For the City Times

CHICAGO — The Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings Hockey Club started the USPHL Winter Showcase on a high note, picking up a 3-0 victory over the Detroit Fighting Irish.

Showcases feature two 25-minute halves instead of three 20-minute periods. In the first half, the Riverkings got on the board as defensemen Tom McManus, who was celebrating his birthday, picked up the eventual game winning goal 11:15 in the game with a shot from the point with the assist coming off of the stick from Alexander Mavrogiaiannis to make it 1-0.

A little under two minutes later, Adam Peterson made it 2-0 Riverkings with Mavrogiaiannis and Raymond Flemming picking up the helpers. The second half saw the Riverkings find the back of the net one more time as Flemming converted on the Power-Play with assists going to Mavrogiaiannis and Austyn Quarters.

Goaltender Parker Rutherford shut the door early and often picking up the shut out while recording 22 saves on the night.

The Riverkings return to action tomorrow as they will take the ice twice. Puck drop for game-one, which will feature the Riverkings taking on the Steele County Blades is at 1:50 p.m — before concluding the day with a 7:10 p.m. puck drop as they face the Tri-City Icehawks.