sports

CARTER TRUDEAU SCORES TWO GOALS AS PIRATES BOY’S HOCKEY BEATS PARK RAPIDS 3-2

January 5, 2023

The Crookston Pirate Boy’s Hockey team got two early goals from Carter Trudeau, and held off a late comeback attempt from the Park Rapids Panthers to pick up a Section 8A win 3-2 on Thursday night at the Crookston Sports Center.

FIRST PERIOD –
The Pirates were able to do something that they have struggled with all season, score early. Carter Trudeau was the star of the show early in this one, giving the Pirates the early lead 2:42 into the period, and adding a second goal a little over a minute later on a great feed from Jack Doda. That would make it 2-0 and the Pirates had already built a solid lead in the first four minutes. It was an extremely back-and-forth first period with both teams getting multiple scoring chances. Jaren Bailey was exceptional in the first seventeen minutes making multiple saves on Park Rapids chances to keep the Pirates in front 2-0. Crookston also killed off a penalty in the period as well, and overall it was the best period of hockey the Pirates have played in a long time. The Pirates would have one more great chance right at the end of the period to extend their lead, as the top line raced down the ice on a 3V1. The Panthers goaltender would make the initial save, and after that, there would be a scrum in front of the net that would result in a minor penalty for both teams. That would end the period and the Pirates would take a 2-0 lead into the second frame with goals being scored by junior Carter Trudeau. Jaren Bailey made all 10 saves on shots he faced, while Panthers goaltender Sawyer Torkelson made 11 saves and 13 Crookston shots.

SECOND PERIOD –
The second period had plenty of action and it began right away. Park Rapids would send a shot on net that would get pinned against Bailey and the post, and the refs would blow the play dead before the puck crossed the line. The Panthers would continue to apply pressure keeping Crookston on their heels. Park Rapids would finally break through at the 5:07 mark on a Crookston give-up and pull within one on a goal from Jeron Pinoniemi. The Pirates would score a little over a minute later and immediately take the two goal lead back. Kadin Edwards would fire a shot in on net and then be pushed into the Panthers goaltender from behind. That would leave the net wide open, and Zach Tahran would find the puck and fire a wrist shot, scoring the goal to give Crookston a 3-1 lead with 10:15 left in the period. The referees would discuss if there was interference on the play, but it was deemed that Edwards was pushed into the goaltender, and the goal would stand. It was the first goal of the season for Tahran. Both teams would continue to get odd-man rushes and opportunities to score the rest of the period, but each goaltender would make save after save. Bailey would make a couple of nice stops right at the end of the period, and Crookston would skate to the locker room in front 3-1 with seventeen minutes left to play. It was a very even game as the shots on goal through two periods of play were in favor of the Panthers 20-19.

THIRD PERIOD –
The third period was all about the Crookston defense. Park Rapids got a few nice chances early on but the Pirates were able to turn them aside and preserve the two goal lead. After the first few minutes, the momentum flipped to the Pirates side and they were able to get plenty of offensive zone time and keep the Panthers from threatening. It looked like the Pirates were going to skate their way to a 3-1 win without any issues, but Carter Trudeau would get called for a penalty with under three minutes remaining and that would put the Panthers on the Power Play. As you could’ve guessed, Park Rapids was able to take advantage and score with 2:44 remaining, cutting the Pirates lead to 3-2. Crookston was able to melt the clock under a minute left and would use their timeout with thirty-nine seconds left after the Panthers nearly scored a goal to tie the game. Bailey was stellar in net all night and made multiple saves in the final minutes to keep the Pirates in front. Crookston would win the faceoff after the timeout, and play keep away from the Panthers the rest of the game to run the clock off and pick up the win 3-2. It was a big Section 8A victory for the Pirates, and it also snapped a five game losing streak. Jaren Bailey picked up the win for Crookston making 27 saves and allowing just 2 goals. Sawyer Torkelson suffered the loss allowing 3 goals and making 24 saves.

Crookston improves to 2-9 on the season and will host Bagley-Fosston next Tuesday. Park Rapids falls to 3-4 with the loss.