Bemidji HS boys hockey loses finale to Thief River Falls

By Pioneer staff reports

February 18, 2010 at 11:00 PM

The regular season for the Bemidji boys hockey team ended on a negative note Thursday as the Jacks dropped a 2-1 decision to Thief River Falls at the Nymore rink.

BHS (13-12-0) will be back at Nymore on Tuesday, however, as the Jacks earned the Section 8AA fourth seed and will host No. 5 St. Cloud Tech in the quarterfinals.

Bemidji and the Prowlers were scoreless heading into the third period but the visitors outscored the Lumberjacks 2-1 in the final 17 minutes. The game-winner came with 5:34 remaining in the game while Thief River Falls (17-7-1) was on the power play.

Thursday's contest featured fast skating and hard hitting as neither team seemed willing to back down. The Prowlers, however, enjoyed a distinct territorial advantage throughout much of the game and Bemidji goalie Axel Osborn had to be sharp to keep his team within striking distance.

Osborn and his TRF counterpart, Zane Gothberg, both were tossing shutouts through 34 minutes. Osborn had 18 saves after two periods while Gothberg was credited with 20.

The visitors, however, picked up the pace in the third stanza and their continued pressure paid dividends 3:42 into the period when Matt Lindquist swatted home a rebound of Matt Audette's shot from the left point.

Bemidji, however, answered quickly as 38 seconds later Rylee Curb worked his way to a loose puck just outside the crease and slipped it past Gothberg. Steven Heller started the play by carrying to the lower right circle and centering a pass to Max Hazelton. The defense had keyed on Hazelton, however, and did not allow him to get a stick on the puck but no one picked up Curb who made no mistake with his wrister.

The Prowlers were unsuccessful on their first four power play opportunities but they finally struck paydirt when BHS was whistled for a slash at 9:56. Late in the man-advantage situation Jacob Malwitz rifled a wrister from the left point and Lindquist was in perfect position outside the right post to knock home the rebound.

Bemidji produced one final solid scoring threat a minute later when Heller's wrister from the top of the circle found its way to the net despite heavy traffic. Gothberg never saw the puck but he happened to be in the perfect position to make the save.

The Lumberjacks struggled to gain possession in the Prowler zone the rest of the game and had to wait until only 50 seconds remained before they could pull Osborn. But he was back onto the ice 20 seconds later as the Jacks were called for another penalty.

Bemidji had no trouble posting a victory in the B-team game as the Jacks cruised to a 7-0 win.

TRF 2, Bemidji 1

TRF 0 0 2 - 2

Bemidji 0 0 1 - 1

First Period

No scoring. Penalties: B-S.Heller (trip);39; B-Larson (hold) 6:23; TRF-Crosson (slash) 12:43.

Second Period

No scoriing. Penalties: B-Phillips (cross check) 2:50; TRF-Bench, served by Meunier (too many men) 13:06.

Third Period

TRF-Lindquist (Audette) 3:42; B-Curb (Hazelton, S.Heller) 4:20; TRF-Lindquist (Malwitz, Audette) 11:26 PP. Penalties: B-Bench, served by S.Heller (too many men) 0:57; B-Burns (slash) 9:56; B-Rees (hold) 16:30; B-S.Heller (slash) 16:59.

Saves

Gothberg (TRF) 8 12 4 - 24

Osborn (B) 9 9 10 - 28

B-Team Game

Bemidji 7, TRF 0

TRF 0 0 0 - 0

Bemidji 3 3 1 - 7

First Period

B-Follis (unassisted) 0:37; B-Erickson (Rickers) 10:24; B-Follis (Serratore, Rickert) 16:48.

Second Period

B-Wolkerstorfer (Port) 5:06; B-Follis (White, Lind) 6:17; B-Hernesman (unassisted) 14:57.

Third Period