January 2015 – North Platte Post Archive

Storm Hold On For 5-4 Shootout Win

Posted on January 31, 2015

KEARNEY, Neb. – Despite losing a four-goal lead, the Tri-City Storm (22-10-5) prevailed in a shootout and defeated the Sioux Falls Stampede (18-15-5) for their eighth consecutive victory in front of 3,551 fans at the Viaero Event Center on Saturday night.

Storm forwards Garrett Gamez and Nick Master each had a goal and an assist in regulation, before both Chris Wilkie and Cody Milan converted in the shootout to help claim the extra point.

Alec Dillon made the start for Tri-City and picked up the win, making 24 saves and two extra stops in the shootout.

Matthew Freytag put the Storm ahead 1-0 in the first period, scoring his 11th goal of the season while Tri-City was on their first power play opportunity. The Wayzata, Minn. native found a rebound in front and swept it in with assists from defensemen Tory Dello and Mattias Goransson.

Minutes later, Gamez scored his first goal since returning from injury, ripping a wrist shot past Sioux Falls netminder Stefanos Lekkas to make it 2-0. Nick Master and Jalen Schulz were credited with assists on the captain’s eighth goal of the season.

Master widened the lead in the middle period, scoring his 13th of the season and sixth in his last five games. The Broomall, Penn. native found space and beat Lekkas with assists from Gamez and defenseman Jason Krych.

Gamez now has 22 points this season in 22 games on eight goals and 14 assists. For Krych, the assist was his first of the season in his 23rd game.

Chase Berger made it 4-0 Tri-City later in the second when he finished off a perfect tic-tac-toe passing play with a redirection into the net. Dan Labosky started the rush and brought the puck in the zone. He then passed across the ice to Joel Herbert, who found Berger streaking to the net for the deflection.

The momentum took a turn for the worse later in the second as Sioux Falls began its comeback. Kieffer Bellows scored the first of his three tallies on the night at 15:53 of the middle period to make it 4-1 at the second intermission.

Then in the third, the Stampede got a breakaway goal from Daniel Warpecha before two more tallies from Bellows with an extra attacker on the ice in the final minutes to tie the game and force overtime.

Bellows scored again in the first round of the shootout, but Alec Dillon shut the door on Troy Loggins and Logan O’Connor to give Tri-City the victory.

Tri-City remains in second place in the USHL’s Western Conference with 49 total points.

The Storm hit the road for a three-game trip starting Friday against the Lincoln Stars at 7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forward Kyle Eastman along with defenseman Cameron Spicer. Defenseman Gordi Myer was also scratched, serving a one-game suspension…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
Tri-City – Matthew Freytag (Tory Dello, Mattias Goransson) 9:47
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez (Nick Master, Jalen Schulz) 15:57

2nd Period

Tri-City – Nick Master (Garrett Gamez, Jason Krych) 8:51
Tri-City – Chase Berger (Joel Herbert, Daniel Labosky) 11:59
Sioux Falls – Kieffer Bellows (Cooper Marody, Chris Pohlkamp) 15:53

3rd Period
Sioux Falls – Daniel Warpecha (unassisted) 10:20
Sioux Falls – Kieffer Bellows (extra attacker) (Dillon Eichstadt, Cooper Marody) 18:22
Sioux Falls – Kieffer Bellows (extra attacker) (Cooper Marody) 19:06

Overtime
(no scoring)

PENALTIES

1st Period
Sioux Falls – Clint Lewis – (Hooking), 2 min, 8:36
Sioux Falls – Ryan Schwalbe – (Tripping), 2 min, 18:49

2nd Period

(no penalties)

3rd Period
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Slashing), 2 min, 1:49
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Holding), 2 min, 13:49

Overtime
(no penalties)

Power Play

Sioux Falls – 0/2

Tri-City – 1/2

Shots

Sioux Falls: 5, 6, 14, 3 = Total: 28
Tri-City: 10, 17, 10, 3 = Total: 40

Saves
Sioux Falls – Stefanos Lekkas – 36/40
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 24/28

Cody Zeller Scores 21, Hornets Rout Nuggets 104-86

Posted on January 31, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Cody Zeller scored a career-best 21 points, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 17, and the Charlotte Hornets routed the reeling Denver Nuggets 104-86 on Saturday night.

Al Jefferson and Jason Maxiell added 14 points apiece for the Hornets, who have won 10 of their last 13 games.

They have held their opponents to under 100 points in 12 of those games. And their solid play has continued in the absence of Kemba Walker, who underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and will be out at least six weeks.

Danilo Gallinari’s 15 points led the Nuggets, who were dealt a blow before the game. Star forward Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur, a key reserve, were both held out because of illness.

Rodgers Wins 2nd NFL Most Valuable Player Award

Posted on January 31, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) — Aaron Rodgers has won his second Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award in somewhat surprisingly easy fashion.

Rodgers, who also took the honor in 2011, received 31 votes for the 2014 award from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. Houston’s J.J. Watt, seeking to become the first defensive player to win MVP since 1986, got 13 votes.

Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray, the 2014 Offensive Player award winner, and quarterback Tony Romo each got two votes. Patriots QB Tom Brady and Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner received one apiece.

Rodgers threw for 38 touchdowns and a league-low five interceptions; he has thrown 512 passes at home without a pick. He led the Packers to two victories at season’s end despite playing with a severe calf injury.

The award was presented at the “NFL Honors” show Saturday night.

Shields, Tingelhoff Elected to Hall of Fame

Posted on January 31, 2015

A pair of former Nebraska offensive line greats were among eight individuals selected to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2015 class of inductees.

Mick Tingelhoff was a standout center for the Minnesota Vikings following his Nebraska career, while Will Shields followed his Husker career by becoming a perennial All-Pro for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The announcement of the Hall’s 2015 class came on Saturday evening in Arizona as part of the NFL’s Super Bowl weekend. Tingelhoff was chosen for induction by the Hall’s senior committee, while Shields was elected in his fourth season as a modern-era Hall of Fame finalist.

They are joined in the 2015 class by Tim Brown, Jerome Bettis, Charles Haley, Junior Seau and contributors Bill Polian and Ron Wolf. The class of 2015 will enshrined on Saturday, Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio.

Tingelhoff and Shields will become the fourth and fifth Nebraska players to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The duo joins Guy Chamberlin, Roy “Link” Lyman and Bob Brown as Nebraska players to be a part of the Hall of Fame. Brown was the most recent Husker inductee, being enshrined in the Hall in 2004.

A native of Lexington, Neb., Tingelhoff started all 240 games he played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1962 to 1978. Regarded as the best center of his era, Tingelhoff played on four Vikings’ teams that advanced to the Super Bowl. Tingelhoff played in 19 total playoff games during his career, and helped the Vikings win 10 division titles between 1968 and 1978.

Tingelhoff was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, and a five-time first team All-Pro choice, while also earning second-team All-Pro honors one time in his career. Tingelhoff was a true ironman for Minnesota. In addition to playing in every game during his career, he reportedly never missed a practice with the Vikings.

Tingelhoff is part of the Viking Ring of Honor and his #53 Minnesota jersey is retired by the organization.

Tingelhoff was an undrafted free agent following his Nebraska playing career. A three-year letterwinner, Tingelhoff was a co-captain of the 1961 Cornhuskers. He played on the offensive line alongside Bob Brown, now a fellow NFL Hall of Famer. Tingelhoff was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Shields also joins Brown and Chamberlin as the only Nebraska players in both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Shields was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 2011.

A consensus All-American and a Lombardi Award semifinalist as a senior in 1992, Shields is one of only six Husker linemen to earn all-conference honors for three straight seasons. As a senior, Shields received votes for Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year and earned All-America honors from Kodak, AP, UPI, Walter Camp and Football News.

During his junior campaign, he was a unanimous selection to the All-Big Eight team and a second-team All-American, helping the Huskers rank first in the conference in rushing offense and total offense.

Shields became the second offensive lineman to play as a true freshman in 1989, appearing in nine games. In his second year, Shields became the first sophomore lineman since College Football Hall of Famer Dave Rimington to earn first-team all-conference honors for NU, helping the Huskers lead the Big Eight in scoring, rushing and total offense. Shields’ No. 75 Nebraska jersey was retired at the 1994 Spring Game, one of 17 Nebraska retired jerseys.

Following his collegiate career, Shields was selected by the Chiefs in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He spent 14 seasons as one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the NFL until retiring after the 2006 season. Shields earned a spot in 12 Pro Bowls and started more than 200 straight games in his brilliant professional career.

Shields was also one of the most active volunteers and community leaders in the NFL. He is the co-founder of the Will to Succeed Foundation with his wife, Senia. The foundation was organized to guide, inspire and improve the lives of abused and neglected women and children. For his remarkable work with charitable and community organizations, Shields was named the NFL Man of the Year in 2003.

Gronk’s Garland: Patriots TE Gronkowski Wins Comeback Player

Posted on January 31, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) — New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has won The Associated Press NFL Comeback Player Of The Year award for 2014.

Gronkowski easily outdistanced seven others receiving votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league.

The unanimous All-Pro received 27 selections, followed by Philadelphia receiver Jeremy Maclin and Dallas linebacker Rolando McClain with seven apiece. Denver cornerback Chris Harris Jr. had three votes, while running backs Justin Forsett of Baltimore and Arian Foster of Houston drew two. Arizona linebacker Larry Foote and Buffalo quarterback Kyle Orton each got one.

Gronkowski was limited to seven games in 2013 because of knee problems. He returned in style — that style being powerful, aggressive and tough — to make 82 catches for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The award was presented at the “NFL Honors” show Saturday night.

Texans’ JJ Watt is Unanimous Top Defensive Player

Posted on January 31, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) — J.J. Watt is a unanimous selection as The Associated Press NFL Defensive Player Of The Year for 2014.

The ultra-energetic and versatile Houston Texans end collected every vote from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league.

He is the first unanimous choice for an AP award since Tom Brady won Most Valuable Player in 2007, and the first for top defensive player under the current voting setup.

In his fourth pro season, Watt earned his second such honor with 20 1-2 sacks, 78 tackles — 29 for losses — 50 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles and 10 blocked passes.

He is the first NFL player with multiple 20-sack seasons. Watt also had 20 1-2 sacks in 2012, his other top defensive player season.

The award was presented Saturday night at the “NFL Honors” show.

Seau, Bettis, Brown, Haley, Shields Voted into Hall of Fame

Posted on January 31, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) — Junior Seau, Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Charles Haley and Will Shields have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The class of 2015 also includes a pair of contributors, Bill Polian and Ron Wolf, along with senior selection Mick Tingelhoff.

The announcement was made Saturday, a day before the Super Bowl.

Five nominees were eliminated in the final vote: Tony Dungy, Kevin Greene, Marvin Harrison, Orlando Pace and Kurt Warner.

Earlier Saturday, the selection committee reduced the list of 15 modern-day finalists by cutting Morten Andersen, Terrell Davis, John Lynch and coaches Don Coryell and Jimmy Johnson.

The induction ceremony is in August at Canton, Ohio.

Rams DT Aaron Donald is Top Defensive Rookie

Posted on January 31, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) — St. Louis Rams tackle Aaron Donald has won The Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year award for 2014.

A first-round draft pick (13th overall) out of Pittsburgh, Donald drew 25 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. That was seven more than Baltimore linebacker C.J. Mosley.

Oakland LB Khalil Mack got six votes, and San Francisco LB Chris Borland received one.

A force against the run and the pass, Donald had 37 tackles, nine assists, and led all rookies with nine sacks. He was one of three rookies initially selected for the Pro Bowl; Mosley also made it.

Donald is the second Ram to win the award and the first since linebacker Isiah Robertson in 1971, when the team was in Los Angeles.

The award was presented during the “NFL Honors” show Saturday night.

Arians Wins Coach Of Year Award for 2nd Time in 3 Years

Posted on January 31, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) — Bruce Arians has won The Associated Press NFL Coach Of The Year award for the second time in three years — with different teams.

Arians led Arizona to an 11-5 record in 2014 despite a rash of injuries, including to his top two quarterbacks. The Cardinals earned a wild-card berth, losing at Carolina in the playoffs.

In 2012, Arians stepped in for an ill Chuck Pagano and helped the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs, becoming the first interim coach to win the award, which began in 1957.

Arians received 39 1-2 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. Houston’s Bill O’Brien and Dallas’ Jason Garrett each got three votes. Seattle’s Pete Carroll drew 2 1-2; Detroit’s Jim Caldwell and New England’s Bill Belichick got one apiece.

The award was presented during the “NFL Honors” show Saturday night.

Cowboys RB Murray Runs Off with Offensive Player

Posted on January 31, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) — DeMarco Murray has run off with The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player Of The Year award for the 2014 season.

The Dallas Cowboys running back led the league in rushing with 1,845 yards — nearly 500 more than any other player — and also topped the NFL with 2,261 yards from scrimmage. He scored 13 touchdowns in helping Dallas win the NFC East.

Those overwhelming performances earned him 26 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. Murray easily outdistanced Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (15 votes). Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown was next with five, followed by teammate RB Le’Veon Bell with two.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Dallas QB Tony Romo got one vote apiece.

Murray was presented the award at the “NFL Honors” show Saturday night.