Wichita broke the ice with an early power-play goal on Friday when defenseman Noah Beck found the back of the net at 3:26 of the frame to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead on home ice.
Just over two minutes later, the Steelheads answered as Mitch Wahl and Ty Pelton-Byce attempted to create a turnover in front of the net and Kaleb Pearson as the eventual scorer took advantage from the left circle to give the Steelheads an equalizer at 5:27 of the frame.
Robbie Holmes quickly extended the lead, collecting a pass from Jordan Steinmetz and working straight to the front of the net for a backhand goal to make it a 3-1 Steelheads lead. Idaho capped off the first period barrage with a goal from Chris Dodero, who fired a puck from Wichita goalie Roddy Ross from the right circle to give the Steelheads a 4-1 lead.
In the middle frame, Wahl found a goal for himself as he tucked the puck past Ross on the short side for his eighth score of the season to give Idaho a 5-1 lead.
In the final frame, Wichita’s Declan Smith recorded another power play tally for the Thunder to take the Idaho lead, but despite power play time later in the game, Wichita could get no closer, and the Steelheads held on for the 5–2 win.
Idaho’s Ben Kraws stopped 40 of 42 shots in the win, while Wichita’s Roddy Ross turned aside 29 of 34 shots in the loss.
BOX SCORE
ICCU THREE STARS
1) Mitch Wahl (IDH, 1-2-3, +2, 2 shots)
2) Kaleb Pearson (IDH, 1-1-2, +1, 4 shots)
3) Noah Beck (WIC, 1-1-2, -2, 2 shots)
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