By Jim den Hollander
Editor/Publisher
Saukhockey.info
Once again, a weekend series provided two radically different scripts for the Dells Ducks junior hockey team although the end results were similar in Wisconsin Rapids against the host Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings.
After dropping a 7-2 decision Friday night, the Ducks returned to Rapids Saturday and fell 6-2 to wrap up a tough weekend.
On Friday (Nov. 10) the Ducks came out of the opening period even in a scoreless draw, but a closer look showed another dazzling effort from Anthony Falzone who kicked out all 20 shots he faced as the Ducks were outshot 20-8.
Inspired by a big crowd at their home opener, the Riverkings ramped it up again in the middle period, firing 29 shots but it was the Ducks on the board first as Lucas Epperson notched his first of the year, from Alic Schuster.
That goal came 5:46 into the frame and the home side found the mesh for the first time exactly a minute later, adding two more 94 seconds apart in the second half of the frame.
Schuster collected his sixth goal and second point of the game to get the Ducks within one 33 seconds from the end of the period on a feed from Braydan Kirchmann, but the Riverkings responded again 22 seconds later and carried a 4-2 cushion into the final 20.
It’s been a couple seasons since Falzone has faced that type of barrage in goal and Head Coach Anthony Rohde had no choice but a merciful exit after another goal 7:15 into the third with the Riverkings on their way to a 68-shot barrage.
An exhausted Falzone faced 59, allowing five before Juan Aguilar came on for the final 12:45 of the contest.
Saturday night was different in the way the game started as the Ducks trailed by the end of the second minute and entered the second period down 4-0 despite a moderately closer 17-9 margin in shots.
John Scott and Jack Kopfstein cut the margin in half with goals in the opening seven minutes of the second period, but the Riverkings added one before the end of the second and a clincher halfway through the final period.
Assists on the Ducks’ goals went to Martin Sorelli, his first point as a Duck, Ashot Davtyan, Austin Holmberg and Reece Atkins.
The Ducks sent three goaltenders to the crease, beginning with Falzone and followed by Michael Carden and Jack Freiberger, the latter kicking out 13 of 14 through the final 13:08 of the contest.
The losses extend the Ducks to a three-game losing streak and overall, the record drops to 4-13-1-1. As a result of the losses the Premier Midwest-West Division’s bottom three – Isanti Outlaws (5-13-1 – 11 points), Minnesota Mullets (5-13-0-0 – 10 points) and Ducks (4-13-1-1 – 10 points) are seeing the top six move away as Steele County Blades moved to 7-6-2-1 for 17 points in sixth place.
NEXT — DETROIT SHOWCASE
This week the Ducks will travel to Detroit for their second and final League Showcase at the Mount Clemens Ice Arena.
The team will begin Friday with a pair of games, against the Buffalo Stampede and MJDP, then play the Cincinnati Cyclones early Saturday before wrapping up against the Chicago Crush on Sunday. The Outlaws and Mullets will both not be attending this one so it will be vital for the Ducks to take advantage of the opportunity.
Later in the week this space will feature a preview of all four games as the Ducks look to make a major move once again at a Showcase event.
Ducks Quacks — OG Ducks player and former teammate of Coach Rohde, Ryan Devine collected his first point of the season with the Kansas City Mavericks recently against the Allen Americans.
Devine signed with the Mavs in the ECHL over the summer after playing parts of the previous seven seasons with teams in the Federal League and the SPHL along with a brief stint in Slovakia.
Sauk Hockey 