BLAINE, M.N. – The Elmira Aviators (3-4-0-0) handed the North Iowa Bulls (4-1-0-0) their first loss of the season, capping off a solid NAHL Showcase at the NSC Super Rink Saturday afternoon.
Elmira never trailed in a solid team win against North Iowa. The Aviators took the good play they had in a loss to Oklahoma on Friday and carried it into Saturday’s contest.
Elmira opened the scoring off an attacking zone draw. Yiannia Koukouves slid the puck back to Jack Kohlmann, who wired it through the slot and to the back of the net.
Kohlmann had an outstanding showcase weekend and wasn’t done scoring after his opener.
The Bulls quickly equalized, but the Aviators would have the final laugh in the first period.
After Koukouves took a nasty stick to the face, the Aviators got a four-minute power play in the final moments of the opening frame. Elmira made quick work with Cael Primanti, tallying his first career NAHL goal on assists from Brenden Bedorf and Max Campbell.
Campbell is averaging a point per game for the Aviators with three goals and two assists in his first five games this season.
Despite solid puck possession and a flurry of offensive chances in the middle period, the purple and black could not build on their lead in the second.
Instead, the Bulls secured an equalizer with a power play goal of their own. The teams had everything to play for in the final 20 minutes.
Both teams exchanged chances in the third, but both goaltenders reigned supreme. Vladimir Pechenin made a ton of crucial saves once again Saturday afternoon.
The teams were ultimately separated by special teams play. North Iowa had two power play chances in the third, but Elmira held strong on both occasions.
Meanwhile, with 10:22 to play in regulation time, the Aviators got on a power play. They couldn’t find many avenues of attack, but one individual moment of brilliance pushed Elmira through.
With 10 seconds on the power play, Kohlmann swerved his way through neutral ice, dancing past Bulls defenders before firing a powerful wrister to put Elmira back in front.
The Aviators would hold on and hand the Bulls their first loss of the 2025-26 season.
Kohlmann is up to nine points in seven games this season with five goals and four assists. He had eight points in 40 games all of last season.
Elmira finishes the NAHL Showcase with a successful 2-1 record, ending on a high note before division play resumes next week. The Aviators will face off against the Philadelphia Rebels on the road Friday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 4, at 7:30 p.m.
The games can be streamed on NATV and listened to on WINGZ93.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him, email [email protected].