CROOKSTON BOYS HOCKEY DROPS REGULAR SEASON FINALE ON SENIOR NIGHT TO RLF

Zak Kennett had a hat trick, and his brother Ty added two more goals as the Red Lake Falls Eagles defeated the Crookston Pirates Boys Hockey team 7-1 in a Section 8A game the Crookston Sports Center.

FIRST PERIOD
The Eagles took the opening faceoff and carried the put deep into the Pirate zone as they opened up the game with a nice burst against the Pirates, who were trying to find their game after not having played for two and a half weeks. The Pirates would catch a break three minutes into the period when the Eagles were whistled for a penalty allowing the Pirates to establish some offensive zone time on the powerplay. Despite a couple of scoring chances for the Pirates, it would be the Eagles who wound up scoring as Evan Girdler picked up a loose puck in front of his own net and found Zak Kennett streaking down the left side. Kennett fired a quick wrist shot inside the far post with one second remaining on the penalty for a shorthanded goal with 11:55 left in the period. “That was definitely key in getting us rolling,” said Eagles Coach Trevor Page. “I thought we had some chances, were moving our feet a little bit and had more speed. Later in the period, I believe we’d hit two pipes. But that got the guys going, and we were starting to roll.” Over the next nine minutes, the Pirates alternated between had stretches where they looked a little rusty, allowing a couple of high-quality scoring opportunities, two of which clanged off the post but also had some moments where they were able to establish themselves in the offensive end.  However, the Eagles would push the lead to 2-0 with 2:20 to go in the period when Ty Kennet picked up a rebound at the right post, and no one picked him up as he carried across the crease to flip the puck past Crookston goaltender Carter Nelson. “We haven’t played in two and a half weeks, and we were moving guys around in the lineup,” said Pirates Coach Josh Hardy. “We struggled a little bit to finish the period. They get another goal on a nice play for them and a bad play for us. Ty goes through three guys in front of our net, and none of our guys get a stick or body on him. You have to be tougher than that in front of the net.” The Eagles outshot the Pirates 17-7 in the first period.

SECOND PERIOD
The Pirates would open the second period with arguably their best hockey of the season as they controlled the pace of play and were able to both keep the Eagles off-balance and create opportunities off turnovers. “The first 10 or 11 minutes of that period, I thought we were extremely sloppy,” said Page. “We were trying to make the prettier play maybe, not moving it like we can and moving our feet. We gave up way too many chances.” The Pirates’ strong play would culminate with 7:52 to go in the period when Kaleb Thingelstad picked up a loose puck in his own end off a turnover and raced up ice two-on-one with Jack Doda. Thingelstad carried the puck deep before sliding a pass across to Doda coming down the left wing, who buried it cut the lead to 2-1. “I thought the first 10 minutes of the second period were maybe the best we’ve played all season,” said Hardy. “We were really buzzing and get a goal late that that was a two-on-one, almost two-on-none. It was 2-1, and we felt like we were really in a game. Then, the last three minutes or so, the wheels fell off, and the momentum came out of our sails.” The Eagles would respond with renewed fire, however, as they pumped three goals into the net over a period of 2:11. “It was definitely a wake-up call for our boys,” said Page. “Then the last five or six minutes, we gave them a good flurry, and I think we got three there. It was a wake-up call definitely.” First, a mishandled pass would lead to a turnover, and Blake Arlt found Ty Kennett with time and space in front of the Pirates net, and he wired a shot top shelf to make it 3-1 with 2:10 to go in the period. “It was scramble play there at the center of the ice,” said Hardy. “We turned the wrong way giving him time and space. Just like his brother, if you give them time and space, they will make you pay.” Less than a minute and a half later, Ty Kennett would carry down the right-wing before sliding a backhanded pass to Girdler, who went up top for a 4-1 lead. “Evan slammed that one home,” said Page. “That was a very pretty play. We had a couple of similar plays to that throughout the night and didn’t connect. But that one connected, and Girdler put it home for us.” Following a five-minute major against the Eagles for boarding, Zak Kennett would come down the right with and fire a shot on goal that Nelson stopped, but the rebound went off Kennet’s skate five-hole, and the goal stood for Kennet’s second shorthanded goal of the night to make it 5-1 with 59 seconds left in the period. “It was one of the best skill plays I’ve seen all year by Zak,” said Hardy. “Makes a nice shot on net, and it pops out to him, off his skate, and into the net. It was probably one we’d like to see called back. At the end of the game, it doesn’t really matter, but it was a bit of a momentum killer for us.” “From the look at the other side of the ice, I thought Ty kicked it and slapped it in, but he said he didn’t touch it at all,” said Page. “So, I don’t know what really happened, but we’ll take it with a minute left there.” Despite the early advantage where the Pirates outshot the Eagles while pulling within a goal, the Eagles would outshoot the Pirates 13-2 following the Pirates’ goal and 15-9 in the period.

THIRD PERIOD
The third period featured more back and forth action as both teams went deeper into their bench, but the Eagles would continue to stretch their lead. “We got everybody on the ice, which was nice,” said Page. “But we definitely had too many penalties. We have to be careful and smarter than taking that five and a ten. We’re only running three (defenseman) and can’t have one sitting in the penalty box for 15 minutes. There was another one or two we definitely didn’t need. We don’t mind the ones where we’re working hard, but the stuff after the whistle or the little ones we can control, we’ve got to get under control.”  First, Ty Kennett found Zak Kennett standing alone in the right circle, and Zak Kennett found the top right corner for his third goal of the night to complete the hat trick with 6:37 to go. “I thought Carter (Nelson) played a great game today,” said Hardy. “He made all the saves that he could, and we didn’t give him a lot of help. We talk about these goals, and they were a great shot or some tick-tack-toe passing where no goalie will be able to get there if they are given that much time. We didn’t give him a lot of help tonight on the senior night, which was disappointing.” that Then, on the powerplay, Carson Erickson would take a pass at his own blue line before carrying up right-wing and cutting to the center of the ice. After his first shot was blocked, Erickson picked up his own rebound and fired it stick side for his first career varsity goal giving the Eagles a 7-1 lead with 18 seconds to play. “Carson has had some nice plays,” said Page. “He’s not the biggest guy out there by any means, but he’s definitely got some skill and speed. And that was his first one of his career at the varsity level.” The Eagles outshot the Pirates 9-7 in the third period.

The Pirates fall to 2-10 on the year. Red Lake Falls improves to 13-5. The Section 8A seeding meeting will be held Wednesday morning, and Hardy said he anticipates the Pirates will travel to Thief River Falls as the six-seed on Saturday. “We’re likely heading up to play Thief River,” said Hardy. “But you never know. Section seeding meetings can be crazy. We’ve already had one team out here due to COVID. Hopefully, will have three good days of practice and a good game on Saturday.” Coach Page said he believes the Eagles will travel to Kittson County Central as the five-seed on Saturday. “Pretty much like normal years, I think it’s for the most part cut and dry,” said Page. “My guess is we’ll probably be heading to Hallock. I can’t see us any higher, and there is no reason we should be any lower.”