ROCHESTER , Minn. – The Rochester Grizzlies needed a good bounce back after a disappointing season opener last weekend. Rochester lost last week 10-0 to Granite City.
Consider Friday’s game to be redemption.
The Grizzlies bounced back in their home opener and won in dominating fashion, 10-1, over the Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts in front of a crowd of about 1,200 people. It was definitely a good statement to be made in front of a new fan base.
“We just wanted to get back to playing with pace, playing North…I think we did a pretty good job of that today,” Grizzlies Head Coach Casey Mignone said.
Rochester got three goals in the first period, with Joey Fodstad opening the scoring just 3:30 into the first period. Less than a minute later, Porter Haney picked up his first of the year on a partial breakaway. Lucas Jenkins would make it 3-0 Rochester with about five minutes left in the first.
“I was crashing the net hard coming down from the goal line, calling for it. Point man Colin [Mehren] throws the puck, hits me square in the head and goes right to the ice. I just buried it,” Jenkins said.
The Grizzlies would go on the get five goals in the second period, really taking it to the depleted Thunderbolts. Seth Bacon, Josh Hoffman, Lucas Newman, Colin Mehren and Brock Hildenbrand would all score goals for the Grizzlies in the second period. In between the fourth and the fifth goal, Evansville would score its first goal of the entire season, with Chase Lewiston scoring an unassisted power play goal.
“You need to keep the gas pedal going, even against depleted teams like Evansville,” Flanders said.
Matthew DeRosa and Ryan Lemker would score third period goals for the Grizzlies to make the final 10-1. Rochester would have 10 different goal scorers in the game.
“That’s pretty wild. I didn’t even realize that, having 10 different guys put it in the net. It’ll be good for us moving forward to have a couple lines that we can count on for some offense,” Mignone said.
Final shots in the game were 132-14. Yes, that’s correct. They were 132-14.
The Grizzlies are back on home ice Saturday night taking on the same Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts. Start time is set for 7:05. Saturday is also the Grizzlies’ Youth Hockey Night. Kids who wear their team jerseys get in the game for free. There will also be a skate with the Grizzlies after the game.