The Crookston Pirate Boys Hockey team had a tough battle against the International Falls Broncos, as the Pirates got two late goals to pick up a 2-1 victory at Bronco Arena in International Falls.
FIRST PERIOD
In the first, the Pirates’ offense got shots from Blake Melsa and Tate Hamre from the blue line, but the Broncos’ netminder Kane Thompson shut the door early. Later in the period, Cooper Crandall had an excellent scoring chance, but Parker Kelly for Crookston kept the Broncos out of the net. Crookston headed to the power play as the Broncos were called for a penalty, but International Falls was able to kill it off and keep the game scoreless. International Falls broke the scoreless tie as Asher Keep chipped the puck to himself from his own blue line into the neutral zone, creating a two-on-one opportunity. He entered the offensive zone and slipped a pass across for Zach Youso, who made a nice move in front of the net and buried the puck into the back of the net for a 1-0 Broncos lead. The Broncos were looking to add to their lead as Keep had a breakaway chance, but Kelly denied him with about thirty seconds left in the period.
SECOND PERIOD
To begin the second, the team’s intensity picked up, as there were four penalties called in the first 21 seconds of the period. The big hits kept coming as the aggressive play continued in the period. Greyson Ecker had a two-on-one chance for Crookston as he fired his shot on net, but Thompson made the save to keep it 1-0. In the middle of the period, Crookston went to the power play. Halfway through the power play, both teams were called for coincidental minors, which made it four on three. After the penalty was killed, Crookston would be called for a penalty, sending the Broncos to the power play. Crookston killed off the Broncos power play to skate at full strength, but before the period came to a close, International Falls was called for a penalty. There were ten total penalties called in the second period, as International Falls kept their 1-0 lead heading into the third.
THIRD PERIOD
To begin the third, Crookston was on the power play, and Ecker had a shot that just went wide. Ryan Street later had a shot saved by Thompson to keep it 1-0. A little later, Garrett Fischer sent a perfect pass to Ecker, who was out in front. Ecker sent the puck into the open netmouth to tie the game at one. Later in the period, Crookston was on the attack once again as Teagen Lubinski was on the blue line, fired a shot, and Jay Reese was out in front and redirected the puck into the back of the net to give Crookston a 2-1 lead. The Broncos had a few late chances, but Kelly stood tall in the net once again as the Pirates were able to keep their lead. International Falls pulled their goalie to give them an extra man on the ice. Crookston had two great chances to get a two-goal lead, but the Bronco’s defense kept the puck out of the net. International Falls had one last chance at it but couldn’t score, as Crookston would get a 2-1 win.
Crookston improves to 12-9-0 on the season and will take on MayPort (N.D.) on Monday on KROX and on the KROX YouTube Live Stream. International Falls drops to 5-13-2 on the year and takes on Red Lake Falls on Tuesday.
Click here for Coach Hardy’s post-game interview.
Click here for Teagen Lubinski’s post-game interview.
JV – Crookston wins 8-5.
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Scoring
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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Final
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| Crookston | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| I-Falls | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
1st Period
11:29 – IF – Zach Youso (Asher Keep, Cooper Crandall)
2nd Period
No scoring
3rd Period
4:59 – Crox – Greyson Ecker (7)(Garrett Fischer)
12:30 – Crox – Jay Reese (6)(Teagen Lubinski)
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Saves
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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Final
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| Parker Kelly – Crox | 7 | 11 | 4 | 22 | |
| Kane Thompson – IF | 8 | 19 | 7 | 34 |
