Grizzlies Win Fifth Straight to Start the Season with Rout of Tradesmen

Sep 23, 2022

ROCHESTER, MN – For the third straight season, the Rochester Grizzlies are 5-0. In a game that was never really close, Rochester defeated their Central Division rival Oregon Tradesmen 6-1 at the Rochester Recreation Center. The Grizzlies started the 2020-21 season with a nine-game win streak and started the 2021-22 season with a 13-game win streak.
Rochester controlled much of the play to start the game as it welcomed in the team it defeated in the Central Division Finals last season to earn a spot in the Fraser Cup Playoffs. The two teams have not met since that playoff series. Erik Hernborn opened the scoring at 14:08 of the first, firing a one-timer past AJ Adleman after a great feed from Luke Sawicky. Just 14 seconds later Austin Meers would beat Adleman to the glove side to make it 2-0.
The second period saw three goals from the Grizzlies. Zach Sweitzer scored at 2:49 as he knocked his own rebound in off Adleman and into the net. Grant Dardis would score his first career NA3HL goal on the power play after a perfect setup from Per Waage, who put the puck on a tee for Dardis, to make it 4-0 for the home team. Just under five minutes later, Lyncoln Bielenberg-Howarth scored a power-play goal in his first game back with Rochester to make it 5-0.
Spencer Klotz would add a late shorthanded goal for the Grizzlies, their second of the season. Bryce Stensrud would score on the same power play for Oregon to make it the 6-1 score.
Kaleb Bents was strong in net Friday for the Grizzlies as he stopped 29 of 30 shots to get the win. Adleman was saddled with the loss as he gave up five goals on 25 shots before being pulled for Tyler Fromolz.
Rochester and Oregon finish up the weekend Saturday at 7:05 PM from the Rochester Recreation Center. This game wraps up a four-game homestand for the Grizzlies.