Riels 5 vs Twisters 2  Sun. Feb.23, 2014

FIRST PERIOD

Riels opened the scoring at 1:38 when power forward, Chris Prejet scored his 7^th of the season on a nice pass fed from Brett Charette and Mike Riffel.

Then at 14:30 on the power play, Brett Charette and Stanislav Izvekov made a great set up for Brian Dies to score his 29^th of the season.  The first period ended up 2-0 Riels who also out shot the Twisters 11-8.  There could have be more goals in that period, but both goal tenders Grossmueller for the Twisters and the Riels veteran net minder, Vandemosselaer were outstanding.

SECOND PERIOD

Twisters were pressing early, but Vandemosselaer stood his ground making big saves.  Finally, Brett Seymour scored at 5:28 to cut the lead in half 2-1 Riels with assists going to Carter Zalluski and Brendan Dusik.  Riels were on their heals with Twisters winning battles low in Riels territory.  At 16:46, Mitch Chanel scored to tie the game 2-2 with help from Mazinke and Clark.

Riels took advantage of a power play at 17:42 when Brian Michiels finished off a beautiful passing play scoring his 23^rd of the season with assists coming from Michael Gorrie and Russell Trudeau.  That boosted the home team taking the lead 3-2 into the dressing room after two.  The Twisters out shot the Riels 16-8 in the second period.

THIRD PERIOD

The Riels played good defensively in the second and Kyle Vandemosselaer was stellar.

Riels veteran forward, Glen Young scored is 17^th of the season at 3:36 finishing off a play being on the doorstep beating Grossmueller to make it 4-2 Riels.  Royce Nixdorf and Artur Raevskiy made the assists.  That made the Riels play a solid defensive game to victory.  Captain Michael Gorrie spotted the empty net with his 26^th of the season at 19:27 to seal the deal with assists going to  Ryan Wilgosh and Mike Riffel.  Riels win the game 5-2 and who outshot the Twisters 12 – 11 in the third period.  Twisters out shot the Riels overall 35-31. 

It was an all around good team effort win tonight for the Riels.  The coaching staff switched up the lines to throw a different look to the Twisters and it paid off. 

Great performance by Kyle Vandemosselaer to lead his troops to a first place overall finish with 72 points.

Riels clinch home ice throughout the playoffs.  Riels finish off two more games this week with the first game on Friday Feb. 28^th at Century arena vs. the Twins who might be the team the Riels meet in the first round of the playoffs.  Then Sunday night at 7:30pm March 2^nd at the Civic Center vs. the Canucks. 

Riels first playoff game is Tuesday March 4^th at 7:30pm at Southdale CC.  Don’t miss the excitement for great playoff hockey in the MMJHL.

Come cheer your Riels to victory.

THREE STARS

       1^st Star   -   Kyle Vandemosselaer

       2^nd Star  -   Royce Nixdorf

      3^rd Star    -   Michael Gorrie