The Crookston Pirate Boys Hockey team opened up the 2024-25 season with an 8-1 win over the visiting Kittson County Central Bearcats at the Crookston Sports Center Tuesday evening in a Section 8A matchup. Seven Pirate players scored goals in the game.
FIRST PERIOD
Crookston came out hot to start the game, as they were able to maintain puck control early. The first Pirate goal came quick too, as Garrett Fischer knocked one in off a deflection from KCC goaile Jameson Turner. Throughout the period, KCC was able to win several faceoffs, but Crookston often regained possession moments later. The first penalty of the game came against the Pirates, when Grant Funk was called for a hold. Crookston’s defense held strong and killed the penalty. a couple of minutes later, the Bearcats would be penalized, but Crookston was unable to capitalize on the power play. At the 12:37 mark, the Pirates scored another goal. Jay Reese crashed the net and knocked the puck through off a deflection from the Bearcats goalkeeper, extending the lead to 2-0. Crookston would get a few more chances near the end of the period, but the Pirates were unable to score.
SECOND PERIOD
The second frame was a carbon copy of the first. Crookston would again control the puck for the majority of the period, and the Pirates added a third goal to make it 3-0 with 6:41 gone. Tate Hamre hit a blast from the blue line unassisted to build on the lead. The Pirates would fire off several more shots over the next few minutes, but Bearcats goalie Jameson Turner held his own between the pipes. KCC’s Guilford Finney would be penalized about 13 minutes into the period, which would lead to another Pirate goal. Crookston’s Riley Benson scored off the feed from Teagan Lubinski to make it 4-0 Pirates. The Bearcats were able to make a few charges into their offensive zone, but the Crookston defense held them to just one shot in the period.
THIRD PERIOD
The Pirates continued to dominate for the full period. Crookston was able to fire off many more shots and tack on a few goals to put the game on ice. Michael Bochow was the first Pirate to join the scoring summary, as his blast made it 5-0 off an assist from Ryan Street. Just over a minute later, Crookston’s Greyson Ecker made a shot to increase the lead to 6-0.. The Bearcats were able to score their first and only goal of the night at the 7:25 mark. Isaac Gustafson would score, banking his shot off the back of Pirates goalie Parker Kelly. The Pirates weren’t done scoring, as Michael Bochow added his second of the evening to make it 7-1. Gavin Aakhus knocked in Crookston’s final goal of the night. Crookston dominated possession time, won the bulk of their faceoffs, and only allowed four shots in the final frame.
Crookston improves to 1-0 on the year and will travel to Red Lake Falls on Friday at 5:00 p.m. You can hear the game on KROX Radio. Kittson County Central drops to 0-1.
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final |
| Kittson Co. Central | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Crookston | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
1st Period
CHS – 2:03 – Garrett Fischer (Greyson Ecker)
CHS – 12:37 – Jay Reese (Garrett Fischer, Teagan Lubinski)
2nd Period
CHS – 6:41 – Tate Hamre (unassisted)
CHS – PP – 14:31 – Riley Benson (Teagan Lubinski)
3rd Period
CHS – 5:48 – Michael Bochow (Ryan Street)
CHS – 6:34- Greyson Ecker (Tate Hamre)
KCC – 7:25 – Isaac Gustafson (Eli Muir)
CHS – 9:51- Michael Bochow (Ryan Street, Brandon Colborn)
CHS – 13:40- Gavin Aakhus (Jay Reese, Garrett Fischer)
| Goalie | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
| Parker Kelly-Crox | 7 | 1 | 4 | 12 |
| Jameson Turner – KCC | 13 | 13 | 16 | 42 |
