Riverkings coast to victory

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Riverkings delivered a dominant weekend at the South Wood County Recreation Center, defeating the Fresh Coast Freeze by scores of 8-1 and 9-1. A packed house was treated to statement performances as the Riverkings continued to build late-season momentum.
Felix Ahlstrand etched his name into the franchise record books, claiming the top spot for most assists in a single season with 54. His milestone adds to what has already been an exceptional campaign. Earlier in the year, forward Noa Diamond was on a record-setting pace in goals and points before being sidelined by injury.
With six games remaining in the regular season at the time of this article’s writing, several Riverkings are in striking distance of additional franchise marks. Ahlstrand remains in the hunt for records in points, goals and assists, while Mikhail Ilyin continues to climb the charts in both points and goals. Between the pipes, goaltender Jackson Gruttadauria is positioning himself for a potential single-season save percentage record.
If the current trajectory holds, the 2025-26 season could go down as one of the most prolific in Riverkings history.

Feb. 6

The opening goal by the Riverkings was initially whistled dead, but the referee found the puck in the net and credited the Riverkings with the point. The Wisconsin Rapids team remained dominant, scoring four in the first period and one in the second. The Riverkings and Freeze traded goals in the third, each team scoring three times. Sebastian Redfern got a hat trick, scoring his three goals in the first two periods.

Scoring summary
• Riverkings: 1–0 (15:46, 1st): Sebastian Redfern got his first of the night with the assist going to Caleb Duchesne.
• Riverkings: 2–0 (11:45, 1st): Lucas Nelson drove in a laser from the point on a feed from Mikhail Ilyin.
• Riverkings: 3–0 (6:43, 1st): Mateo Ruffolo scored on a redirect off a shot from the point by Ivan Korneev.

• Riverkings: 4–0 (6:26, 1st): Felix Ahlstrand delivered a well time pass from the boards and connected with Sebastian Redfern at speed to get his second goal of the night.
• Riverkings: 5–0 (55.9, 2nd): Sebastian Redfern spun off the defender and Olivier Bolduc was able to get him the puck for a tap in and the hat trick.
• Riverkings: 6–0 (18:55, 3rd): Marcus Andersson picked up the puck in the defensive zone and drove down the boards to get the unassisted goal.
• Freeze: 6–1 (9:24, 3rd): Fresh Coast got on the board with a goal by Noa Partridge.
• Riverkings 7–1 (7:06, 3rd, PP): Jonathan Jakshoej won the faceoff and connected with Mikhail Ilyin for the goal three seconds into the power play.
• Riverkings 8–1 (6:43, 3rd): Lucas Nelson from behind the net, bounces one off the goalie with the assists going to Mikhail Ilyin.
• Freeze: 8–2 (6:13, 3rd): Brayden Kelly puts the wrister past Gruttadauria, assisted by Noa Partridge.
• Freeze: 8–3 (6:01, 3rd): Ryder Steele got the final tally of the night on an assist from Logan Eshelman.
The Riverkings went one-for-four on the power play and killed all four penalties against. Gruttadauria stopped 27 of 30 shots. Fresh Coast Freeze goaltenders Colin Porn went 11 for 15 and Matthew Brinkman had 31 for 35.
Riverkings Stars of the Game were Sebastian Redfern (1st Star), Lucas Nelson (2nd Star), and Marcus Andersson (3rd Star).

Jan. 31
Saturday’s contest was a continuation from the previous night with prolific goal scoring and a deadly power play for Wisconsin Rapids. The Riverkings scored three in the first, added two more in the second and hammered in four more in a crushing final period. Fresh Coast avoided the shutout, scoring their lone goal late in the second period. The Riverkings dominated on the power play, scoring five of their goals on the man advantage. Marcus Andersson was unstoppable, netting four goals, and Felix Alstrand took the all-time single season assist lead adding five assists.

Scoring summary
• Riverkings 1–0 (10:01, 1st, PP): Mikhail Ilyin from Ahlstrand.
• Riverkings 2–0 (5:58, 1st): Marcus Andersson scored his first of the night with an assist from Ahlstrand and Caleb Duchesne.

• Riverkings 3–0 (1:48, 1st, PP): Jonathan Jakshoej from Ahlstrand.
• Riverkings 4–0 (12:12, 2nd): Marcus Andersson for his second, assist from Mateo Ruffolo.
• Riverkings 5–0 (10:16, 2nd, PP): Sebastian Redfern from Olivier Bolduc and Ahlstrand.
• Freeze: 5–1 (1:36, 2nd): Brendan Hannahs with the assist from Noa Partridge.
• Riverkings 6–1 (17:12, 3rd, PP): Jonathan Jakshoej connected with Mikhail Ilyin for the goal.
• Riverkings 7–1 (14:35, 3rd): Marcus Andersson for the hat trick with the assist from Sebastian Redfern and Ahlstrand.
• Riverkings 8–1 (11:05, 3rd): Mateo Ruffolo from Jonathan Jakshoej.
• Riverkings 9–1 (29.3, 3rd, PP): Marcus Andersson nets his fourth of the night on a feed from Jacob Chevrier-Alexander.
Wisconsin Rapids finished five-for-six on the power play and went a perfect five-for-five on the penalty kill. Gruttadauria stopped 22 on 23 shots faced; Matthew Brinkman made 41 saves on 50 shots for the Freeze.
The Riverkings Stars of the Game were Marcus Andersson (First Star), Jonathan Jakshoej (Second Star) and Caleb Duchesne (Third Star).

Up next
Wisconsin Rapids closes out the regular season at home against the Northwest Express on Friday, Feb. 20 and the Steele County Blades on Feb. 27-28. All home games begin at 7 p.m. at the South Wood County Recreation Center.