Four Goal Surge Propels Monarchs Past Wings, 6-3

Monarchs regain top spot in North Division

MANCHESTER, NH – Rihards Bukarts scored the first hat-trick of the season, and helped the Manchester Monarchs to a 6-3 victory over the Kalamazoo Wings on Sunday afternoon at SNHU Arena.

With the win, the Monarchs (13-7-1-1) took both games of the two-game weekend series with the Wings (7-13-0-2), and jumped back into a first place tie in the North Division.

Kalamazoo opened the scoring at 6:58 of the first period on Tanner Sorenson’s 3^rd goal of the season. Michael Trebish sent a shot toward the goal from the blue line that was deflected into the top corner of the net to beat Monarchs goaltender, Jonah Imoo, to give the Wings a 1-0 lead.

The Monarchs tied the contest on Bukarts 3^rd goal of the season at 15:47 of the first period. Justin Agosta passed the puck to Bukarts who was lurking at the top of the crease where he roofed the puck past Wings goaltender, Nick Riopel, to make the score, 1-1.

Zac Lynch gave the Monarchs the lead at 5:19 of the second period when he scored his 2^nd goal of the season. Daniel Doremus circled around the net and found Lynch in the slot where he ripped a shot past the leg of Riopel, making the score, 2-1, Monarchs.

The Wings tied the game just 32 seconds after Manchester took the lead when Kyle Blaney netted his first professional goal. Blaney took a backhand pass from Peter Schneider across the top of the goal crease, and sent a one-timer past Imoo to even the score, 2-2.

Kalamazoo took a 3-2 lead at 12:05 of the 2^nd period on a power-play goal from Schneider.

Dajon Mingo fired a shot from the point that hit the chest of Monarchs goaltender Imoo, but the loose puck fell onto the stick of Schneider who slid the biscuit in the cage for his 2^nd goal of the season.

The Monarchs tied the game once again at 5:45 of the third period when Joey Diamond scored his 10^th goal of the season. Connor Hardowa tossed the puck to Diamond in the right corner where he squeezed the puck between Riopel’s glove and the post to make the score, 3-3.

Manchester took the lead 31 seconds later when Bukarts scored his 2^nd goal of the night. Ciampini circled around the goal and sent a cross-slot pass to Bukarts in the left circle where he sent a one-timer into the back of the net, making the score, 4-3, Monarchs.

Bukarts completed the hat trick at 9:04 of the third period. Taking advantage of a 3-on-1 rush, Bukarts carried the puck all alone down the left side of the ice and shot the puck up and over Riopel to give the Monarchs a 5-3 lead.

The Monarchs ended the scoring at 16:02 of the third period when Diamond cashed in his 2^nd goal of the night. Teddy Doherty fed the puck to Diamond who rushed into the zone towards the goal and spun 360 degrees at the top of the crease to catch Riopel out of position to put the Monarchs up, 6-3.

The Monarchs are back in action Wednesday (7 p.m.), when they host the Norfolk Admirals at SNHU Arena for the first time this season.

Notes

• Rihards Bukarts scored the first hat-trick of the season
• Jonah Imoo recorded his 1^st professional win
• Joey Diamond recorded his 60^th professional assist
• Teddy Doherty’s +5 rating sets a single-game record for the Monarchs this season
• Craig Wyszomirski recorded his 1^st professional point with an assist