Premier Mavericks Go 3-0-1 in Chicago, Stay Unbeaten in Regulation
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Mavericks' Premier team came within a shootout of a perfect weekend at the USPHL Chicago Showcase.
The Mavericks beat the Northwest Express 9-0 on Thursday and the Dells Ducks 5-1 on Friday morning. They fell 5-4 in a shootout to the Chicago Crush on Friday night, then closed the showcase Saturday with a 9-0 win over the Fresh Coast Freeze. Columbus went 3-0-1, outscored its opponents 27-5 and recorded two shutouts. Including their 9-0 season-opening win over the Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones on Sept. 20, the Mavericks are now 4-0-1 and have yet to lose in regulation.
Alexander Chilicki led the way with seven points, including a four-goal game Saturday. Parker Arlet matched him with seven points, while Sam Pies and Evan Moore had six apiece.
Game 1: Mavericks 9, Northwest Express 0
Thursday, Oct. 1
Pascal Bezares Ramirez set the tone for the weekend with a hat trick. Robert Cook stopped all 13 shots he faced for the shutout.
Arlet opened the scoring in the first period, assisted by William Dabb. Bezares Ramirez then scored twice before intermission, both times set up by Pies, for a 3-0 lead.
Columbus added six more in the second period. Dabb, Moore, Alan Faulkner III and Patrik Frydecky each scored. Bezares Ramirez completed his hat trick, assisted by Ryder Gamey. Moore closed the scoring with his second goal of the night, with assists from Hudson Gerber and Dabb.
Pies had three assists, while Arlet and Dabb each had a goal and two assists. The Mavericks outshot the Express 60-13.
Game 2: Mavericks 5, Dells Ducks 1
Friday, Oct. 2
The Ducks scored first when Jakub Lokvenc found the net early in the first period, with an assist from Gianluca Minicozzi. The lead didn't last long.
AJ Alan Faulkner Jr. tied the game, assisted by Faulkner III and Simon Sochor. Just nine seconds later, Sochor put Columbus ahead with assists from Faulkner Jr. and Arlet. Frydecky added his second goal of the showcase before the end of the period, set up by Gamey, for a 3-1 lead.
Chilicki and Pies scored in the second period, Pies on the power play. Dylan Harris assisted on both goals.
Liem Nguyen made 29 saves on 30 shots for the win. Faulkner Jr. and Sochor each had a goal and an assist, while Faulkner III and Harris each had two assists.
Game 3: Chicago Crush 5, Mavericks 4, Shootout
Friday, Oct. 2
Friday night was the Mavericks' toughest test of the young season. Neither team led by more than a goal all night.
Chilicki opened the scoring, assisted by Konstantin Schleiermacher. Brandon Adolfino answered for Chicago, and Dabb restored the Columbus lead before the end of the first period, set up by Gamey.
The game went back and forth through the second period. Adolfino tied it again, and Schleiermacher put Columbus back on top, assisted by Moore. Blake Adolfino and Joseph Bledsoe then scored for the Crush, Bledsoe on the power play, to give Chicago its first lead of the night at 4-3.
Columbus answered late in the second period. With 2:15 left, Sochor scored a power-play goal to tie the game 4-4, assisted by Pies and Dabb.
Overtime solved nothing, and the Crush won the shootout to take the extra point. Chilicki scored for Columbus in the shootout.
Cook was outstanding, making 46 saves on 50 shots through regulation and overtime.
Game 4: Mavericks 9, Fresh Coast Freeze 0
Saturday, Oct. 3
The Mavericks answered their first blemish of the season in a big way. Chilicki had four goals and an assist, and Gavin Jones made 31 saves for the shutout.
Arlet scored first, assisted by Schleiermacher. Sochor followed with a goal assisted by Moore. Chilicki then took over, scoring on the power play from Owen Abraham and Arlet, then again from Arlet, for a 4-0 lead after one period.
Chilicki completed his hat trick early in the second period, assisted by Johnny McHugh. He then set up Moore for a 6-0 lead.
In the third, Abraham scored shorthanded, assisted by Pies. Chilicki added his fourth goal of the morning on the power play, set up by Schleiermacher. Moore finished the scoring with just 10.7 seconds left, assisted by Abraham.
Arlet and Abraham each added a goal and two assists, while Moore had two goals and an assist. Columbus outshot the Freeze 57-31.
Weekend Leaders
Alexander Chilicki: 6 goals, 1 assist, 7 points
Parker Arlet: 2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points
Sam Pies: 1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points
Evan Moore: 4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points
Simon Sochor: 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points
William Dabb: 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points (in three games)
Konstantin Schleiermacher: 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points
Pascal Bezares Ramirez: 3 goals, 3 points
In Goal
Robert Cook: 1-0-1, shutout vs. Northwest Express (13 saves); 46 saves vs. Chicago Crush
Liem Nguyen: 1-0-0, 29 saves vs. Dells Ducks
Gavin Jones: 1-0-0, shutout vs. Fresh Coast Freeze (31 saves)
Next up: Home opener
The Premier Mavericks also return to Central Ohio next weekend for their home opener. Columbus hosts the Red River Spartans at OhioHealth Chiller North, 8144 Highfield Drive in Lewis Center, on Friday, Oct. 9, at 2:30 PM. The two teams meet again Saturday, Oct. 10. Tickets are available at columbusmavericks.com/fan-zone/tickets, and both games will stream on USPHL+ through Black Bear Sports.