sports

BLAKE BREILAND SCORES IN OT TO GIVE RLF BOY’S HOCKEY WIN OVER CROOKSTON

February 14, 2023

For the second time this season, the Red Lake Falls Eagles Boy’s Hockey team was able to beat the Crookston Pirates in Overtime. Unlike the first matchup where there were 15 combined goals, this game showcased the defenses, and it was Blake Breiland who ended up scoring the overtime goal to give the Eagles the 2-1 win.

FIRST PERIOD –

The two teams scored 15 combined goals in their first meeting in December, but it was the exact opposite of a shootout in the first seventeen minutes. Crookston slowed the game down and played a flawless first period doing great job shutting down the Eagles top line. The only goal of the period would be scored by Jack Doda. As the Eagles were trying to leave their zone, Doda would steal the puck, move to the middle of the ice and fire a wrist shot past Red Lake Falls goaltender Pacey Struthers, giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead with 11:37 left in the period. Shortly after, Ben Ness would be called for a trip and that would give Crookston the first Power Play of the game. The Pirates were unsuccessful leaving the game 1-0. Red Lake Falls has two of the top point-getters in the state in Evan and Gavin Girdler, as they are #2 and #3 in total points across all of Minnesota, but the Eagles would only get 3 shots on net the entire first period, and the Pirates would take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Crookston was able to get 10 shots on goal, taking a 10-3 shots advantage into the second period.

SECOND PERIOD –
The Eagles started to get more comfortable in the second frame and began to put Crookston on their heels. Jaren Bailey made a couple of great saves, including on a breakaway by Evan Girdler, keeping the Pirates in front 1-0. Eventually, Red Lake Falls would break through and tie the game at 1-1. Brock Seeger would fire a shot from the left point that Bailey would initially save, but the puck would squirt free behind him in the crease, and Jacob Harmoning would crash the net for the rebound knocking the puck into the back of the net to even the score with 7:44 left in the period. Crookston would get another Power Play chance later on after Jacob Harmoning was called for a trip, but for the second time, the Eagles would kill off the penalty and return to even strength. Neither team would score again in the period, leaving the game tied at 1-1 entering the final seventeen minutes. Shots on goal were in favor of the Pirates 20-11 through two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD –
The third period was just as entertaining as the first two were. Crookston had multiple occasions where the puck was inches from crossing the goal line, but an Eagles player or the starting goaltender Pacey Struthers would grab the puck just in time. On the flip side, Red Lake Falls also had plenty of chances, with two Power Plays in the final period, but Crookston would stand strong and deny the Eagles on both attempts, keeping the game tied at 1-1. Neither team was able to score in the third period, and that would set up sudden death overtime.

OT –
A little over two minutes into the overtime, Tate Hamre would be called for a hook, and that would give the Eagles a great chance to end the game with the man advantage. Carter Trudeau would actually get a great shorthanded look for Crookston, but he would hit the right post just narrowly missing out on a game-winning goal. The Eagles would get all the way down into the Pirates zone, and Blake Breiland would receive a beautiful pass from Brock Seeger, and fire a shot past Jaren Bailey to win the game. It was the Eagles second overtime win against the Pirates this season.

Crookston finishes the regular season with a final record of 5-18-1 and will await their seed in the Section 8A Tournament. Red Lake Falls improves to 16-8 with the win and will wrap up the regular season Friday hosting Wadena-Deer-Creek.