Rochester, MN- The Mason City Toros fell to the Rochester Grizzlies in a wild Friday night game in overtime 7-6, in their last game before going to the 2023 NA3HL Showcase in Blaine, MN.
Each team landed a goal in the opening stanza. Matt Haun opened for Rochester while Jax Schauer answered for Mason City for a tie score at 1-1 after the first period.
The second period saw the goal scoring tick up in a big way. Dominic Despenas and Aaron Sawicki put the Toros ahead 3-1 in the first 2:27 of the frame. Wyatt Witham cut the deficit down to 3-2 at the frame’s 8:55 mark. Sawicki notched his second goal of the period to extend the advantage to 4-2, marking his sixth multi-point game of his season. Matt Haun scored his second goal of the game to cut the deficit to 4-3 before intermission.
Jax Schauer jumped off the blocks quickly in the third period, scoring his second goal of the night just 49 seconds into the period. David Loahr ballooned the lead up to 6-3 at the 11:40 mark of the frame. From there, Rochester staged a remarkable comeback, scoring three goals in the final three minutes of the game. Noah Joyce and Andrew Bastian cut the deficit down in the first two of those final minutes. The clock burned down to less than a second remaining before Joyce scored his second goal of the night and tied the game.
In the overtime period, Ty Petzke ended the night with his first goal of the season.
Drew Blake stopped 33 shots in the Toro’s net.
Miles Berg recorded three assists on the evening. Jax Schauer added an assist to his two goals for three points as well.
Maksim Lakic ended the night with four assists for the Grizzlies.
The Mason City Toros open up the 2023 NA3HL Showcase on Sunday against the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks. Puck drops at 5:45 PM on Sunday night.