by Sports Editor Scott DCamp
A 5-0 Section 8A semifinal loss to the Crookston Pirates marked the end of the 2022-23 girls hockey season for the Thief River Falls Prowlers.
The second-seeded Pirates scored a pair of goals in the opening period and added to their lead with two goals in the second and one more in the third to claim the 5-0 win over the Prowlers at the Gardens Arena in Warroad.
It was the Prowlers’ third loss to the Pirates this season. The Pirates claimed a 5-1 win over the Prowlers on Nov. 11 at the Ralph Engelstad Arena, and a 4-1 over the Prowlers on Jan. 9 at the Crookston Sports Center.
Saturday was the Addison Fee show for Crookston. The sophomore forward opened the scoring for the Pirates 2:35 into the game. She scored again a minute into the second period. She pushed goal number three between the pipes with 3:20 left in the second to record the hat trick, and she found the net for the fourth and final time with 7:24 left to play to give the Pirates a 5-0 lead.
The Pirates’ only other goal came from Brekken Tull with 2:08 left in the opening period.
“Definitely not the result we wanted but they were the better team,” said Thief River Falls Head Coach Brett Johnson., “I think it is tough to play on the olympic sized ice sheet when you haven’t played on one all year long. To the average person its just another rink but as a player it is different to play on that size of a rink. I wish Crookston the best of luck in the finals.”
Prowlers rough up Broncos to reach 8A semifinal
Thief River Falls hosted International Falls Thursday night at the Ralph Engelstad Arena and took care of business with a 7-0 shutout win over the Broncos.
Senior Jayden Breiland got the scoring going for the Prowlers with 3:02 left in the opening period, with an assist by fellow senior Gretchen Cota.
The Prowlers peppered International Falls goaltender Mara Pelland with 17 shots in the opening period but only Breiland’s found the net. That changed in the second period, with the Prowlers scoring five goals in a little over 10 minutes from 2:08 to 12:42.
“I don’t think we had a slow start, I think their goalie played really well,” Johnson said. “We had 17 shots in the first period and she made some really nice saves. We talked about getting traffic, screens, and tips as she was seeing everything in the first period and making the saves.”
Scoring goals for the Prowlers were Lila Dalager at 2:08, Kali Knutson at 7:04, Gretchen Cota at 8:12, Julia Rude shorthanded at 8:43, and Knutson again at 12:42. Recording assists in the second period were Breiland (2), Carli Prickett, Kora Sorter, Miley Cota, Lila Dalager and Elory Mossestad.
Rounding out the scoring for the Prowlers was an unassisted goal by Knutson with 5:22 left to play to give Knutson the hat trick.
Knutson finished the season as the Prowlers’ top scorer, leading the team in goals (18), assists (12), and points (30).
Goaltender Bell Hamre faced just nine shots on the day and turned all nine away to record her third shutout of the season. It was also the Prowlers’ fourth shutout overall.
“Great to get play-off experience for the girls and get a win under our belts,” Johnson said.
Prowlers bid
farewell to seniors
Saturday’s loss to Crookston marked the end of the high school hockey careers for seven seniors: Mandi Coltom, Jayden Breiland, Grace Gillespie, Gretchen Cota, Carli Prickett, Ava Budish, and Bell Hamre.
“I couldn’t ask for a better group of seniors,” Johnson said. “They have been awesome all year long, have been leaders, helping and pushing the younger girls all year long.”
Scoring
1 2 3 T
International Falls 0 0 0 0
Thief River Falls 1 5 1 7
First period – TRF, Jayden Breiland (Gretchen Cota) 13:48.
Second period – TRF, Lila Dalager (Jayden Breiland) 2:08; TRF, Kali Knutson (Carli Prickett, Kora Sorter) 7:04; TRF, Gretchen Cota (short handed) (Miley Cota) 8:12; TRF, Juila Rude (Lila Dalager, Jayden Breiland ) 8:43; TRF, Kali Knutson (Elory Mossestad) 12:42.
Third period – TRF, Kali Knutson 11:38.
Shots – I-Falls 3-4-2 – 9; TRF 17-22-15 – 54.
Power plays – I-Falls 0-for-4; TRF 0-for-2.
Penalties – I-Falls 2 (4 minutes); TRF 4 (8 minutes).
Goalie saves – I-Falls, Mara Pelland 47; TRF, Bell Hamre 9.
Scoring
1 2 3 T
Thief River Falls 0 0 0 0
Crookston 2 2 1 5
First period – Crookston, Addison Fee (Taylor Field) 2:35; Crookston, Brekken Tull (power play) Morgan Nelson, Reese Swanson) 14:52.
Second period – Crookston, Addison Fee (Kaylie Clauson, Taylor Field) 0:58; Crookton , Addison Fee (Taylor Field) 13:40.
Third period – Crookston, Addison Fee (Tylor Field) 9:36.
Shots – TRF 3-2-11 – 16; Crookston 10-17-18 – 45.
Power plays – TRF 0-for-3; Crookston 1-for-2.
Penalties – TRF 4 (8 minutes); Crookston 4 (8 minutes).
Goalie saves – TRF, Bell Hamre 40; Crookston, Kambelle Freije 16.
Section 8A
• Quarterfinals, Thursday, Feb. 9 – East Grand Forks 8, Detroit Lakes 0; Thief River Falls 7, International Falls 0.
• Semifinals, Saturday, Feb. 11 at Gardens Arena, Warroad – Warroad 9, East Grand Forks 2; Crookston 5, Thief River Falls 0.
• Championship, Thursday, Feb. 16, Warroad vs. Crookston, 7 p.m. at Gardens Arena.