SIX DIFFERENT PIRATE GIRLS HOCKEY PLAYERS SCORE IN WIN OVER FORT FRANCES

Six different Crookston Pirate players scored to lead the Pirates to a 6-1 win over Fort Frances, Ontario, in a girls’ hockey game at the Hockey Town Holiday Classic at the Gardens in Warroad. It’s the Pirate’s seventh win in their last eight games to improve to 10-3-1.

FIRST PERIOD
Crookston was able to use their specialty teams in the first period,  scoring one of each. It started with a power play just under 10 minutes into the period when Addie Fee was able to outwork a couple of Fort Frances defensemen in the Muskie’s corner. Fee looked for a teammate and spotted defenseman Ashley Bailey all alone back by the blueline, then Bailey skated in and snapped a shot past Madison Bliss to give the Pirates the lead and their 10th power play of the season. “It was good work by Addie and a perfect pass, and it was great to see Ashlyn able to bury the shot,” said Pirate head coach Emily Meyer.  Crookston would go short-handed with four minutes left in the period and score their second ‘shortie’ of the season. After Crookston dumped the puck into the Fort Frances end, Crookston’s eighth grader, Jocelyn Field, streaked into the Muskie’s end, took the puck away from a Fort Frances defender, came in front of their net, and after the goalie made a save, Field got her rebound and tucked it in. “I like to be aggressive, and this time, it worked out well,” said Jocelyn Field. Crookston outshot Fort Frances 15-2 in the period. “We played well,” said Meyer, “it was good to see us come out to start the game again like we did our last game against East Grand Forks. We dominated the offensive zone in the period.”

SECOND PERIOD
Crookston scored two goals nearly a minute early in the second period and two more later. Brekken Tull scored on a rebound off a Jocelyn Field shot, and Emma LaPlante made an excellent play, gathering up a puck at center ice and skated uncontested into the Fort Frances zone to the low slot, and sniped one past a surprised goalie for a 4-0 lead. “I like to get an assist as much as a goal,” said Jocelyn Field, “I enjoy playing with Brynley and Brekken and feel blessed they are on my line.” LaPlante would set up the next goal with a crisp pass in front of the Muskie’s goal, and pinching in was Pirate defenseman Morgan Nelson, who popped it in for a 5-0 lead. Brynley Coleman would close out the scoring with another one-timer in front of the Fort Frances net on a pass from Tull and Field to make it 6-0 after two periods of play. “We continued to take the play to them in the second period,” said Meyer, “we were having fun, making terrific passes, and we made terrific setup plays.”
Crookston outshot Fort Frances 17-1 in the period!

THIRD PERIOD
The third period started with running time as the Pirates were up by six goals. Crookston used four lines throughout the period, and the fourth unit comprised Ava Martin, Logan Brekken, and Shyuh Brunette, who had some excellent opportunities to score but were held at bay by the second Muskie goalie, Danielle Schram, who played well. Fort Frances would prevent Pirate goalie Kambelle Freiji from her fifth shutout of the season when Courtney McCoy managed to pick up a puck at center ice, skated in on a break-a-way and beat Freije with a great shot to make it 6-1, seven minutes into the period. The game would be stop-timed the rest of the way, as neither team would score, and the Pirates won 6-1 to start the Classic in Warroad. “It was a great game all around for us,” said Coach Meyer, “we played as a team; a lot of the girls were looking to pass before shooting and set up some pretty goals. Nice to get six goals and enjoy this a bit; watch Rosemount against Warroad and get ready for Rosemount tomorrow.” Crookston outshot Fort Frances 9-3 in the third period and 41-6 for the game!!

Crookston ranked #8 in Minnesota Class A polls, has won seven of their last eight games to improve to 10-3-1. The Pirates will play Rosemount in Warroad tomorrow at 1:00 PM, and it will be on KROX RADIO. Rosemount is 5-6-2 on the year after dropping a 5-4 game to Warroad tonight. The Pirates will finish off the Classic on Thursday, playing Warroad at 1:00 PM. The Crookston/Warroad game will be a rematch from the December 5 game that saw Crookston defeat Warroad 2-0 in Crookston.
Fort Frances is now 23-8 on the season! Canadian high school teams are not confined to 25 games during the regular season like Minnesota high school boys’ and girls’ hockey teams!

1st Period
9:38 – Crookston – Ashlyn Bailey (2)  (Addie Fee) PP
13:53 – Crookston – Jocelyn Field (2)  (unassisted) SH

2nd Period
4:20 – Crookston – Brekken Tull (4) (Jocelyn Field)
5:44 – Crookston – Emma LaPlante (4) (Adley Vigness)
10:24 – Crookston – Morgan Nelson (3) (Emma LaPlante, Parker Strand)
12:28 – Crookston – Brynley Coleman (5) (Brekken Tull, Jocelyn Field)

3rd Period
6:57 – FF – Courtney McCoy (unassisted)