STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Knight Monsters dropped their first two games of the season in Kansas this weekend. They scored five goals, but are heading back to Tahoe for their home opening Friday, looking for their first win.
Friday – Late Goal Lifts Wichita Over Tahoe to Open Regular Season
The Tahoe Knight Monsters fell to the Wichita Thunder by a score of 3 to 2 on the road to open the season.
The Knight Monsters opened the scoring in the first period as rookie forward Kooper Gizowski scored his first goal as a pro on a tip-in in front to make it 1-0. In the final three minutes of the first period, Wichita would score to tie the game on a goal from Connor Lockhart, and the two teams took a 1-1 tie into the locker room.
Outstanding goaltending from both sides defined the second period. Tahoe’s Pavel Moysevich and Wichita’s Connor Hasley both shut down each offense as the game remained tied headed into the final frame.
In the third period, it was defenseman Cooper Jones finding the back of the net on his first goal in a Tahoe uniform to put the Knight Monsters up 2-1. Tahoe had a chance to add on to their lead on a penalty shot from Cam Hausinger, but Hasley stopped him with a glove save, keeping the game at 2-1. In the final three minutes, Wichita would tie the game on a power-play goal from Tyler Preziuso, and then with just 24 seconds left, Tristan Sarsland knocked in the game-winning goal, as Wichita earned a 3-2 victory to open the season.
Saturday – Thunder Strike in Overtime to Complete Three-Goal Comeback Against Knight Monsters
The Tahoe Knight Monsters were defeated by the Wichita Thunder on Sunday afternoon by a score of 4-3 in overtime.
Wichita got the scoring started courtesy of Jordan Biro in the opening two minutes of the first period to make it 1-0 Thunder. Just over three minutes later, Tahoe forward Cam Hausinger scored his first goal of the season on a wraparound shot to tie the game at 1. Late in the period, on a power play, rookie forward Kooper Gizowski scored his second goal of the weekend to give Tahoe a 2-1 lead, and their first power-play goal of the season.
In the second period, the Knight Monsters extended their lead thanks to the second goal of the afternoon from Hausinger after a lengthy review to make it 3-1 Knight Monsters. However, Wichita would storm back with a power-play goal from TJ Lloyd at the 11:16 mark to make it a one-goal game, and then Michal Stinil scored in the closing moments to tie the score headed into the final 20.
Both goaltenders shut down the game in the third period as Pavel Moysevich for the Knight Monsters and Yaroslav Korostelev from the Thunder both stopped every shot they faced, and the two teams both earned a point as they headed to overtime.
In OT, after the Knight Monsters took a penalty, Wichita capitalized thanks to a deflection goal by Ethan Scardina, and the Thunder completed the comeback and earned a two-game sweep over Tahoe to open the season.
The Knight Monsters travel back to Stateline to take on the New Mexico Goatheads at home on Friday, October 23, Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25. Puck drop for Friday’s contest is at 7 pm PT.
The Knight Monsters are the ECHL Affiliate of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights and the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights.
The Knight Monsters open the 2026-27 season at home on Friday, October 23, as they take on the New Mexico Goatheads at Tahoe Blue Event Center. Season tickets and ticket packages for the 2026-27 season are now available. For more information on becoming a 1645 Club Season Ticket Member, visit knightmonstershockey.com.