ROSEAU SCORES 3 TIMES IN THE FINAL MINUTE TO BEAT CROOKSTON GIRLS HOCKEY

The Roseau Rams scored three goals in 49 seconds in the last minute of the hockey game to defeat the Crookston Pirates 6-3 in a girls’ hockey game at the Rams Sports Center in Roseau.

FIRST PERIOD
First, the Crookston Pirate Girl’s Hockey team came up further north to Roseau without one of their leaders, Reese Swanson, battling the bug that has been slowly going through the Pirate lineup. That is one big hole to fill, but Crookston decided to go with three defensemen and roll three lines with Cassie Solheim moving to a center position. Second, during warmups, Pirate goalie Kamebelle Freije injured her thumb on one of the shots at her, and she had to be pulled, so Crookston inserted Freshman Madilyn Abrams, who has played one varsity game in her career, a victory at International Falls earlier. Roseau has excellent team speed and showed it early, dominating in the offensive zone, but they needed to get shots on goal, as the Pirate’s defensemen and forwards were coming back and clogging some of the passing lanes. Roseau would score the only goal of the period when Jasmine Hovda, an outstanding speedster for the Rams, centered a pass in front of Abrams, and Jerrett Tietz one-timed it home, and it was 1-0 Roseau with just under eight minutes into the period. Even though the Pirates had only two power plays in the period, they could only get a few shots on goal. The Rams dominated short-handed on one of the Pirate power plays. Roseau outshot Crookston 5-3 in a defensive first period.

SECOND PERIOD
Something lit a fire under the Pirates in the second period as they stormed out to start the period. “We told the girls that we had to start playing Pirate hockey. Get more aggressive in their zone, keep putting pressure on, and we’ll score some goals,” said Meyer. Crookston scored two in 23 seconds, starting with Addie Fee, who was coming into the Roseau zone on a two-on-one and snapped a shot top shelf past the goalie’s glove to tie the game at 1-1. “That was a big goal for us,” said Meyer, “to get that first one, and it was a heck of shot by Addie going up and past the goalie’s glove.” If that was a big goal, 23 seconds later, Emma LaPlante won a face-off and shot quickly to surprise and beat the goalie. “That really lifted us, and you could just feel it on the bench,” said Meyer, “the girls started believing they could skate with Roseau, and it continued for the rest of the period.” Crookston outshot Roseau 9-5 in the second period. Crookston was 0-5 on the power play through two periods as Roseau had five penalties, and Crookston didn’t have any! Hang on to your hats, Crookston girls, as we all know who will get the next penalty call.

THIRD PERIOD
Crookston only took 47 seconds to take their first penalty of the game on an interference call. However, Roseau didn’t score, with Crookston goalie Abrams stopping five shots during the two minutes. The power play did get Roseau humming again, scoring twice in 40 seconds five and a half minutes into the period. Kylie Bjerk scored on a shot from the right circle and just passed Abrams’ left pad. 40 seconds later, Hovda set up Ella Ketring to make it 3-2 for Roseau. The Pirates would answer quickly when Brekken Tull slammed in a rebound to tie it up at 3-3 with 10 minutes to go in the game. “Brekken’s goal was also a big one at the time,” said Meyer, “Brekken works hard in front of the net, and she has picked up some of those greasy goals.”  Both teams played hard for the rest of the period, with both getting chances.
Crookston had one ring off the pipe that would have put them ahead. Then, things went sideways for Crookston with under a minute to goal in regulation and still tied at 3-3. Payton Remick managed to get her stick on a Summer Byfuglien shot and changed directions past Abrams to make it 4-3 with 49 seconds left in the game. Crookston would then take their time-out. “We just wanted to reset things,” said Meyer, “give them a little rest and set up what we wanted to do, which included pulling our goalie.” Crookston did get control of the puck and pulled Abrams, but Remick received a pass at center ice just outside the Pirate blueline, put a shot past a couple of Pirates and into the open net to seal the deal, giving Roseau a 5-3 lead. Roseau would score with 10 seconds to go off the next faceoff and make it a 6-3 win for the Rams. “It certainly wasn’t a 6-3 game,” said Meyer. “Take away the first period, I thought we played a great game, keeping up with their speed. There weren’t a lot of shots on goal for either team because it was a defensive, physical game. We want to take positives out of each game we play, getting ready for the playoffs, and there were several positives in this game.”

The Pirates are now 14-6-1 on the season. They will have a just recently added a home game with Duluth Marshall on Friday, Marshall is 16-1-1 on the year and ranked number three in Minnesota Class A, while the Pirates is ranked #8 in Class A. Game time is 5:00 PM, varsity only at the Crookston Sports Center It will be VIDEO STREAMED on KROX TV.

As far as Freije’s injury? It’s a broken thumb in two places. She’ll have to be placed in a splint and then see if they can fit it in her glove. Will she be back this season? Wishful thinking might be the Section playoffs!!!! She injured it in warmups before tonight’s game as she fell into the net and at the same time a shot hit her thumb!

Roseau is 11-9-0 on the year and will be at Moorhead on Thursday.

JV- Roseau scored with seven seconds left to win 3-2.

Saves	1st	2nd	3rd	Total
Crookston	0	2	1	3
Roseau	1	0	5	6

 

1st Period
7:42 – Roseau – Jerrett Tietz (Jasmine Hovda, Ella Ketring)

2nd Period
11:13 – Crookston – Addie Fee (9) unassisted
11:36 – Crookston – Emma LaPlante (7) unassisted

3rd Period
5:22 – Roseau – Kylie Bjerk (Jasmine Hovda)
6:02 – Roseau – Ella Ketring (Jasmine Hovda, Kylie Bjerk)
6:51 – Crookston – Brekken Tull (6) (Ashlyn Bailey, Cassie Solheim)
16:11 – Roseau – Payton Remick (Summer Byfuglien, Jasmine Hovda)
16:41 – Roseau – Payton Remick (Summer Byfuglien, Amelia Kvien) (Open net)
16:50 – Roseau – Lily Erickson (Jasmine Hovda, Payton Remick)