Reno Routs Chicago in Complete Team Efforts

Phillip Goodman
3 days ago
6 min read

By Phillip Goodman

March 9, 2026

The Reno Ice Raiders ended their 2025-2026 regular season by pummeling the Chicago Shamrocks 8-1 on Friday and 9-1 on Saturday. In the series opener presented by Reno Tattoo Removal, Zack Kellerup stopped 18 of 19 Shamrock shots to earn the win in his first game of the season since recovering from hip surgery. Justin Sand denied 23 of 24 Chicago attempts in the finale to finish his home campaign 7-0 with a 1.57 goals against average and save percentage of 93.4.

Chicago goaltender Josh Brown faced 117 shots on goal over the weekend. Brown kept Reno off the scoreboard through 25 minutes to start Friday until Julian Herrera picked a corner from the slot. Charlie Montgomery rang a wrister off the crossbar and followed up his own rebound for the putback and 2-0 lead. Morgan Ellis one-timed a Matt Robinson rebound shot off the rush for the 3-0 tally. Before the second period ended, Matty Robs split the Chicago defense and backhanded a shorthanded goal over Brown for the 4-0 lead.

The score remained 4-0 through most of the third and Chicago's best chance came on a two-man advantage with seven minutes left. Reno killed both Peterson Wealth Management Penalty Kills and Herrera promptly scored his second right after. Chicago broke Kellerup's shutout bid moments later on a tap-in rebound in the crease. Alex Gunnoe, Roger Hutchison, and newcomer Chris Lai rounded out Reno's scoring.

"There's other guys on this team that have worked their way to be able to play," Ice Raiders' Head Coach Tim Tookey said in his locker room address to the club after the game. "[Kellerup] worked his way. He traveled with you. He was there. He was at practice. He goes to get hip surgery, comes back, and he earned his spot. I was proud of how you guys played in front of him too. And the decision for him to play came from every one of you guys. That's what this team is all about. I'm really proud of all of you."

Kellerup was quick to acknowledge Brown's efforts as well.

"[Brown] played unbelievable," Kellerup said. "I always feel bad for the goalies that have to come here and face a hundred shots."

Kellerup also gave credit to how well the defense played in front of him, especially during that pivotal two-man advantage.

"They made it easy on me the whole game," he said. "It's a good team in front of me, easy to play behind for sure."

Matt Robinson opened Saturday's scoring early in the first when he cranked a one-timer off Adam Barba's pinpoint pass. Nathan Hogge, Jake Minton, and Chris Lai inflated Reno's lead to 5-0 at the end of the first.

Brown was sharper through most of the second period but still was bested by Lai's hat trick goal and Hogge's second. Hogge made it 8-0 with his first career hat trick as an Ice Raider.

The only goal that got by Sand was a centering pass that deflected off a Chicago skate trying to stop at the top of the crease. Lai added one more for a four-goal night, capping Reno's 9-1 win and 14-2 record at Reno Ice.

"This has been one of the best seasons we've had at home so far," said Ice Raiders' defenseman Jeff Jiron. "We've been able to come together, play as a unit, we played as a team really well. Everyone's been bonding, it's just been great. And the goalies - unreal. Kellerup played a great game last night. We gave him a chance and he really proved it to us. He earned it, he deserved it."

After his second bout in two nights with James "The Hooligan" Brooks, Tony Tyrell announced his retirement at the end of this season.

"It's been a fun ride," Tyrell said through deep breaths in the penalty box with three minutes left in the game. He attributed his longevity with the Ice Raiders to the continued sold-out crowds and their boisterous vocal support.

"That's the only thing that kept me coming back," Tyrell added through the crowd chants of "Tony! Tony!"

"When you get tired but you see [the crowd] it's pure excitement. It's so much fun," Tony said.

Jeff Jiron, the Ice Raiders Iron Man who has played in (by his count) all but two of the Ice Raiders' 216 franchise games over 10 seasons, said he will return for one more season after being on the fence pending Tyrell's future plans.

"[Tyrell] is one of the nicest guys," Jiron said after Saturday's win. "He's a team player, really leaves it all out there for everybody, stands up for every one of his teammates, and works the hardest out there of all the defense."

The New York Police Dept. hockey team was scheduled to visit Reno the weekend of March 20 but backed out for undisclosed reasons. Despite the diligent efforts of the Ice Raiders' ownership team to bring teams in that open weekend, no visitor could commit.

Further compounding the scheduling issues, the Santa Rosa Growlers abruptly announced on social media their immediate withdrawal from the Mountain Hockey League. The MHL playoff format that was agreed upon by the seven league clubs to begin the '25-'26 season gave the top team a first round bye and a two-game playoff between the no. 2 and no. 3 seeds. Reno has already secured the top spot with their league-leading record of 13-5 and 22pts. Santa Rosa's exit as the no. 2 seed leaves the remaining berths up to the Mansfield Barracudas, Breckenridge Vipers, or San Diego Renegades, all of which have league games remaining through April 11.

Whatever happens with a championship series in April, the Ice Raiders will be without the services of defenseman Adam Barba. Barba is scheduled for a complete hip and right femur head replacement in April. The 36-year-old Reno native has been playing and living through the pain of no cartilage in his right hip for three years that cannot be solved by anything other than total replacement. He's hopeful this is not his last season as an Ice Raider.

"I'm not 100% sure if it's my last," Barba said via text. "I won't be able to play for at least six months, the doctor said. It depends on where life takes me. Hard to give up [hockey] so we will see."

Mark your calendars for the Fifth Annual US-Eh Series happening Fri. Apr. 3 and Sat. Apr. 4. The charity series pitting local American hockey phenoms against Canadian standouts will benefit a local charity. Saturday's awarding of the Goon Squad Cup to the winning nation will be the culmination of Hockey Day in Reno at Reno Ice, a day of hockey and skating clinics, food trucks, games, a public skate, and more. Tickets will be made available the week of March 27, possibly sooner.

The Goon Squad Cup is named after proud Bishop Manogue graduate and civil engineering student at Cal Poly that tragically passed away in Dec. 2024. Nico was a leader, a scholar, and above all, a kind and compassionate soul who made everyone feel seen and valued. The Nico Goon Compassionate Scholar Award carries on his legacy by supporting local seniors who lead with heart and strive for excellence so that we may all ‘Live Like Nico.’

Friday's LT Automotive Three Stars of the Game

Julian Herrera - 2G
Matt Robinson - 1G 3A
Zack Kellerup - 18 of 19 saves in his first game and win since hip surgery

Saturday's LT Automotive Three Stars of the Game

Chris Lai - 4G 1A
Nathan Hogge - 3G
Roger Hutchison - 3A

Friday's Brain Bean Stats

Reno - 0-for-4 on the Brewer's Cabinet Power Play, 6-for-6 on Peterson Wealth Management Penalty Kills
Reno won 40 of 71 draws (56.3%)
Point scorers
- Bobby Watson - 1A
- Adrian Nicholas - 2A
- Roger Hutchison - 1G, 1A
- Julian Herrera - 2G
- Will McDonnell - 1A
- Charlie Montgomery - 1G, 1A
- Chris Lai - 1G, 1A
- Matt Robinson, 1G 3A
- Morgan Ellis - 1G, 1A
- Jeff Jiron - 3A
- Alex Gunno - 1G

Saturday's Brain Bean Stats

1-for-2 on the Brewer's Cabinet Power Play, 3-for-3 on Peterson Wealth Management Penalty Kills
Reno won 37 of 73 draws (50.7%)
Point scorers
- Chris Lai - 4G 1A
- Nathan Hogge - 3G
- Roger Hutchison - 3A
- Alex Gunnoe - 1A
- Matt Robinson - 1A
- Jake Minton - 1G
- Julian Herrera - 1A
- Adam Barba - 4A
- Will McDonnell - 2A
- Zeph Fagergren - 1A

High Sierra Restorative Health Injury Update

Alex Buque - Long term IR - lower body

Johnny Garrity - Week to week - upper body injury

Ice Raiders Team Stats Through 16 games

(+/- prev is the increase/decrease in stats over the prior # of games played at Reno Ice)

Other Game Notes:

Chicago's Nick Fioretto played his first series in two years after successfully beating leukemia a year ago. While battling T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma at UCHealth, the Denver resident got a visit from the Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar. Makar autographed Fioretto's jersey and Fioretto wore that jersey in this weekend's series. On behalf of all the Ice Raiders, we admire Nick's resilience and wish Nick continued good health!