Nov 154 min read

Ice Raiders Remain Undefeated after Sweeping Shamrocks

Updated: Dec 1

By Phillip Goodman

Nov. 11, 2024

The Reno Ice Raiders improved to 4-0 on the young '24-'25 season after completing the weekend sweep of the Chicago Shamrocks, formerly known as Top Shelf. With Friday's 3-1 win and Saturday's 8-0 triumph, Reno marked their 10th consecutive home win going back to last season.

The weekend series presented by BJ's Nevada BBQ paid tribute to our country's military veterans. The unique camo jerseys designed by Ice Raider Zeph Fagergren featured sleeves custom-striped for each player's tenure as an Ice Raider. Each night these incredible jerseys were up for silent auction and more than $5,000 was raised for the Northern Nevada Veterans Alliance.

The mission of the Northern Nevada Veterans Alliance is to serve and connect veterans in the Northern Nevada region by facilitating connections to community resources, organizations, and businesses to foster a strong community of assistance and camaraderie for veterans and those seeking to support veterans. They aim to empower veterans and their families while honoring their service and sacrifices.

In addition to the fundraising efforts, distinguished members from the Nevada Air National Guard and Nevada Army National Guard presented the Colors for the anthem each night, followed by rousing speeches by Command Chief Master Sgt. Cameron M. Pieters and Maj. Gen. Ondra L. Berry from the Nevada Natl. Guard.

Reno's Tony Tyrell and Chicago's James Brooks ignited the fireworks with a center-ice bout right at the drop of the puck. In 'Rumble in Reno III' each heavyweight landed clean blows with Tyrell coming out on top. Former Marine Anthony Mendoza won a spirited bout with Roger Hutchinson a few minutes later. In total there were 30 minutes of fighting majors in the first period and only five minor penalties followed the rest of the night.

Chicago scored in the first five minutes of the tilt after a bad carom led to a 2-on-0 break that the Shamrocks executed perfectly. It would be the only shot that Justin Sand would let by.

The Shamrocks held on to the 1-0 lead until halfway through the second when Adam Barba one-timed a Jake Minton pass and tied the score for Reno, 1-1. Late in the second, Bobby Watson found Weston Nash wide open for the go-ahead goal.

Trailing 2-1 to Reno, Chicago came out fast and hungry for the third period. Shamrocks worked a 2-on-1 break and Justin Sand made the Maxwell's Barber Shop Close Shave Save of the Night to preserve Reno's lead.

With barely two minutes left, Hunter Sine caught Martinez peeking the other way and snuck in an insurance goal and the final 3-1 tally.

Reno could not convert on their only Brewer's Cabinet Power Play in third period yet was successful on both Peterson Wealth Management Penalty Kills. Through two periods Reno won 25 of 42 draws but Chicago owned the third period 14-5 to finish the game one better than Reno, 31-30. The Ice Raiders bombarded the Shamrocks with 56 shots on net while Justin Sand stopped 13 of 14 shots at the other end for Reno.

"It was a hard-hitting, physical game," Ice Raiders' Head Coach Tim Tookey said after Friday's win. "The guys battled together and eventually wore down the Shamrocks for a big win."

Saturday's contest turned into a runaway for Reno with Hunter Sine picking up where he left off the night before. Early in the game, Sine was the last to change with his linemate Bobby Watson, Watson heard Sine's beavertaps coming up the ice and Watson made a nice pass that Sine corralled and fired past Martinez for the ice-breaking goal.

Reno would go on to unload seven more unanswered goals:

0:45:35 Johnny Garrity from Matt Robinson, 2-0

0:50:19 Watson leaves the puck on a tee for Sobieski, 3-0

1:01:40 Robinson cleans up Gunnoe's rebound, 4-0

1:13:16 Sobieski snipes his second of the night, 5-0

1:39:36 The Guru of Graphics Zeph Fagergren chips home Montgomery's rebound, 6-0

1:58:57 Gunnoe's wicked wrister on the Brewer's Cabinet Power Play makes it 7-0

2:03:11 Jeff Jiron says eight is enough, 8-0

Each team won 31 of 62 draws on Saturday. Justis Gyori earned the shutout win stopping all 22 Shamrock attempts on net. Reno now leads the overall series 5-1. So what was the differentiator for the Ice Raiders Saturday rout, aside from just hitting the net with more shots?

"Honestly I think the motivational speech Maj. Gen. Ondra L. Berry from the Nevada National Guard delivered in the locker room after warmups had a profound effect," said Coach Jamie Tebbe. "I think every guy in that room including myself wanted to go out there and absolutely dominate. It was quite a speech."

The next Ice Raiders home games will be Dec 13th and 14th when the Sin City Kings head north to Reno. Our broadcast team will not be making a trip north to McCall the weekend of Nov. 15 and 16 and there is no word on whether the Mountaineers have a streaming outlet yet. Until then, on behalf of all the Ice Raiders' players and staff, we wish you all a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.