INTERNATIONAL FALLS BUILDS BIG LEAD IN 4-2 WIN OVER PIRATE BOY’S HOCKEY

The Crookston Pirate Boy’s Hockey team was playing their fourth game of the week on Saturday afternoon, and it seemed to show, as the International Falls Broncos were able to use their physical play to build a big lead on their way to a 4-2 victory.

FIRST PERIOD –

Last night the Pirates scored 1:16 into the game to take the early lead. Today, however, it was International Falls who scored 1:16 into the game to go in front 1-0. Jaren Bailey made the initial save and thought he had it covered, but the puck came free in front of the net and Noah Shikowsky skated in grabbing the rebound for the Broncos and firing it into the back of the net for the goal. Both teams would have Power Play opportunities throughout the period, but neither team could take advantage, and the game had few scoring chances in the first frame. The Pirates were playing on their heels a little bit at the end of the period, and that led to icing the puck several times. Eventually, it hurt them, and the Broncos would win a face-off and throw one pass in front of the net for an easy goal for Cody Joslyn to give International Falls a 2-0 lead with just 1:14 left in the period. Crookston would draw a penalty right at the end of the period and carry that momentum over into the second frame, starting with a Power Play. The Pirates were outshot in the first seventeen minutes 9-6 and were also 0-2 on Power Play opportunities.

SECOND PERIOD –
The Pirates were unable to score on the Power Play to start the middle frame, and the Broncos would soon extend their lead after that. Cooper Crandall would score for International Falls on a setup from Cadyn Zahn, and that gave the Broncos a 3-0 lead with 12:49 left in the second period. It took over 9 minutes into the period for Crookston to register a shot on goal as Blake Melsa finally put one on net. It would be saved, and right after that, International Falls would start a runout and get a two-on-one. Jake Olson would deliver a beautiful pass to the front of the net and Nate Dremmel would have an easy goal, putting the Broncos in front 4-0 with 8:31 left in the period. Crookston only registered 4 total shots in the period, but they wouldn’t go away empty-handed. Jack Doda and Carter Trudeau would have a two-on-one opportunity and after the Broncos defender checked Doda to take him out of the play, it turned into a breakaway for Trudeau. He would fire a wrist shot past the goaltender stick-side, giving the Pirates their first goal of the game at the 12:07 mark of the frame. That would end the scoring in the period leaving International Falls in front 4-1 entering the third period, however, Crookston’s Ryan Street would be called for interference right before the frame ended, giving the Broncos a Power Play to start the final seventeen minutes. Through two periods shots on goal were in favor of International Falls 18-10.

THIRD PERIOD –
The third period was all about the Power Play. Crookston was able to kill the initial Power Play to start the period, and then they would get an opportunity on the man advantage after the Broncos were called for Interference. The Pirates ended up going 0-5 on the Power Play in the game, and couldn’t get anything going with the man advantage. Crookston would be called for interference shortly after their Power Play expired, but right towards the end of penalty time, the Broncos were also called for a penalty, giving the two teams a brief time of 4V4 hockey before the Pirates would have over a minute on a Power Play. Crookston’s Jack Doda would score his 26th goal of the season on the 4v4, pulling the Pirates within two goals trailing 4-2 with 9:25 remaining in the game. The best part of the goal was that it happened before the 4V4 was over, giving Crookston their Power Play chance as well. The Pirates were unable to score on the Power Play, leaving them down by two goals. With under five minutes remaining in the game, Jackson Demarais would be called for boarding. The officials would discuss it, and give him a five-minute major, essentially ending the game with the Pirates trailing by two goals and down a skater. Sure enough, the Broncos were able to possess the puck for much of the rest of the game, and they would go on to win 4-2.

Crookston falls to 5-17-1 on the season and will host Red Lake Falls on Tuesday to wrap up the regular season. International Falls improves to 10-13 with the win.

FOR PIRATES COACH JOSH HARDY’S COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW

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Scoring	1st	2nd	3rd	Final
I Falls	2	2	0	4
CROOKSTON	0	1	1	2

1st Period
1:16 – I Falls – Noah Shikowsky (Max Dremmel, Matthew Wheerley)
15:46 – I Falls – Cody Joslyn (Colin Kostiuk)

2nd Period
4:11 – I Falls – Cooper Crandall (Cadyn Zahn)
9:29 – I Falls – Nate Dremmel (Jake Olson)
12:07 – Crox – Carter Trudeau (14) (Jack Doda)

3rd Period
7:35 – Crox – Jack Doda (26) (Nathan Kelly, Blake Melsa)