BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Blue Jays boys hockey team opened up the West Region hockey tournament this morning in Bismarck at the VFW Sports Center. The Blue Jays, coming off of a regular season West Region Championship opened up the tournament with a 3-0 win over the Mandan Braves on Thursday. The Blue Jays got goals from Nolan Nenow (28), Max Mehus (4), and Hunter Nelson (18).

First period, saw the Blue Jays come out firing. Jamestown finished the period with 11 shots. What really stood out for the Blue Jays was their ability to constantly win puck battles along the boards. Gavin Gerhardt was constantly gathering pucks to set up his teammates on the day. The only game of the first frame compliments of Nolan Nenow, who picked up the puck in the neutral zone used his body to shield the puck as he drive down the left side and buried a shot under the blocker of Mandan goaltender Bennett Leingang. Jamestown had a 1-0 lead after the 1st period.

Second period began with the Jays on the penalty kill, which they killed off. Special teams were not called upon a lot in this game, but when they were the Blue Jays answered the call. Midway through the second, Jarrett Zalumskis fired a shot from the right point, which was redirected by Michael Mahoney and the rebound sat right in front of the crease and Max Mehus buried the goal for his 4th of the season, and give the Blue Jays a 2-0.

Third period, Mandan was doing an excellent job of staying within striking distance. At one point in the third, Jamestown had a 2 on 1 opportunity with Nenow and Hunter Nelson, as Nelson coming down on the left side sent a pass to the right side to Nenow who one timed the shot but was robbed by Leingang going left to right on the save. Later on in the period Nenow would have a partial breakaway, he would put the puck between his legs and attempt to roof the shot but Leingang was quick with the glove save to keep the game close. However, the Blue Jays would get a powerplay with exactly 4 minutes left in regulation. Hunter Nelson would put the game away when he would rip home a shot over the blocker side of the goaltender of Mandan, and put Jamestown up 3-0, and that would be the final score.

The Blue Jays would get 13 saves on 13 shots from goaltender Brode Hillstrom for the shutout win. The Blue Jays will now play on Friday night at 5PM and take on Bismarck High at the VFW Sports Center in Bismarck. Bismarck High won their game on Thursday over Williston 6-4. Friday night’s game can be heard on KRVX 103.1 The Raven, streamed on NewsDakota.com, or the KRVX app.