NCDC Final Buzzer: Blue Ox Sweep, Ventura Wins Three Thrillers, Lewiston Takes First
The NCDC completed a 56-game weekend from Nov. 6-8, with division races shifting across the league.
Minnesota Blue Ox and Ventura each completed three-game sweeps, while P.A.L., Springfield, Metro, Lewiston, Vermont, Rockets Hockey Club, Charlotte, Carolina and Tampa Bay all finished 2-0.
Twenty-one games were decided by one goal, including eight that required overtime or a shootout. Three teams recorded shutouts.
North: Blue Ox Take Control
Minnesota Blue Ox completed a three-game sweep of Wisconsin Rapids, beginning with a 4-3 victory Friday. The Blue Ox followed with an 8-3 win Saturday and closed the series with a 7-4 victory Sunday.
Minnesota scored 19 goals during its perfect weekend and moved into first place with 21 points.
Northwest Express defeated Minnesota Squatch 5-4 Friday before earning a point in Sunday’s 6-5 shootout loss to Hudson Havoc. Northwest finished the weekend second with 17 points, one ahead of Hudson.
Pacific: Ventura Sweeps Three One-Goal Games
Ventura and Lake Tahoe played one of the weekend’s closest series, with all three games decided by one goal.
The Vikings earned a 7-6 shootout victory Friday, won 3-2 Saturday and completed the sweep with a 4-3 overtime victory Sunday.
Ventura extended its winning streak to seven games and moved into first place with 23 points.
Fresno also earned two victories. After falling 2-1 to Ontario on Friday, the Monsters responded with 6-3 and 6-2 wins to take the three-game series.
Atlantic: P.A.L. and Rockets Gain Ground
P.A.L. Junior Islanders earned two decisive victories, defeating West Chester 7-3 on Friday and the Jersey Hitmen 5-1 on Saturday.
The four-point weekend moved P.A.L. into second place with 22 points, three behind Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Rockets Hockey Club also went 2-0, defeating WBS 6-3 Saturday before shutting out Mercer 4-0 Sunday. The Rockets extended their winning streak to three games and moved to 19 points.
WBS also fell 4-1 to Mercer on Friday but remained atop the Atlantic with 25 points.
Colonial: Springfield Extends Winning Streak
Springfield collected four points and extended its winning streak to six games.
The Pics defeated the Boston Jr. Rangers 5-2 on Saturday before surviving Utica 7-6 in a Sunday shootout. Springfield finished the weekend leading the Colonial with 27 points.
New York Dynamo produced the weekend’s highest single-game total in a 15-1 victory over the Connecticut RoughRiders. Losses to Vermont and Syracuse, however, left the Dynamo with a 1-2 weekend.
Vermont went 2-0, defeating New York 5-3 and Quebec Universel 5-4. Syracuse finished 2-1, earning victories over the Connecticut Chiefs and Dynamo around an 8-1 loss to Utica.
Metro: One Point Separates the Leaders
South Shore opened with a 6-1 victory over Northern before falling 6-2 to the Connecticut Jr. Rangers on Saturday.
Northern recovered from Friday’s loss with a 3-2 shootout victory over CJR on Sunday. South Shore finished the weekend leading the Metro with 22 points, followed by Northern with 21 and the Boston Jr. Rangers with 20.
The Boston Jr. Bruins went 2-0, defeating the Boston Jr. Terriers 4-1 Saturday and Worcester 3-2 Sunday.
Northeast: Lewiston Moves Into First
Lewiston took over first place in the Northeast with a pair of victories.
The MAINEiacs defeated previous leader Woodstock 4-1 Friday before shutting out Perth-Andover 2-0 Saturday. Lewiston extended its winning streak to seven games and finished the weekend with 23 points.
Woodstock rebounded with a 5-3 victory over Northern Maine, keeping the Warriors one point behind Lewiston.
Montreal defeated St. Stephen 5-2 before falling 6-4 to Thunder on Sunday. St. Stephen closed the weekend with a 3-2 shootout victory over Quebec Universel.
Great Lakes: Metro Wins Twice
The Metro Jets edged Columbus 3-2 on Friday and defeated Fort Wayne 4-1 Saturday to complete a 2-0 weekend.
Columbus responded with a 3-2 victory over Toledo, allowing the Mavericks to retain first place with 21 points. Metro’s two victories moved the Jets to 15 points.
Southeast: Charlotte and Carolina Complete Sweeps
Charlotte swept its two-game series against Yorktown, winning 9-5 Saturday and 6-0 Sunday.
The Rush extended their winning streak to five games and moved into first place with 24 points.
Carolina also went 2-0, defeating Red River 5-3 on consecutive days.
Potomac and Red Bank split their series. The Generals earned a 3-2 shootout victory Saturday before the Patriots answered with a 6-5 win Sunday.
Florida: Tampa Bay Reaches 10 Straight
Tampa Bay extended its winning streak to 10 games with victories over Florida Surge and Coral Springs.
The Juniors defeated the Surge 4-2 Saturday and the Jr. Cats 6-3 Sunday, strengthening their hold on first place with 20 points.
Coral Springs split the weekend after opening with a 5-2 victory over the Florida Jr. Blades. Typhoon earned a 4-2 win over the Surge on Sunday.
Mountain: Casper Takes Series, Vernal Gains Ground
Casper and McCall played three consecutive one-goal games.
McCall won Friday’s opener 6-5, but Casper answered with a 3-2 victory Saturday and a 4-3 overtime win Sunday to take the series.
Rock Springs and Vernal played to a 3-3 tie Saturday. The Oilers then defeated first-place Park City 5-4 on Sunday, moving within three points of the Outliers.