by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
The Thief River Falls girls hockey team pulled off its biggest win so far during the 2025-26 season with a 2-0 shutout victory over sixth-ranked Mankato East Friday evening at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.
The Cougars brought a sparkling 18-1-1 record into the REA for Friday night’s contest. The Prowlers had faced two other teams currently ranked in the Class A top 10, falling twice to top-ranked Warroad by scores of 6-0 and 6-1, and once to fifth-ranked Proctor/Hermantown by a score of 5-2.
The Prowlers were opportunistic Friday night, with both goals coming on power plays.
The Cougars were penalized for having too many skaters on the ice 4:56 into the opening period to set the Prowlers up with an extra skater. The Prowlers made the most of the power play, winning the ensuing draw, with Parker Olsonawski scoring and Rowan Kennett and Lila Dalager with assists at the 5:01 mark of the first period.
The Prowlers had two more power play chances in the first period but they failed to score.
The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Prowlers well into the second period. Mankato East’s Madelyn Scheel was called for slashing with 4:47 remaining in the second. This time, it took the Prowlers 11 seconds to take advantage of the extra skater with Dalager scoring and Grace Knutson and Kennett picking up assists.
The Cougars had their own chances with an extra skater, including two chances in the second period, but they were denied each time.
Up 2-0, Prowlers controlled the puck for the majority of the third period and outshot the Cougars 11-5 in the frame.
Junior goaltender McKenna Carr turned away all 18 shots she faced to secure her third shutout of the year.
The Prowlers improved to 16-6 with the win.
After falling to Thief River Falls on Friday, Mankato East traveled to East Grand Forks on Saturday and claimed a 4-0 shutout win over the Green Wave to improve to 19-2-1.
The Prowlers were scheduled to travel to East Grand Forks to face the Green Wave Tuesday night. The winner of that game will likely be the number two seed in the Section 8A tournament.
Scoring
1 2 3 T
Mankato East 0 0 0 0
Thief River Falls 1 1 0 2
First period – TRF, Parker Olsonawski (power play) (Rowan Kennett, Lila Dalager) 5:01.
Second period – TRF, Lila Dalager (power play) (Grace Knutson, Rowan Kennett) 12:24.
Third period – No Score
Shots – ME 4-9-5 – 18; TRF 4-9-11 – 24.
Power plays – ME 0-for-3; TRF 2-for-6.
Penalties – ME 6 (12 minutes); TRF 3 (6 Minutes)
Goalie saves – ME, Ilamay Draheim 22; TRF, McKenna Carr 18.
JV Game
Scoring
1 2 3 T
Mankato East 0 0 0 0
Thief River Falls 3 1 1 5
First period – TRF, Jillian LaRoque (unassisted) 2:59; TRF, Jillian LaRoque (power play) (Abby Seeger, Ava Seeger) 9:02; TRF, Jillian LaRoque (Elory Mossestad) 16:11.
Second period – TRF, Jillian LaRoque (Chloe Barrett) 15:56.
Third period – TRF, Kaitlyn Jahn (unassisted) 13:43.
Shots – ME 3-2-3 – 8; TRF 6-5-13 – 24.
Power plays – ME 0-for-3; TRF 1-for-1.
Penalties – ME 1 (2 minutes); TRF 3 (6 minutes).
Goalie saves – ME, Merit Grundei 19; TRF, Faith Hartmann 8.
Greater Minnesota
Conf. overall pts
Bemidji 7-1-0 16-5-0 14
Warroad 6-2-0 17-4-1 12
Roseau 4-5-0 12-9-0 8
Thief River Falls 4-5-0 16-6-0 8
Moorhead 3-0-0 12-8-2 4
East Grand Forks 3-6-0 12-9-1 6
Crookston 1-9-0 6-16-0 2
Results
■ Monday, Jan. 19 – Fergus Falls 5, Crookston 3.
■ Tuesday, Jan. 20 – Moorhead 4, Bemidji 1; Thief River Falls 5, East Grand Forks 3.
■ Thursday, Jan. 22 – Edina 2, Warroad 0.
■ Friday, Jan. 23 – Benilde-St. Margaret’s 5, Moorhead 1; Thief River Falls 2, Mankato East 0.
■ Saturday, Jan. 24 – Bemidji 5, St. Cloud 2; Mankato East 4, East Grand Forks 0; Moorhead 3, Blake 1; Crookston 7, Detroit Lakes 2.