the win for the Grizzlies. Mitch Miscevich took the loss for Wausau after stopping 32 of 33 shots faced. Wausau had a total of 24 shots on goal and just four in the 3rd period searching to tie the game.
Saturday night’s thrilling win was an instant classic that could end up turning the tides of a season. After falling behind 2-0 to Rochester the Cyclones got on the board at 18:04 of the 2nd period with a goal by forward Ricky Nelson. The goal was Nelson’s 7th of the season. Wausau trailed heading into the 3rd period trailing 2-1. The Cyclones quickly tied the game at two just 1:48 in the 3rd period when Cyclones forward Gage Vierzba scored his team leading 10th goal. After a Rochester charging penalty at 17:55 of the third period the Cyclones went on the man advantage with an opportunity to knock off the 15-5-0-1 Grizzlies. Wausau did just that in thrilling fashion as forward Hayden Shoemake netted the game-winning goal with 3.2 seconds left as he found a bouncing puck in front of goalie Tate Cothern. The win was the Cyclones first when trailing after two periods as they were 0-12-1-0 heading into Saturday’s game. Mitch Miscevich picked up the win for Wausau after stopping 38 of 40 shots.
Join us Thursday, December 29th for the Cyclones Hat Giveaway presented by Pizza Ranch and Friday, December 30th for Youth Hockey Night presented by AmFam Jim Clemens Agency. (All youth hockey players receive free admission by wearing their game jerseys). Tickets for both games are available online at wausaucyclones.com. Stay connected during the season by following the Cyclones @wausaucyclones on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and online at wausaucyclones.com. 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]
