ROCHESTER, MN – The Rochester Grizzlies have found their winning ways again. It’s been since Dec. 21 since they’ve been in the win column but they managed to find their winning ways again, beating the Oregon Tradesmen 6-2. Saturday’s win ended a four-game losing streak for Rochester.
Oregon would find the back of the net first as the ever-dangerous Sam Vanderhoeven scored his second goal in as many nights, beating Niko Goich to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at 3:30 of the first. That lead would last until 12:45 of the first when Austin Meers would tie the game for the Grizzlies, chipping the puck past Ian Hedican on the rebound. Just about five minutes later, Noah Roitman’s point shot would rattle in off a couple of defenders and past Hedican to make it 2-1 Rochester.
The second period was all Grizzlies as captain Justin Wright scored his 12th goal of the season at 7:35, beating Hedican with a sneaky shot on the ice. Adam Johnson picked up his second assist of the night on the goal. At 14:24 Luke Morrisette would get in on the action after a net mouth scramble, jamming the puck in to make it 4-1 for the home team.
Oregon would cut the lead to 4-2 early in the third with Jason Tenezaca finding the back of the net. That’s as close as the visitors would get, however. Max Breon and Cole Gibson rounded out the scoring for Rochester in the third period. Johnson finished the game with three assists for the Grizzlies.
Goich picked up his first career NA3HL win in the net, stopping 25 of 27 shots. He has only given up five goals in his three starts with the Grizzlies this season.
Rochester improves to 25-6-2, good for 52 points, and regains the seven-point lead over second-place Oregon. The Grizzlies are back home next weekend for two games against the St. Louis Jr. Blues as they continue the six-game homestand.