The Rochester Grizzlies are back in the win column and back atop the West Division after a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Loons. Rochester is now 6-0 against their new West Division rivals this season, with the seventh game coming Saturday evening also from the Rochester Recreation Center.
Rochester controlled play throughout the first period and broke through when Noah Joyce scored a highlight reel goal to make it 1-0. The home team would find the back of the net again when Owen Van Tassel finished off a pretty passing play to make it 2-0, scoring his 14th of the season.
Lennard Habeck beat Loons goaltender Steven Kelley with a hard wrist shot just 2:29 in the second, scoring his 10th of the season. Minnesota broke through with a power play goal from Edouard Hamm at 8:31 of the second period. Rochester got its three goal lead back when Twanne Haisma finished off a pass from Luke Sawicky to make it 4-1 at 19:21 of the second.
Haisma scored his second of the game at 14:46 of the third for his first multi-goal effort of his NA3HL career. Haisma had a goal called back earlier in the period after the play was initially blown dead by the referee. Minnesota tallied another power play goal late in the third to make it 5-2.
After the game Twanne Haisma thanked his team after receiving the first star and the locker room chains; “Thank you guys for having my back, allowing me to skate up tonight. Two greasy goals, and a good win to start the New Year!”
The Grizzlies are back at home tomorrow for the second game against the Loons at 7:05pm at the Rec Center.