Girls hockey team firing on all cylinders

Thief River Falls effectively locked itself into a top-two seed in the Section 8A girls hockey tournament with a pair of shutout victories over East Grand Forks and International Falls, respectively. The Prowlers defeated the Green Wave 6-0 Thursday night at the Ralph Engelstad Arena, before making a trip to International Falls, where they claimed an 11-0 win over the Broncos.

The pair of shutout victories follow a 3-1 win over Crookston on Tuesday (March 2). The Prowlers outscored the three teams 20-1 while going 3-0 on the week.

The Prowlers got off to a fast start Thursday night, scoring four goals in an 11-minute span from 5:20 to 16:51 of the opening period.

“I thought our girls did a great job of going to the net and being hungry for the puck,” said Thief River Falls Head Coach Brett Johnson.

The scoring began with a power play goal by Bella Amiot, with assists from Jenae Johnson and Shelby Breiland. Next came back-to-back goals by Jenae Johnson at the 10:01 and 13:05 marks in the first period. Shelby Breiland and Gretchen Cota assisted on Johnson’s first goal and Daniella Niebuhr assisted on the second.

Shelby Breiland scored her second goal of the game with Cota and Johnson assisting to make it 4-0 Prowlers.

Shelby Breiland would go on to score two more goals – at 9:59 in the second period and 3:45 in the third period – to pick up her second hat trick in as many games. The second period goal was unassisted. Amiot and Johnson were credited with assists on the third period goal.

There was no let down Saturday as the Prowlers traveled to International Falls to face an inexperienced Broncos squad.

The Prowlers buried three goals in the opening period and added four more in both the second and third frames for an 11-0 shutout.

The Prowlers outshot the Broncos 71-10 on the day.“Girls came out hard and played another complete game,” Johnson said. “They continued to drive the net, get pucks to the net, and fight for rebounds.”

Scoring goals for the Prowlers were Carli Prickett, Johnson (3), Shelby Breiland, Haylie Rogalla, Niebuhr, Cota, Jayden Breiland, Amiot and Kassidy Fremling. Prowlers who were credited with assists include Shelby Breiland (3), Jayden Breiland, Cota (2), Johnson, Amiot, Jaymin Klosterman (2), Prickett and Julia Rude.

The shutout was Gabriella Steele’s third this season and the seventh time in 14 starts that she has allowed one or fewer goals.

“Gabby has been solid for us all year long,” Johnson said. “She does a good job of making the first save and controlling her rebounds.”

The Prowlers were back in action Monday night at home against defending section champion Warroad. Results will appear in Saturday’s edition of the Northern Watch.

East Grand Forks……..0  0 0  – 0

Thief River Falls……….4  1  1  – 6

First period – TRF, Bella Amiot (PP) (Jenae Johnson, Shelby Breiland) 5:20; TRF, Jenae Johnson, (Gretchen Cota, Shelby Breiland) 10:01; TRF, Jenae Johnson (Daniella Niebuhr) 13:05; TRF, Shelby Breiland (Gretchen Cota, Jenae Johnson) 16:21.

Second period – TRF, Shelby Breiland 9:59.

Third period – TRF, Shelby Breiland (Bella Amiot, Jenae Johnson) 3:45.

Shots – EGF 9-13-13 – 35; TRF 13-11-4 – 28.

Power plays – EGF 0/6; TRF 1/5.

Penalties – EGF 5 (10 minutes); TRF 6 (12 minutes).

Goalie saves – EGF, Ashley Corbett 22; TRF, Gabriella Steele 35.

Thief River Falls……..3  4   4   –  11

International Falls….0  0   0   –  0

       First period – TRF, Carli Prickett (even strength)10 5:56; TRF, Jenae Johnson (Shelby Breiland, Jayden Breiland) 11:31; TRF, Shelby Breiland (Gretchen Cota, Jenae Johnson) 13:12.

Second period – TRF, Haylie Rogalla (Bella Amiot) 6:36; TRF, Jenae Johnson (Shelby Breiland) 8:49; TRF, Daniella Niebuhr (Jaymin Klosterman) 11:45; TRF, Jenae Johnson (Gretchen Cota, Shelby Breiland) 13:36

Third period – TRF, Gretchen Cota (Carli Prickett) 1:28; TRF, Jayden Breiland (Jaymin Klosterman) 11:30; TRF, Bella Amiot (Julia Rude) 14:00; TRF, Kassidy Fremling 15:00.

Shots – TRF 31-20-20 – 71; International Falls 4-3-3 – 10.

Power plays – TRF 0/2; International Falls 0/4.

Penalties – TRF 4 (8 minutes); International Falls 2 (4 minutes)

Goalie saves – TRF, Gabriella Steele 10; International Falls, Naomi Carradice 60.

                                    Conf.          Overall

Warroad…………….. 7-0-0         14-1-0

Roseau……………….. 7-3-0         11-3-1

Thief River Falls….. 5-4-1           8-5-1

Moorhead…………… 3-3-0           7-7-1

Crookston…………… 2-6-1            7-9-1

East Grand Forks… 1-6-1             3-11-1

Bemidji………………. 0-3-1            0-14-1

■ Tuesday, March 2 – Moorhead 5, Sartell/Sauk Rapids 0; St. Cloud 6, Bemidji 0; Thief River Falls 3, Crookston 1; Warroad 11, East Grand Forks 0.

■ Thursday, March 4 – Brainerd/Little Falls 8, Bemidji 0; Crooksotn 2, Fergus Falls 1; Thief River Falls 6, East Grand Forks 0

■ Friday, March 5 -Andover 9, Moorhead 0; Roseau 9, Crookston 1; Moorhead at St. Cloud cancelled; Warroad 6, Breck 4.

■ Saturday, March 6 – Warroad 4, Orono 1; Bemidji 3, Sartell/Sauk Rapids 1; Thief River Falls 11, International Falls 0; Moorhead 4, Fergus Falls 1.