Letcher Leads Mavericks to Sweep of Chicago Union
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Austin Letcher had a weekend to remember, and the Columbus Mavericks’ unbeaten start rolls on.
Letcher had four goals and five assists as the Mavericks swept the Great Lakes Division rival Chicago Union at OhioHealth Chiller North. Columbus won 8-0 on Friday night and 4-3 on Saturday, with Letcher scoring the winning goal in the final minutes. The Mavericks are now 7-0 in their inaugural NCDC season and have outscored opponents 48-10.
Friday: Mavericks 8, Chicago Union 0
The Mavericks scored twice in a 62-second span early in the game and never looked back.
Letcher opened the scoring in the first period, assisted by Max Bloomfield and Kenneth Cadwallader. Devyn Bittner followed with an unassisted goal for a 2-0 lead.
Jan Sebastien Vancura scored on the power play early in the second period, set up by Cadwallader and Letcher. Bloomfield made it 4-0 late in the period, again with assists from Cadwallader and Letcher.
Columbus added four more in the third. Nicholas Borg scored first, assisted by Zack Shepherd. Letcher then scored his second goal of the night, set up by Ethan Zuvela and Cadwallader. Bloomfield added his second goal, assisted by Letcher, and Lukas Marek closed the scoring with assists from Zuvela and Vancura.
Gino Texter stopped all 21 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season and the second in Mavericks NCDC history. Letcher finished with two goals and three assists, while Cadwallader had four assists. Bloomfield added two goals and an assist. The Mavericks outshot the Union 45-21.
Saturday: Mavericks 4, Chicago Union 3
Chicago made the Mavericks work for it Saturday, erasing a two-goal deficit before Letcher delivered the game-winner.
Ethan Alexander opened the scoring on a first-period power play, assisted by Marek and Letcher. Colin Murphy answered for Chicago with 1:31 left in the period, set up by Miran Janezic.
Columbus took control in the second period. Letcher scored with assists from Cadwallader and Jack Rytel. Cadwallader then made it 3-1, assisted by Alexander and Letcher. Lincoln Stochl pulled the Union within one later in the period. He then set up Anthony Ostrowski for the tying goal early in the third.
With 2:23 left in regulation, Letcher scored the winning goal, assisted by Rytel and Cadwallader.
Letcher had two goals and two assists, while Cadwallader had a goal and two assists. Alexander added a goal and an assist, and Rytel had two assists. Gregor Kalinovsky made 25 saves on 28 shots for the win. The Mavericks outshot Chicago 31-28.
Weekend Leaders
Austin Letcher: 4 goals, 5 assists, 9 points
Kenneth Cadwallader: 1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points
Max Bloomfield: 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points (in one game)
Ethan Alexander: 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points
Jan Sebastien Vancura: 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points
Lukas Marek: 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points
Ethan Zuvela: 2 assists, 2 points
Jack Rytel: 2 assists, 2 points
Season Scoring Leaders (7 games)
Austin Letcher: 7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points
Kenneth Cadwallader: 5 goals, 10 assists, 15 points
Lukas Marek: 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points
Jan Sebastien Vancura: 6 goals, 5 assists, 11 points
Jameson Motyka: 2 goals, 8 assists, 10 points
Next up
The Mavericks return to OhioHealth Chiller North on Saturday, Oct. 24, to host the Fort Wayne Spacemen, another Great Lakes Division rival. Puck drop is 8:10 PM. Tickets are available at columbusmavericks.com/fan-zone/tickets, and the game will stream on USPHL+ through Black Bear Sports.