Rochester, MN — The Rochester Grizzlies opened up the Regular season with a Home & Home series with the Wisconsin Woodsmen this past weekend. The Grizzlies traveled to Tomah on Friday and returned home on Saturday to end opening weekend.
Despite firing 39 shots on goal on Friday night, the Rochester Grizzlies came up short in their season opener, falling 6–3 to the Wisconsin Woodsmen. Wisconsin goaltender Lleyton Jaschke was the difference-maker, turning aside 36 shots to frustrate a heavy Grizzlies attack.
The tone was set early with a parade to the penalty box: seven combined infractions in the first 20 minutes. Rochester was the first to capitalize when Mason Decker(1) redirected a Julian Mollerstrandh(1) wrister on the power play for a 1–0 lead at 11:29. The goal picked up right where Decker left off after leading Rochester with 20 tallies a year ago.
Wisconsin wasted little time responding. Less than 90 seconds later, Cole Schreiber banged home a rebound over the shoulder of Grizzlies netminder Tate Metcalf to even things up 1–1 heading into the intermission.
Rochester dominated puck possession early in the second period, but Jaschke slammed the door. With the Grizzlies unable to cash in, Wisconsin flipped the script.
At 8:08, Micah Sieben broke free down the left wing and snapped one home to give the Woodsmen their first lead. Just over three minutes later, Ty Paulios doubled the advantage, burying a rush chance during 4-on-4 play.
The Grizzlies clawed back to within one early in the third when Brett Ludvigsen(1) wrapped one in at 17:18. But once again, Wisconsin had the answer, this time just 19 seconds later, as Josh Kauppinen struck to make it 4–2.
The Woodsmen never looked back, adding goals from Ozbej Muzan and Brandon Slasor to stretch the lead to 6–2.
Tevin Stukel(1) buried a late unassisted tally for Rochester to make it 6-3, but by then the damage had been done.
The final period turned chippy, featuring 11 penalties, including fighting majors and game ejections for Rochester’s Konnor Goclan and Wisconsin’s Tegan O’Brien.
Fast forward to Saturday night back at home in Rochester, the Grizzlies opened the home portion of their season with a 3-1 victory over the Wisconsin Woodsmen, using a strong first period and steady special-teams play to secure the win.
Ole Fevold(1) put the Grizzlies on the board at 13:41 of the opening frame, assisted by Rylan Schultz(1) and Cooper Johnson(1). Just under three minutes later at 16:13, Andrew Bastian(1) added to the lead with help from Ole Fevold(1), giving Rochester a 2-0 cushion after one
Rochester extended its advantage late in the second, when Tanner Lozano(1) buried a shot with just 12 seconds remaining in the period, assisted by Dodge County’s own, Brett Ludvigsen(1), and Rochester product, Ole Fevold(2). Pushing the lead to 3-0 and acting as the dagger.
Wisconsin spoiled the shutout bid in the final frame, as Maxim Lazo scored at 19:45 with help from Brandon Slasor, but that was all the Woodsmen could muster.
The game featured a handful of penalties, highlighted by an early unsportsmanlike call against Rochester’s Mason Decker in the first and some roughing exchanges in the third between both teams. Despite the physical play, neither side was able to capitalize on the man advantage.
Rochester finished with a decisive 41-25 edge in shots on goal. Grizzlies netminder Kyle Lappi earned his first career NA3HL win stopping 24/25 shots with a .960 Save Percentage, doing so in his hometown; he received a standing ovation as he was being interviewed after the game.
Jason Feldman from the Post Bulletin got a chance to interview Lappi and HC Marty Raymond after the game.
“The pace of play is definitely different”, Lappi said of the adjustment to junior hockey. “Everyone’s faster, everyone’s better. A lot of good skaters out there, goal scorers from all over…….But it’s been good. I’ve been training all summer for this. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been fun.”
First Year Grizzlies Head Coach, Marty Raymond was asked about Kyle Lappi’s Performance and said “He played (well), he gave us a chance……..Confidence comes from making all the saves you should make, and he did that. That can bring out the best in a team.”
The Grizzlies will be back at home next weekend to take on the sisiting Peoria Mustangs. Games are Friday the 19th and Saturday the 20th. The puck drops for both games at 7:00pm. Get your tickets at tickets.rochestergrizz.com