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Tahoe Iceman sweep Washington Blazers in Bellingham

Harper Dial
Special to the Tribune
Tahoe's Jackson Oleson moves the puck away from the Icemen goal earlier this season against the Ontario Avalanche.
Shawn Favilla / Courtes photo |

The Tahoe Icemen brought home six points from Washington after sweeping a three-game weekend set from the Bellingham Blazers. The Icemen maintained their perfect record against the Blazers this season after also sweeping them in late October at South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena.

Philip Heisse III scored the game winner in all three games, Friday, Nov. 17 to Sunday, Nov. 19.

The Icemen outshot the Blazers in two out of three games.



The Icemen won the series opener 4-2.

Tahoe scored the first goal of the game, but Bellingham answered with two before the end of the period. After the slow start, Bellingham couldn’t keep up with Tahoe in the second or third periods. The Icemen scored three unanswered goals. Bellingham goaltender Edward Coffey allowed four goals on 41 shots while Tahoe goalie Wade Conlan made 26 saves on 28 shots.



Three different 10-minute penalties were issued in the game. The Blazers had 44 penalty minutes including two 10-minute majors and the Icemen collected 24 minutes in penalties including one 10-minute major.

Heisse scored the game winner at 9:34 of the second period during a power play.

Tahoe struck first Saturday night in its 4-3 victory and kept Bellingham in catch-up mode until 11:42 of the second period when the Blazers captured their first lead.

The lead lasted 7:09 before the Iceman tied it prior to the third period.

Heisse III scored the game winner at 13:19 of the third period.

Paul Frys scored four points (two goals, two assists) and totaled eight points in the three games.

Saturday’s game was relatively tame in comparison to the night before, with only 16 minutes of penalties in total. The Blazers received 10 minutes in minors and Tahoe had six minutes in minors. Bellingham’s Coffey allowed four goals on 28 shots. Tahoe’s Conlan made 24 saves on 27 shots.

Throughout the series the Blazers connected on more big hits and won more faceoffs than Tahoe, but made too many turnovers to be effective. Sunday was no different as Tahoe prevailed 4-3. The home team scored first, ending the first period with a 1-0 lead.

Tahoe came out strong in the second and scored three unanswered goals.

The home team scored a pair in the final period, but Tahoe scored once to get the win in regulation. Heisse III waited until late for his third straight game winner, scoring at 1:55 in the third.

The Icemen racked up 44 minutes in penalties, including two 10-minute majors and a game misconduct for Danyil Alekseichuk. The Blazers had 10 minutes in minors.

Icemen goalie Maximilian Haselbacher made 32 saves on 35 shots. Blazers’ goalie Jake Holden had 42 saves, but it wouldn’t be enough to hold off the Icemen.

Tahoe (13-8-3) is in second place in the Western States Hockey League Northwest Division standings with 29 points, just one point behind the Idaho IceCats (15-0-0), but the Icemen have played nine more games.

The Icemen next will play the Utah Outliers (15-4-0 Mountain Division) Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1-3, at Accord Ice Arena in West Valley City. They will return home for a three-game set, Dec. 12-14, against the IceCats.


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