PIRATE BOYS HOCKEY DROPS CLOSE ONE TO MAYVILLE-PORTLAND

The Crookston Pirate Boys Hockey team ran into exquisite goaltending from the Mayville-Portland Ice Dawgs as the Pirates fell 3-1 at the Crookston Sports Center. 

FIRST PERIOD
In the first, Crookston got off to a great start as Jay Reese picked up Garrett Fischer’s pass in the corner and fed Greyson Ecker in the middle of the Pirates offensive zone. Ecker one-timed the puck into the net to give Crookston an early 1-0 lead just over a minute into the game. Mayville-Portland answered later in the period as Cale Gensrich fired a shot wide of Crookston goalie Brady Chandler. Gensrich followed his shot on the far boards, spun, and fired his shot into the net to tie the game at one. Crookston would head to the power play for the first time in the game, and despite generating some shots, the Pirates couldn’t score on the man advantage, and the game stayed tied at one. Later in the period, Walker McGillis was on the end boards behind the net and played a perfect pass to Jonathan Muhs, who buried the puck into the net to make it 2-1 Mayville-Portland in the lead. That would be the score heading to the second. 

SECOND PERIOD
In the second, Crookston headed to the power play as the Ice Dawgs were called for their second penalty of the night. Once again, the Pirate’s power play had some chances, but Mayville-Portland’s goalie, Cutler Peterson, was able to keep the Pirates out of the net. Right after the penalty was killed, Mayville-Portland headed to the power play for the first time in the game. The Ice Dawgs weren’t able to cash in on that power play but had another one about 30 seconds after their first penalty expired. Once again, the Crookston penalty kill stood tall and kept the game at 2-1 with Mayville-Portland still on top. Crookston would get another power play chance later in the period, but Peterson kept the Pirates out of the net once again and kept their one-goal lead. The teams would skate into the second intermission, with the Ice Dawgs still leading 2-1. 

THIRD PERIOD
In the third, Crookston would get a power play just 32 seconds into the period. The Pirates again were able to get some shots toward the net but Peterson stood tall once again and kept the game at 2-1. Mayville-Portland had a two-on-one as Muhs walked into the offensive zone and fired his shot into the net to make it a 3-1 Ice Dawgs lead. Crookston would get their final chance on the power play as Mayville-Portland was called for another penalty, but the Ice Dawgs killed it off. Crookston pulled the goalie late in the period as the Pirates attempted to draw up a play to cut the deficit to one with a little over two minutes to go. Peterson read the play perfectly and was able to track the puck and stop Crookston from scoring as Peterson recorded 40 consecutive saves to secure a 3-1 victory for Mayville-Portland. 

Crookston drops to 12-10-0 on the season and takes on Breckenridge/Wahpeton tomorrow on KROX Radio and the KROX YouTube Live Stream. Mayville-Portland improves to 6-14-0 on the year and will play Fargo Davies on Saturday. 

Click here for Coach Hardy’s post-game interview. 

1st Period
1:14 – Crox – Greyson Ecker (8) (Jay Reese, Garrett Fischer)
8:16 – MP – Cale Gensrich (Unassisted)
15:08 – MP – Jonathan Muhs (Walker McGillis, Keaton Saastad)

2nd Period
No Scoring

3rd Period
5:51 – MP – Jonathan Muhs (Walker McGillis, Bohdi Peterson)

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