sports

JAREN BAILEY HELPS LEAD CROOKSTON PIRATES BOY’S HOCKEY TO BIG WIN OVER PARK RAPIDS

January 29, 2022

The Crookston Pirates Boys Hockey team squared off against Park Rapids on Saturday afternoon inside the Crookston Sports Center. The two teams met back on January 6 in Park Rapids, with Crookston securing a 7-4 win. It was a much different game this time around, with a total of only 3 goals scored, but Crookston snagged two of them for a big 2-1 victory over the Panthers. “I’m so proud of the boys,” said Pirates Head Coach Josh Hardy. “We didn’t play the best in the first period, but they continued to work and never quit.”

FIRST-PERIOD –

The first period was the definition of a hard-fought physical hockey game. There were only eight total shots in the first six minutes of the game before Crookston would have the only Power Play of the period. The Pirates would get a couple of shots on goal but Sawyer Torkelson was up to the task and the game remained 0-0 as the Panthers got back to full strength. The Panthers would control the remainder of the period, outshooting the Pirates 12-6 in the first seventeen minutes, but neither team would score and the game would remain tied 0-0 heading into the second period. “I thought Jaren Bailey had an excellent game in the net right from the start,” said Pirates Head Coach Josh Hardy. “He was locked in from the get-go and that was one of the better performances I’ve seen him have.”

SECOND-PERIOD –

The second period was very similar to the first, as both teams played very physically. Each team had one Power Play opportunity in the middle frame, but again both goalies stood tall and made some impressive saves to keep the game at 0-0 through the middle part of the period. The teams traded a few shots back and forth and the game looked like it was destined to head into the third period tied, but Crookston had other ideas. Nathan Kelly fought for the puck in the Panthers zone and sent a pass behind the net to Ashton Shockman who caught Torkelson by surprise and snuck the puck by him giving Crookston a 1-0 lead with just 1:49 remaining in the period. Neither team would have a good chance the remainder of the frame, and Crookston would take a 1-0 lead into the final period. The Pirates were outshot in the first two periods 20-12.

THIRD-PERIOD –

The third period was filled with energy and excitement. Each team had a few chances early but both goalies continue to play incredibe and keep the score 1-0 Pirates. Eventually, the Panthers would have a Power Play opportunity, but once again the Pirates would kill it off and preserve the lead. “Our penalty kill was tremendous tonight,” said Pirates Head Coach Josh Hardy. “We did the little things right and gave ourselves a chance to win because of that.” A few minutes later Jack Doda would take a rebound on a shot from Blaine Andringa and find the back of the net giving the Pirates a 2-0 lead with 5:54 remaining in the game. The Panthers wouldn’t go away without a fight, however, as two minutes later it was once again a 1 goal game after a Park Rapids goal with 3:47 left to play. Park Rapids would get a few more shots on goal, including a couple at the very end of the game, but Bailey continued his phenomenal game, doing just enough to help lead the Pirates to a 2-1 victory. “It was a challenge after allowing that goal, but I knew I had to play strong the last couple of minutes,” said Crookston Pirates Goaltender Jaren Bailey. “I usually know how the game went once it’s over and it was a good one today.”

Bailey earned the win for the Pirates making 33 saves and only allowing 1 goal. Sawyer Torkelson took the loss for the Panthers with 20 saves and two goals allowed.

Crookston improves to 3-14-1 on the season and will have a longer break than normal, as they won’t play again until Friday, February 4 at Greenway-Coleraine. Park Rapids drops to 8-10-1 on the season with the loss.