TOMAH, Wis. – The Rochester Grizzlies made sure there was no Halloween fright Friday night, rolling past the Wisconsin Woodsmen 8–1 at the Tomah Ice Center to pick up their second straight win and move to 7–5–0–0 on the season.
After a sluggish few weeks that saw the Grizzlies drop four in a row, the offense has come alive, and Friday’s effort was their most dominant showing yet.
Rochester jumped out early and never looked back, potting four goals in the opening frame and controlling the pace from start to finish.
Mason Decker (16) led the charge with two goals, earning the game’s first star, while fellow forward Cooper Johnson (5) also scored twice to claim the second-star nod.
The balanced attack didn’t stop there, as Trenton Fore (1G, 2A) and Dominic Arndt (2A) each chipped in multiple points to help Rochester post its highest goal total of the season.
The Grizzlies set the tone early, outshooting the Woodsmen 17–3 in the first period and burying four of those chances.
Decker and Tevin Stukel (2) both found the back of the net in the frame, while Johnson scored twice to give Rochester a commanding 4–1 lead after 20 minutes.
Wisconsin’s lone tally came from defenseman Micah Sieben (2) midway through the first, but it proved to be the only blemish on an otherwise stellar night for goaltender Calkum Keating.
The 2007-born netminder turned aside 21 of 22 shots to earn his second win in three starts since joining the Grizzlies.
Rochester continued to pour it on in the second, tacking on two more goals while holding Wisconsin scoreless.
Defenseman Alex Arneson (1) scored on the power play before Decker netted his second of the evening to make it 6–1 through 40 minutes.
The Grizzlies outshot the Woodsmen 37–22 overall and went 2-for-4 on the power play.
The final frame was more of the same, as Briggs Knott (4) got in on the action with a third-period goal before Fore (6) capped the scoring to seal the 8–1 victory.
The win also marked Rochester’s third in four meetings with Wisconsin this season, including winning each of the last three meetings since opening night.
For a team that’s been searching for rhythm, Friday’s performance was almost as complete as they come.
Every line contributed, the defense kept things tight, and Keating once again proved reliable between the pipes.
The Grizzlies will look to carry their offensive surge into next weekend as they continue Central Division play.
With Decker now leading the team with 16 goals and the group rediscovering its confidence, Rochester seems to be trending back toward the form that made them an early-season powerhouse.