HOCKEY: Thief River falls best Bemidji 2-1 in defensive battle

THIEF RIVER FALLS – The Bemidji High School hockey team played well Thursday night, but fell just short against Thief River Falls.

In a low-scoring battle at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls, the Prowlers defeated the Lumberjacks 2-1.

“I thought we did a good job,” Bemidji head coach Wade Chiodo said. “We did a good job moving our feet and playing the right way, playing Lumberjack hockey. We just came up a little short tonight.

Bemidji (2-5) fell behind early in the first period after an unassisted tally by the Prowlers’ Ian Lund at the 2:49 mark.

The Lumberjacks struck back to tie the score at 8:17. Sam Carlson scored on a power play, with assists from Matt Serratore and Mike Sauer, to tie the game at 1-1.

That score held until the second period, but Thief River Falls (2-4) answered.

The Prowlers’ Ethan Johnson scored the game-winning goal at 4:16.

The teams battled for the rest of the game but the Jacks couldn’t find the equalizer.

“There were not a lot of grade-A chances for either team,” Chiodo said. “It was a very defensive-minded game. Both teams played very hard.”

Gabe Heifort made 25 saves for BHS to take the loss. Tanner Holmes stopped 17 shots for the Prowlers.

The Lumberjacks return to the ice Saturday when they’ll travel to Monticello to take on the Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake Moose at 3 p.m.

Bemidji 1 0 0 – 1

Thief River Falls 1 1 0 – 2

First Period – 1, TRF, Lund (unassisted), 2:49. 2, BHS, Carlson (Serratore, Sauer), 8:17, pp.

Second Period – 3, TRF, E. Johnson (Hewitt, Nelson), 4:16.

Third Period – No Scoring.

Shots On Goal – Bemidji 16, Thief River Falls 29.

Goaltenders – BHS, Heifort (9-8-8-25); TRF, Holmes (4-7-5-16).

Penalties-Minutes – Bemidji 1-2, Thief Rivers Falls 2-4.