Anchorage Wolverines visited Richfield Ice Arena for the first time September 24-25 as the newest member of the NAHL Midwest continue their inaugural NAHL road trip. At the end of two hard fought games each team finished with two points.
The visitors jumped out of the gates in the Friday opener scoring twice in the opening five minutes. Hunter Longhi answered with his fourth of the season, but the Wolverines added another before intermission to lead 3-1.
A spirited Magicians came out in the second scoring three straight goals to take a 4-3 advantage. Sam Jacobs scored on the powerplay at 4:06 before Lucas Kanta tied the game just :22 later. Kanta would add a second just past the midway mark of the period, but Anchorage fought back to tie the game before intermission.
Cam Boche restored the Magicians lead just 2:40 of the third making it 5-4. It stayed that way until Andy Ramsey evened things once again at 15:28. Undeterred, the Magicians thrilled the home crowd when Trevor Kukkonen scored the game winner at 17:06.
Gavin Best, Spencer Light and Will Schumacher each chipped in with a pair of assists in the game while goaltender Sami Molu made 28 saves to earn the win.
🚨 Trevor Kukkonen has the Magicians back in front 6-5 scoring with just 2:54 to play! https://t.co/0cqoVVKT02 #NAHL
— Minnesota Magicians (@MNMagiciansNAHL) September 25, 2021
The next night had a similar look to the opener – except the Magicians were first to strike. Boche netted his fourth of the season just past the midway point of the first. Anchorage evened things at 18:15 before Will Magnuson restored the lead just :37 later. It was the first career NAHL goal for the former Prior Lake High standout blueliner. Jacobs assisted on both Magicians goals.
Anchorage took control in the second though scoring twice with an 11-5 shot advantage in the period.
Trailing 3-2, the Magicians took advantage of a powerplay early in the third when Best teamed up with Longhi who tied the game. Not to be outdone this night, the Wolverines responded with a powerplay goal of their own at 5:07 and held on to the 4-3 victory.
Minnesota Magicians (5-3-0-0) hit the road for the first time this weekend traveling to face the Springfield Jr. Blues (5-1-0-0) on Friday and Saturday. Both games will stream live on HockeyTV.