CROOKSTON BOY’S HOCKEY SUFFERS LOSS AGAINST TWO RIVERS

The Crookston Pirates Boys Hockey team welcomed the Two Rivers (Mendota Heights) Warriors inside the Crookston Sports Center on Saturday afternoon. The Pirates were coming off an exciting 6-6 tie with Kittson County Central on Friday night and were looking to build off the momentum. Two Rivers was also playing on short rest after defeating Bagley-Fosston the previous night. The teams both came out with plenty of energy, but it was the Warriors that came away with a 9-1 win.

FIRST-PERIOD –

Crookston came out firing early getting six shots on goal in the first few minutes. They also had an early Power Play opportunity that would be turned away by Two Rivers. The Warriors would strike first shortly after on a goal from Jack Knoll at the 3:30 mark, making it 1-0. The teams would trade shots the next several minutes before Crookston would go on another Power Play. This time the Pirates wouldn’t get a shot on goal during the man advantage and would need a big save from Jaren Bailey to keep the score 1-0. Two Rivers would extend their lead before the end of the period, as Blake Eckmann would beat Jaren Bailey to put the Warriors up 2-0 with 53 seconds remaining before the intermission. It came after a Pirates turnover in their own zone, and that was something that plagued them all game. “The big issue for us today is we lacked the urgency we needed to have when we had the puck,” said Pirates Head Coach Josh Hardy. “We couldn’t get any momentum going and we just couldn’t quite get it going today.” Crookston would outshoot Two Rivers 11-10 in the first frame but find themselves down 2-0.

SECOND-PERIOD –

The Warriors controlled the rest of the game, outshooting Crookston in the final two periods 34-6. The Warriors quickly found the scoreboard in the second period thanks to a Pirate penalty that put them on the Power Play. Joe Sheppard took advantage of the Power Play giving the Warriors a 3-0 lead just 1:07 into the frame. The Pirates would then get a Power Play of their own, and third time was the charm. Off the first faceoff of the Power Play, Jack Doda would find the back of the net to get the Pirates on the scoreboard. “It was nice to see us utilize a Power Play,” said Pirates Head Coach Josh Hardy. “I thought Jack (Doda) had a great game today and gave a great effort all day.” Nathan Kelly and Zach Tahran would be credited with the assists. The goal would make the score 3-1 Two Rivers with 10:00 left to play in the period. A few minutes later the Warriors answered on another tipped shot in front of the Pirates net leading to a Warriors goal making the score 4-1. The Warriors still weren’t done in the period, as Will Perrault would add another goal giving Two Rivers a 5-1 lead before the end of the period. The game was physical all afternoon, but it escalated at the end of the second period. With 30 seconds remaining, Two Rivers would have a player get called for a game misconduct, and the teams would have offsetting penalties as well during a little scrum in front of the Pirates net. “I thought we should’ve been on the Power Play after that exchange,” said Pirates Head Coach Josh Hardy. “The refs made a judgement call and sometimes that’s the way it goes.” Instead both teams would be at full strength entering the third period.

THIRD-PERIOD –

Crookston would get an early Power Play to begin the third period, but it would shortly be nullified by a penalty of their own, allowing a short time of 4v4 hockey. The Warriors would score during the 4v4 portion, and again once their Power Play begin, quickly making the score 7-1. The rest of the game was played with running time per Minnesota State High School League rules, as Two Rivers led by 6+ goals. The Warriors would add two more goals and secure a 9-1 victory. “We got a lot of work to do. We got some frustrated kids right now and they should be. They know they can play better then we did today,” said Pirates Coach Josh Hardy. “It was good to see them take ownership of that and will get back to work on Monday and move onto the next one.”

Jaren Bailey suffered the loss in net for the Pirates making 36 saves. Brady Altier earned the win for the Warriors. Crookston falls to 0-3-1 on the season with the loss and will play two games next week against Thief River Falls and Detroit Lakes. Two Rivers improves to 4-2 with the win.

1st Period
TR – 3:30 – Jack Knoll (Max Schuehle)
TR – 16:07 – Blake Eckmann (Unassisted)

2nd Period
TR – 1:07 – Joe Shepherd (Baz Schuehle, Will Auran)
Crox – 7:00 – Jack Doda (Zach Tahran, Nathan Kelly)(PP)
TR – 10:28 – Nate Rohrer (Blake Eckmann, Casey Ball)
TR – Will Perrault (Unassisted)

3rd Period
TR – 8:23 – Baz Schuehle (Andrew Eckmann)
TR – 9:46 – Will Perrault (Tommy Bergstrom) (PP)
TR – 11:35 – Magnus Herschbach (Will Perrault, Jack Knoll)
TR – 12:18 – Will Auran (Andrew Eckmann)