The Crookston Pirates Boys Hockey team faced off against Thief River Falls on Thursday night at Huck Olson Arena. The Pirates were down 8 players in the game due to injury or illness. It was a Section 8A battle that saw Thief River Falls come away with a 10-1 win.
FIRST PERIOD –
Braydin Lund got the Prowlers on the board first at the 10:50 mark to make it 1-0 Thief River Falls. Jack Doda continued his strong play for the Pirates, tying the game at 1-1 a little over two minutes later. Blake Melsa was credited with the assist. It was Melsa’s first significant varsity minutes. “We played outstanding in the first period,” said Pirates Head Coach Josh Hardy. “We executed our game plan in the first period and showed that even with a depleted team we can compete against a good Thief River Falls team.” Thief River Falls would score the next nine goals en route to the victory. The Prowlers would get two goals in the final minute of the first period to take a 3-1 lead into the second frame. Both goals were scored by Brendan Bottem ten seconds apart. Thief River Falls outshot the Pirates 12-8 in the first seventeen minutes.
SECOND PERIOD –
It was an even start to the second period for the first seven minutes, before the Prowlers were able to extend their lead. Jace Erickson was able to beat Jaren Bailey to give Thief River Falls a 4-1 lead with 8:11 remaining in the second period. The wheels began to fall off for the Pirates as they surrendered four more goals, a couple credited to some bad bounces. They would end up trailing 8-1 going into the final period. The goals were scored by Thomas Bienek, Justin Funk, and a two by Morgan Rude. The Prowlers outshot the Pirates 20-1 in the second frame.
THIRD-PERIOD –
Halfway through the third period, the Prowlers would extend their lead to 9-1 as Brendan Bottem would complete his hat trick. Max Arlt would add one more for the Prowlers to make the final score 10-1. Thief River Falls outshot the Pirates 49-12 in the win and held Crookston to just four shots in the final two periods. Jaren Bailey suffered the loss in net for the Pirates saving 39 shots. “Jaren was outstanding again tonight,” said Pirates Head Coach Josh Hardy. “I told our guys after the game we have to find a way to be better for him. I’m proud of his resilience, says a lot about who he is as a person.” Brett Holmer got the win in net for the Prowlers, and Austin Tabatt played the third period making 3 saves.
Crookston falls to 0-4-1 on the season with the loss and will play in West Fargo on Saturday against Detroit Lakes. Thief River Falls improves to 2-4 with the win.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total | |
| CROOKSTON | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Thief River Falls | 3 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
1st Period
6:10 – TRF – Braydin Lund (unassisted)
8:41 – CROX – Jack Doda (Blake Melsa)
16:18 – TRF – Brendan Bottem (Morgan Rude)
16:28 – TRF – Brendan Bottem (Max Arlt, Brady Skeim)
2nd Period
8:49 – TRF – Jace Erickson (Tysen Loeffler, Brady Skeim)
11:00 – TRF – Thomas Bienek (Justin Funk, Alex Von Holtum)
11:34 – TRF – Justin Funk (unassisted)
14:08 – TRF – Morgan Rude (Tysen Loeffler)
15:02 – TRF – Morgan Rude (Brady Skeim)
3rd Period
8:23 – TRF – Brendan Bottem (Braydin Lund, Max Arlt)
13:53 – TRF – Max Arlt (Braydin Lund)
| Saves | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final |
| Jaren Bailey – Crookston | 11 | 15 | 13 | 39 |
| Brett Holmer – TRF | 7 | 1 | X | 8 |
| Austin Tabatt – TRF | X | X | 3 | 3 |
