2017 Neely Cup – Day 1 Results
The 2017 Neely Cup got underway Thursday at the Moda Center. Teams play each other in a pair of 25-minute games. Recaps of tonight’s contests are as follows, with the action continuing tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the Moda Center. CLICK FOR DAY ONE HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
Team Benning vs. Team Wiemer – Game 1
Team Wiemer took the Neely Cup opener with a 5-1 win over Team Benning in Game 1 of their doubleheader.
Returning forward Brett Clayton opened the scoring for Team Wiemer just over 3 minutes into the game. Under two minutes later, Reece Newkirk, a 2001-born player who spent last year with the Moose Jaw Generals, made it 2-0. Kieffer Bellows, who played last season with Boston University in the NCAA, scored on a beautiful toe-drag, wrist shot to make it 3-0.
Both Connor Bertamini and Kishaun Gervais added late markers to extend the lead to 5-0. Easton Easterson broke the shutout with Team Benning’s lone goal with under a minute to play.
Team Benning vs. Team Wiemer – Game 2
Team Wiemer continued their strong play in Game 2, this time defeating Team Benning 5-2. Team Benning took an early 1-0 lead on a goal from 2001-born Connor Bowie. But three straight goals from Ilijah Colina, Bellows (his 2nd of the day) and Darren Gisti vaulted Team Wiemer into a 3-1 lead.
Skyler Mckenzie scored with under 7 minutes to play to make it a 3-2 game. But Bertamini and Newkirk put the game out of reach with 2 goals in under 2 minutes to lead Team Wiemer to a 5-2 win.
Team Coburn vs. Team Johansen – Game 1
Team Coburn came away with the 1-0 win over Team Johansen in a low scoring affair in Game 1. Steller goaltending from Team Coburn’s Shane Farkas, a returning goalie from last season, and Callan Sandquist led to the eventual tandem shutout.
The lone goal scorer in this one was Mason Mannek, a forward who spent last year with the Colorado Thunderbirds U16 AAA. His goal with just under 5 minutes remaining would go on to be the game winner.
Team Coburn vs. Team Johansen – Game 2
Team Johansen’s offense woke up in Game 2. After being shutout in their first game, Johansen took Game 2 6-3 over Team Coburn. After Mannek and Ty Kolle traded early goals, it was all Ryan Hughes. Hughes scored two goals in 17 seconds to give Team Johansen the 3-1 lead.
After 2002-born Jack Whitmore made it 4-1 Team Johansen, returning forward Alex Overhardt got Team Coburn back within two with his first goal of the day. Ryan Hughes completed the hat-trick with just under 3 minutes to play to put Team Johansen up 5-2.
Late markers from defenseman Jason Chu and Mason Mannek (his 3rd goal on the day) made it a 6-3 final for Team Johansen.
Results after Day 1:
Team Wiemer: 2-0
Team Coburn: 1-1
Team Johansen: 1-1
Team Benning: 0-2
Tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s Championship games are available now HERE! Parking is FREE!
