The Toros Take Two From the Jr. Blues
Saturday, January 4 – St. Louis 4 @ Mason City 8 – Mason City defeated St. Louis in a high-scoring, 8-4 contest. The Toros got the scoring started just under six minutes into the first period. Teis Larsen found the back of the net for the eighth time this season, giving Mason City the lead. The teams then traded goals just 13 seconds apart. Kellen Kantaris grabbed his 11th while Jack Reuss scored his sixth. The Toros led 2-1 after 20 minutes. Mason City continued to put the pressure on early in the second as Sam Menne pushed the team’s advantage to two. However, the Jr. Blues eventually broke through again. Ryan Hogan scored his first of the season before Brayden Davis tied the game at three with under five to play in the middle frame. The game was not tied for long, though. Dominic Despenas answered St. Louis just 31 seconds later to give Mason City a 4-3 advantage. The third period saw the Toro offense find another level. Mason City rattled off four consecutive goals including Parker McInroy’s 10th, Larsen’s second of the game and a pair from team-leading scorer Marcus Fritel. He now has 22 goals this season. Jack Plager added a fourth goal for St. Louis towards the end of the period, but it would not be enough. Toro goaltender Brooks Currie stopped 45 of the 49 shots he faced in the victory. The win brings Mason City to 34 points on the year as the team sits third in the West Division. The Jr. Blues remain 28 points and fifth in the Central Division.
Friday, January 3 – St. Louis 1 @ Mason City 6 – St. Louis hit the back of the net first, but from there it was all Mason City, as the Toros triumphed over the Jr. Blues Friday night 6-1. Mason Andrew netted on early to give St. Louis the advantage, before Marcus Fritel and TJ Gibson quickly put Mason City up by a pair. Fritel, Parker McInroy, and Teis Larsen each tacked on a goal in the second period to extend the Toros lead. After a back-and-forth third, Mason City sealed the deal late, courtesy of Stone Resch. In the dominant 6-1 victory, netminder Drew Blake was outstanding, padding aside 28/29 shots.
