A goalie earns a shutout in his second professional start, while a fan cracks the Friday Five for the first time in this feature’s (very short) history.
Let’s dive in to some of the standouts from another exciting Friday in the ECHL.
Kyle Masters: Iowa Heartlanders
The thorn in the Cincinnati Cyclones’ side on Friday was none other than Iowa defenseman Kyle Masters, who scored back-to-back goals including the game-winner in a 4-3 overtime victory.
Masters tied the game 3-3 with six minutes left in the third period, firing in a wrist shot from the right point. Austen Swankler and Keltie Jeri-Leon each earned an assist.
In overtime, the Heartlanders went on the power play. Masters capitalized with 1:35 remaining after taking a feed from Ryan Miotto at the right post, slamming the puck into the net for the game-winner.
The Minnesota Wild selected Masters in the fourth round (118th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. He has nine points (4-5-9) in 22 games with the Heartlanders this season. Over nine games with the AHL’s Iowa Wild, masters has recorded a goal and an assist for two points this season.
Cade Borchardt: Kansas City Mavericks
Borchardt tallied two goals in the Mavericks’ 6-3 win over the Allen Americans at Cable Dahmer Arena.
Borchardt netted his first goal at 3:13 of the opening period to extend KC’s lead to 2-0. It was his 30th of the season.
His second came at the 11:57 mark of the third period to widen the Mavericks’ margin to 5-2.
Borchardt is the Mavericks’ leading scorer and ranks fifth in the ECHL with 54 points (31-23-54) in46 games.
As is often the case when two division rivals go at it, the game got a bit physical, especially in the third period.
Josh Thrower and Nick Isaacson dropped the gloves at the 10:39 mark. Americans defenseman Cole Fraser was ejected for an illegal check to the head two minutes later. The teams will get another crack at each other on Saturday night.
Kohei Sato: Bloomington Bison
The 28-year-old native of Nishitokyo, Japan had a three-point night in a 5-2 Bison win over the Indy Fuel at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Sato broke a 1-1 tie 57 seconds into the second period, snapping in a wrister for his third of the season. Sam Coatta and Matt Staudacher picked up assists.
Sato picked up helpers of his own on Bloomington’s next two goals. The first came on a Danny Katic goal off a partial breakaway for a 3-2 Bison lead. His next occurred 3:17 into the third period when he fed Coatta, who snuck the puck into the twine past goaltender Nolan Neaton.
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the Bison, who return for another home matchup Saturday night that will feature former New York Ranger and two-time Stanley Cup winner Adam Graves.
Luke Lush: Tulsa Oilers
A goalie never forgets that first professional win, especially when it’s a shutout.
Luke Lush made just his second pro start for the Tulsa Oilers against an explosive Wheeling Nailers squad on the road.
Lush was more than up to the task, stopping all 17 shots he faced, shutting out the Nailers 3-0 and sending home a stunned WesBanco Arena crowd.
The Oilers got a goal in each period. Tyler Poulsen scored his 13th of the season 13:22 into the first period, Justin Michaelian made it 2-0 at 4:01 of the middle frame and Reid Petryk put the icing on the cake with his tally at the 6:52 mark of the third.
Lush signed with the Oilers in early October following a five-year NCAA career split between Sacred Heart University and RIT. Ironically, his first collegiate victory also came on a shutout in his freshman year at Sacred Heart.
Micki Smith: Savannah Ghost Pirates Fan
For the first time in the short history of our Friday Five, a fan has made the cut, and with good reason.
In February 2024, Micki Smith was diagnosed with a form of leukemia. The good news is that she is now in remission a year later.
Smith dropped the ceremonial puck for the Savannah Ghost Pirates prior to Friday’s game against the Worcester Railers.
The ceremony kicked off the Ghost Pirates’ Crush Cancer Weekend. As for the game, Savannah outdueled the Railers 6-4 despite a furious Worcester comeback attempt.
A hearty stick tap to Micki for fighting the good fight!