MENDOTA HEIGHTS - St. Thomas Academy scored the final four goals, the run spanning all three periods, as it beat Hermantown 5-2 on Friday at St. Thomas Ice Arena in one of 16 games played around the state.
No. 1-1A Hermantown (12-5-3) held early leads of 1-0 and 2-1 on goals by Alex Nicklin and Kole Lendzyk.
Michael Mikan's goal late in the first period tied the score at 2-2. No. 2-2A St. Thomas Academy (16-2-0) scored two more goals in the second and another in the third - an empty netter from Mikan - as it cruised to the victory.
The game featured two of the state's top goaltenders in Hermantown's Bryce Francisco and St. Thomas Academy's Cody Niesen. Francisco made 26 saves for the Hawks; Niesen had 21 saves for the Cadets. Francisco leads the state with a .946 save percentage; Niesen is third statewide with a 1.42 goals-against average.
CLOQUET - Cloquet/Esko/Carlton scored four unanswered goals in the second period on its way to a 6-4 triumph over Bemidji in the Lumberjacks versus Lumberjacks matchup at Cloquet Area Recreation Center.
Grady Knutson, Bobby Thornton, Leo Luense and Jordan Sewell scored the second-period goals for No. 2-1A Cloquet/Esko/Carlton (15-4-0), which led 5-2 heading into the final period.
Knutson had two goals and Karson Young three assists for Cloquet.
Conor Stodgell scored twice twice for Bemidji. His third-period goal cut Cloquet's lead to 5-3.
FAIRMONT - Bryce Lehman scored 4:22 into overtime to lift Morris/Benson past Fairmont 8-7 at Martin County Arena.
Kye Suess scored two of his three goals late in the third period, the first tying the score at 6-6 and the second tying it at 7-7 with 1:11 left in regulation.
Tyler Kurt and Klay Beemer each scored twice for Fairmont (0-14-0), which led 5-3 heading into the third period.
Morris/Benson (7-12-0) scored four of its seven goals in the final period.
NEW ULM - Landyn Lais scored twice - both goals coming on the power play - and added two assists as Luverne eased past longtime Big South Conference rival New Ulm 6-2 at the New Ulm Civic Center.
The score was tied 1-1 after the first period. No. 14-1A Luverne (15-2-1) scored the the next four goals, the last coming from Will Bergman 5:52 into the third period to put the Cardinals ahead 5-1.
Carson Uecker scored both goals for New Ulm (9-8-1).
LITCHFIELD - Emmett Reiter scored three goals, including two in the final period, as Hutchinson pulled away from Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato for a 7-4 victory at Litchfield Civic Arena.
The score was tied 3-3 midway through the second period, then Hutchinson (6-9-1) scored three straight goals to surge in front.
Anton Haataja had a goal and an assist for the Dragons (7-10-0).
Tag(s): News