The Mite White had one game this weekend. We played in TRF and played their white team again. We played our first full ice game and it was a pretty good experience for the boys. We lost 12-2 playing a tough first half, I think it caught us off guard. The second half of the game was a lot better giving up 3 of the 12. As a coaching staff we were pleased with how hard the boys played. Once again we made some great passes and made a few nice plays. Kai Hoppe and Colin Trudeau were the goalies and did very well.
Players of the week are Bladen Melsa and Asher Vigness. Despite being the youngest two on the team they play like they are a couple of the oldest. Bladen is one of the fastest kids on the team and is really starting to play a good physical game and really going hard for the puck every shift. Asher is one of the better defensive players on the team and is starting to see the ice well and make good passes. Nice work boys, keep up the hard work.
The 8U team wrapped up their season on Sunday in TRF. The Pirates played well together and ended the game with a win. The girls learned a lot about how to play their positions correctly and how to be ready for a pass. Kenzie Lindo was in the net for the first time and she did great. The team let TRF take the puck a few times and shoot so Kenzie could get some saves under her belt. The girls had an amazing season leaving them undefeated against any other 8U team in the area. They all worked hard and improved their skills throughout the year, which helped in their success. Their season has taught them many valuable lessons that they can carry on to wherever they go next year. Thank you, coaches Tim and Mickey for helping our kids grow into the players they are today and for the years to come!
Player of the Week: Catelyn Maruska. Catelyn is in her second year with the 8U team. She is a feisty girl out on the ice and she knows what she wants. She is always looking and calling out for a pass from her teammates, which has given her many opportunities to score. Catelyn works hard on trying to improve herself each time she gets out there. Congratulations Catelyn and keep up the good work!
Squirt B’s finished their season with Districts in Roseau this past weekend. First playing Roseau, losing 10-0. Our second game Saturday, Crookston came out fighting and wanting a win! Crookston wins their first district game of the season against LOW 7-5. In a very exciting, close game – Kira Daniels starts off the scoring with a breakaway goal, Camren Duncan continues the scoring with 2 more in the first. Ending the first period tied 3-3. LOW scored right away in the 2nd putting them up 4-3. Within the next few minutes, Crookston scored 3 (Hudson Rick, Kira Daniels and Jace Bruggeman with assists going to Camren Duncan and Kira Daniels) to put us up 4-6 with less than a minute left in the period, LOW scored making it a 5-6 going into the third. With a tight game going into the third period Crookston scored 1 more insurance goal by Hudson Rick assisted by Camren Duncan to make it a 5-7 win! Sunday, we again played hard but fell to a Thief River Falls team 4-1 with Hudson Rick scoring Crookston’s only goal assisted by Aidan Weiland. We ended our season with an unexpected win at districts and a super fun weekend with our hockey family! Thanks for a great year:)
Player of the Week: Camren Duncan. Camren has come a long way this season. He has done very well with whatever position I put him in, center, wing or defense. He has been working hard at being the best he can be this season. He is very passionate about hockey and really tries his best. Camren can really move his feet and knows where to be on the ice, one of our quickest back checkers.
The 10U girls ended the season this past weekend at the District Tournament in Thief River Falls. They first faced Warroad, Saturday afternoon, and lost 0-10. The girls all worked hard to the end, made Warroad work for each of their goals, and never stopped trying to get one of their own. Logan Brekken played in net against Warroad, and had 31 saves! Their next game was Saturday evening, against Roseau, and lost 1-4 ending the season. Alexa Bartrum got Crookston’s lone goal on a beautiful breakaway. Again, the girls put their heart into the game and never stopped trying. Logan Brekken was in net again for this game and had 19 saves. Logan did a great job this year, stepping into the goalie role for the majority of the games, and improved so much in just one season – thanks Logan, keep up the good work!
Players of the Week are the 10U Team! The girls had a good season and grew together as a team both on and off the ice. They were reliable teammates missing very few practices; they worked hard at both practice and games; they kept a good attitude for the most part ;), and they learned to cheer each other on in both encouragement and to celebrate successes, as being part of a team is much more than one individual. Keep up the good work girls, and the future of Crookston Girls Hockey is looking bright!
The Crookston 12U season has disappointingly ended, after being knocked out of the Regional Tournament last weekend. Crookston faced off against Moorhead, the eventual tournament champion, in the first round. Crookston came out strong and took a 2-0 lead early, but was unable to hang on to the lead, and ended up losing the game 5-4 in a hard fought battle. The loser out matchup on Saturday was against Grand Rapids, and Crookston never trailed in the game and dominated the play for a 4-1 victory to stay alive in the drive to state. Later that night, it was another tough matchup against Duluth. Coming into the tournament, the Pirates knew they would have to get through Duluth or Moorhead to advance. The game started with Duluth getting on the board first with 2 shorthanded goals, and took a 2-0 lead after two periods. In the third period, the Pirates came out firing and tied the game up 2-2. The game was decided by yet another shorthanded goal late in the 3rd period, and Duluth ended Crookston’s season 3-2. Duluth went on to win the true second game and advanced to state with Moorhead.
Disappointing was mentioned earlier to describe the end to the season. Why was it disappointing? It was disappointing because there are 19 girls on this hockey team that absolutely gave 110% (and yes, Georgia, it is possible to give 110%) not just during games, but practices as well. 19 girls that bought into Pirate hockey. 19 girls that have become great friends, and even better teammates. 19 girls that still cannot answer what a Pirates favorite letter is. 19 girls that have improved immensely throughout the year. 19 girls that the coaches will miss, but will enjoy watching them develop further into incredible hockey players, great students, and outstanding citizens. 19 girls that the coaches have had the honor to coach. These 19 girls have realized that they have something special going, and 19 girls that will continue to hone their craft to get the Pirates favorite letter, the big “W”.
This week’s honor for player of the week will go to each one of these 19 girls for the highly successful season and hard work that each player put into it. Congratulations girls!
The Crookston Bantams season came to an end this weekend at the Minnesota hockey west regional tournament in Alexandria. On Friday Crookston lost a nail biter to Morris Benson 4-2. Crookston was tied 2-2 with Morris Benson going into the 3rd period. With 2:32 left in the game Morris Benson scored to take a 3-2 lead. Crookston would pull their goalie for the extra attacker and Morris Benson sealed the 4-2 win with an empty-net goal with 0.2 seconds left in regulation. Scoring for Crookston was Alex Longoria (2) with assists going to Blaine Andringa and Nathan Kelly. Jaren Bailey had another outstanding performance stopping 43 shots.
Top: Bladen Melsa & Asher Vigness – Mite White, Blair Johnson – Mite Blue, Catelyn Maruska – 8U, Camren Duncan – Squirt B
