The North Iowa Bulls used a sparkling performance by Chris Amsden to take down the St. Louis Jr. Blues, as the netminder did not allow a goal in North Iowa\’s 7-0 shutout victory.
The win gave the Bulls a 1-0 lead in the best of one series.
North Iowa got the win behind a great game by Matt Kroska, who had one goal and two assists. Kroska scored 3:28 into the first period to make the score 1-0 North Iowa. Rihards Marenis provided the assist.
The Bulls stifled St. Louis\’ power play, and did not give up a single goal while down a man. North Iowa kept the Jr. Blues\’ goalie busy throughout the game, and Billy Hindle made 38 saves on 45 shots.
North Iowa additionally got points from Marenis, who also had two goals and one assist. Others who scored for North Iowa included Zach Jones, Dominik Florian, Matt Fosdick, and Cameron Brown, who scored one goal each. Other players who recorded assists for North Iowa were Chancie Hanson, who had two and Ron Lindgren, Austin Jackson, Tim Santopoalo, and Wesley Iverson, who each chipped in one.
St. Louis put up an impenetrable defensive front on the penalty kill, and did not allow the Bulls to score on any of their four power plays.
Amsden rejected 25 shots on goal for North Iowa. The Bulls incurred 26 minutes in penalty time with eight minors. The Jr. Blues incurred 14 minutes in penalty time with seven minors.