New Mexico Ice Wolves vs. Lone Star Brahmas (October 8th)
The New Mexico Ice Wolves played division game number one and overall game number five Friday night against the Lonestar Brahmas in North Richland Hills, Texas. This contest was a true showing of the south divisions speed, skill, and physicality. The Ice Wolves opened the scoring thanks to a deflection by Will Howard from a shot by captain Brandon Holt. The Brahmas would respond just over two minutes later and tie it up thanks to their leading scorer Nicholas Niemo. Dillan Bentley, also a captain for the Ice Wolves, found the back of then net on a perfectly placed shot beating Graham Burke and giving the Ice Wolves a two to one lead after the first twenty minutes. Lonestar would waste little time in the second period tying the game at two just over three minutes into the period from Sam Antenucci’s stick. Dillan Bentley put the team on his back and lead by example and score off a face off to give New Mexico a one goal advantage once again. The Brahmas, however, would not go away as they would tie the game just forty-four seconds later. The teams entered the third period tied at three when Blayde Pogreba scored his first NAHL goal to give the Ice Wolves a four to three advantage, this also turned out to be the game winning goal. Will Howard was not done as he would find the back of the net on yet another deflection this time coming on the Watt Electric LLC powerplay for the first two goal lead of the game. This goal also chased out starter Graham Burke and the Ice Wolves got a look at Arthur Smith. The Brahmas pulled Smith with just about two and a half minutes left in regulation when Will Howard found the puck in the neutral zone and fired it into the open cage and completed the first hat trick in Ice Wolves history. Not to be forgotten in all of the goal scoring and milestones that happened, goaltender Beni Halasz was his normal self making incredible save after incredible save capturing his second victory of the season behind a twenty-one save performance.