PARK RAPIDS BEATS CROOKSTON BOY’S HOCKEY IN A CLASSIC IN SECTION 8A TOURNAMENT

The Crookston Pirate Boy’s Hockey team traveled to Park Rapids on Tuesday night for a Section 8A Playoff game against the Panthers. Jack Doda gave Crookston the lead in the second period, but Park Rapids was able to tie the game and send it into OT. Jaren Bailey was sensational in net all night for Crookston, but the Panthers would end up winning the game in overtime on a goal from Kale Ravnass to send them into the next round while ending the Pirates season.

FIRST PERIOD –

Both coaches knew the Power Play was going to play a big role in the game, and Crookston got a great crack at it 1:16 into the game after the Panthers were called for a Slash. The Pirates were just 14% on the Power Play this season coming into the game, and their struggles would continue as they were unable to take advantage leaving the game scoreless. After both teams had just a couple of shots in the first six minutes, the Panthers really started to pick things up offensively and put the Pirates on their heels. Park Rapids had several chances to draw first blood but Jaren Bailey was phenomenal in the first frame making every save that came his way, including one where he lost his stick and the Panthers were just outside the crease. The Pirates would get a second chance on the Power Play with 4:52 left in the period after Park Rapids was called for Interference, but once again, Crookston couldn’t get anything going and failed to even get a shot on goal. Park Rapids would outshoot Crookston 14-4 in the first seventeen minutes, but neither team scored leaving the game at 0-0 entering the second period.

SECOND PERIOD –
The Pirates came out with some energy in the second period and did a great job of testing the Panthers goaltender Sawyer Torkelson. It didn’t result in a goal, but Crookston had the momentum in the early minutes of the period. At the 7:19 mark of the frame, Crookston would break the scoreless tie, to take a 1-0 lead. Jack Doda would take a couple of passes up the ice from Ryan Street and Jackson Demarais, skate wide around the Park Rapids defender, and fire a shot from the right slot and into the net for his 28th goal of the season. Park Rapids was able to get more great chances in front of the net the rest of the period and even had a shot hit off the post from the right slot. Crookston was on their heels and was forced to ice the puck multiple times to gather themselves. The Panthers hard work finally paid off and they were able to tie the game at 1-1 with just 1:49 left in the period. Crookston would turn the puck over trying to leave the zone, and Jeron Pinoniemi would set up Joey Hillukka who would fire a shot over the shoulder of Bailey and into the back of the net. The Pirates have had issues this year at times with turnovers in their own zone, and it came back to bite them in this game as well. On the ensuing faceoff, Ryan Street would be called for a trip putting the Panthers on the Power Play and giving them an opportunity to take a 2-1 lead entering the third period. They were unable to score in the second, and the Power Play would carry over into the final period with twenty-three seconds remaining. Shots on goal were in favor of Park Rapids 24-9 through two periods of play as the score was tied at 1-1.

THIRD PERIOD –
The third period was the definition of hard-nosed hockey with lots of physical play and hitting. Each team tightened up knowing one goal could very well end the game. Each team had a chance here or there, but as the minutes continued to wind down, the score remained 1-1. The Pirates would have an unfortunate break with 1:21 remaining in the frame, as Jackson Reese’s stick would get caught in a Panthers player’s skate, tripping him up and giving Park Rapids a Power Play with an opportunity to win the game. Park Rapids had multiple shots on goal over the next minute and it looked as if they would score the game-winning goal several times, but Jaren Bailey with the help of his defense was able to save everything, and the Pirates escaped the remainder of the third period to send the game into sudden death overtime. The two teams went to overtime the last time they met with the game ending in a tie, but this time they would play until somebody won the game.

OT –
Park Rapids was unable to score on the Power Play to start the period and Crookston was able to get back to even strength. The Pirates would put some pressure on Torkelson and the best chance for them to win the game came on a shot from Carter Trudeau driving the net, but Torkelson swallowed up the save to keep the game alive. Park Rapids would tip a puck into the Pirates zone a few minutes later and would get a 2V1 attacking Bailey. Kale Ravnaas would hold the puck on the right slot and fire a shot over the top of Bailey’s shoulder and into the back of the net for the game-winning goal to send Park Rapids into the next round with a 2-1 victory. Jaren Bailey made 34 saves while surrendering 2 goals in the contest, and Sawyer Torkelson collected 16 saves giving up just 1 goal.

Crookston ends their season with a final record of 5-19-1. They will lose seven seniors from the team as Jaren Bailey, Dalton Delude, Jackson Demarais, Jack Doda, Thor Harbott, Nathan Kelly, and Zach Tahran will graduate this spring. Park Rapids improves to 14-11-1 and will take on #1 Warroad on Thursday night in the Section 8A quarterfinals.