Rytel’s Six-Point Night Pushes Mavericks to 8-0
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jack Rytel needed just one night to put himself in the Columbus Mavericks’ record books.
Rytel had three goals and three assists, and the Mavericks beat the Great Lakes Division rival Fort Wayne Spacemen 7-2 on Saturday night at OhioHealth Chiller North. Columbus remains perfect at 8-0 in its inaugural NCDC season and has outscored opponents 55-12.
Spacemen strike first
Fort Wayne took an early lead when Reid Hyde scored in the first period, assisted by Maximus Workman and Davin Robison. It was only the second time this season the Mavericks had trailed.
Columbus tied it with 3:51 left in the period. Jack Devlin scored, set up by Kenneth Cadwallader and Austin Letcher.
Four-goal second period
The Mavericks took over in the second period. Rytel gave Columbus the lead just 33 seconds in, assisted by Cadwallader and Letcher. He then had a hand in the next three goals. Cameron Hill scored with assists from Devlin and Rytel. Max Bloomfield followed, set up by Arturs Zirnitis and Rytel. Cadwallader closed the period’s scoring, assisted by Rytel, for a 5-1 lead.
Rytel completed his hat trick in the third. He scored 36 seconds into the period, assisted by Letcher and Devyn Bittner. Petter Olsson got one back for Fort Wayne on the power play, with an assist from Mikhail Gorbunov. Rytel answered with 5:06 remaining, set up by Letcher and Ethan Zuvela.
By the numbers
Rytel finished with three goals and three assists. Letcher had four assists, and Cadwallader added a goal and two assists. Devlin had a goal and an assist.
Gino Texter made 23 saves on 25 shots for the win. The Mavericks outshot the Spacemen 32-25.
Season Scoring Leaders (8 games)
Austin Letcher: 7 goals, 13 assists, 20 points
Kenneth Cadwallader: 6 goals, 12 assists, 18 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
Rytel has eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) in the two games he has played.
Next up
The Mavericks head to PSM Icehouse next week for four games in four days. They face the Minnesota Squatch on Thursday, Oct. 29 (11:30 AM) and the Toledo Cherokee on Friday, Oct. 30 (2:30 PM). On Saturday, Oct. 31 (9:30 AM), they get a rematch with the Fort Wayne Spacemen. The trip ends Sunday, Nov. 1 (12:30 PM) against the Red River Spartans. Every game will stream on USPHL+ through Black Bear Sports.