City Times Staff

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — The Riverkings completed a weekend sweep of the Minnesota Mullets, launching them into the playoffs on a five-game winning streak.

On Friday night, the Riverkings secured second place, and home ice for the USPHL MidWest West division playoffs with a 5-2 victory Friday night over the Minnesota Mullets in front 500+ fans at the South Wood County Recreation Center.

The Riverkings got on the board early in the first period just 23 seconds into the game as Jacob Gaydos lit the lamp with Adam Peterson and Austyn Quarters picking up the assists. Seven minutes later, Quarters made it 2-0 for the home team, with Xander Mavrogiannis and Peterson grabbing the helpers.

The Mullets would strike later in the first period to cut the Riverkings lead to 2-1 heading into the first intermission.
The second period saw the Riverkings strike three more times. Mavrogiannis would strike twice in the period to give the Riverkings a 4-1 lead, Quarters and Peterson would grab the helpers. Rounding out the scoring for the Riverkings was Rich Young as he converted off of a feed from Jesse Edwards to make it 5-2.

The Mullets would add a goal in the third to make it a 5-2 final. Erik Schuette picked up the win in the crease making 26 saves on the night.

On Saturday, the Riverkings completed a weekend sweep of the Minnesota Mullets by recording a 2-1 victory in front of over 600 people to finish 33-10-1 on the regular season.

On a night when six Riverkings 20-year-olds where honored prior to the game by head coach Marty Quarters for playing their final regular season home game, it was 20-year-old leading scorer Austyn Quarters picking up his 56th point to put the Riverkings up 1-0 seven minutes into the first period. Alexander Mavrogiannis and Adam Peterson picked up the assists.

A little over nine minutes later Richard Young made it 2-0 Riverkings converting off of a feed from Jesse Edwards. The second period was a scoreless one, as Riverkings goaltenders Parker Rutherford and Dom Paciocco shut the door. The Mullets would strike in the third period to cut the Riverkings lead to 2-1 but that was as close as they would get as Paciocco would shut the door. Rutherford and Paciocco combined for the win in the crease recording a combined 32 saves.

The Riverkings enter the USPHL Premier Midwest West Division Playoffs as the No. 2 seed and will host the Ironwood Fighting Yoopers in the first round of the playoffs. Round one which consists of a best of three series will begin on Friday, Feb. 23 with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 PM. Game 2 will be Saturday Feb. 24, with a 7:30 PM puck drop as well. If necessary Game 3 will be Sunday Feb. 25 with a 7:00 PM puck drop.