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Breck 4, Chisago Lakes 3

After falling behind 4-1 against Breck early in the third period, the Wildcats mounted a spirited comeback. But they fell just short, losing to the Mustangs 4-3 at Breck Tuesday, December 12.

The Wildcats, who were outshot 43-15 for the game, scored the only goal of the first period. Aaron Slagle skated the puck behind the Mustang net and hit Luke Angrimson with a pass in the bottom of the left circle. Angrimson ripped a shot in the upper corner of the net on the glove side to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

The score remained 1-0 ‘til the 13:12 mark of the second period. A Mustang player broke loose from behind the net, skated out front and fired, point blank to tie it at 1-1. Even though Breck carried the play most of the period, it looked like the Wildcats would get into the locker room tied 1-1 after two periods. But the Mustangs, on a play similar to their first tally, scored a power play goal with just ten seconds left in the period to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission.

The Mustangs added two goals in a span of 40 seconds by the 4:31 mark of the third period, and it looked like they might have this one put away. But the Wildcats got right back in it. At 6:16, Angrimson hit Scott Liebsch with a pass, and Liebsch shot it deftly through the five-hole to pull the Wildcats within two. And just 23 seconds later, Terry Bergren scored a power play goal on an assist from his brother Jeremiah Bergren to cut the lead to one goal.

The Wildcats applied pressure the rest of the game. Their best scoring chance came with 1:56 remaining. Slagle skated with the puck from the right corner to the front of the net and fired point blank. But the puck hit the center of the goalie’s glove, denying the Wildcats the tying goal. The Mustangs hung on for the last two minutes, making the final score Breck 4, Chisago Lakes 3.

Goalie Tom Fitzer saved 39 of 43 shots in the loss.

“This was a fun game,” said Wildcat head coach Corey McKinnon. “Our guys kept coming back and attacking, attacking, attacking. We’ve played well against two of the top three teams in our section so far this season, Blake and Breck, and we still have two games coming up against the other one, Totino Grace.

“And this may sound strange, but it was good to see our players frustrated after this one. Their attitude was ‘we know we can beat these guys’ rather than ‘we’re just happy to be here,’ and shows the confidence we have that we can play with the top teams in our section,” the coach added.

SCORING SUMMARY

1 2 3 T

Chisago Lakes 1 0 2 3

Breck 0 2 2 4

First Period

1 CL Angrimson (Slagle) 2:32

Second Period

1 BR Born ((Morin, Maravcik) 13:12; 2 BR Weingarden (Crowe) (pp) 16:50

Third Period

3 BR Strand (Morin, Borer) 3:50; 4 BR Strand (Cosgriff, Fulton) 4:31; 2 CL Liebsch (Angrimson, Slagle) 6:16; 3 CL T. Bergren (J. Bergren) (pp) 6:39

Saves: CL Fitzer 39, Russell 12

Benilde-St. Margaret’s 12, CL 3

The Wildcats kept this one close for a while, but were eventually overwhelmed by the eighth-ranked AA Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights. Benilde won 12-3 at Chisago Lakes Arena Friday, December 15.

The Red Knights scored just 29 seconds into the first period. The Wildcats responded with a Luke Angrimson goal, assisted by Scott Liebsch, at 3:52. The Red Knights added two more goals to make it 3-1 after one period.

The score stayed that way until 9:52 of the second period. Benilde scored a power play goal and added three more before the end of the period. The Wildcats, who were outshot 59-15 for the game, scored two goals in the period – Bob LeVasseur from Liebsch and Angrimson and DJ Haus from Ross Jones – but they trailed 7-3 going into the third.

The Red Knights poured it on in the third period, making the final score Benilde-St. Margaret’s 12, Chisago Lakes 3.

“Benilde is a strong, fast team,” said Wildcat head coach Corey McKinnon. “We kept it close ‘til midway through the second period, whereas last year we were out of it much earlier in the game, even though the score was closer.

“Despite the result, I’d schedule 25 games like this if I could. It forces the kids to play better, to play outside of their comfort zone. It looks like we failed on the scoresheet, but our players learn what they need to do to succeed, and they developed better skills and quickness in the process.

“And I know the players gave it their all. They had no energy left in the locker room after the game; they left it all on the ice. Like they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and I think this game made us stronger,” McKinnon concluded.

SCORING SUMMARY

1 2 3 T

Benilde-St. Margaret’s 3 4 4 12

Chisago Lakes 1 2 0 3

First Period

1 BS Applehof (Estoclet) 0:29; 1 CL Angrimson (Liebsch) 3:59; 2 BS A. Shibrowski (Bergland) 6:15; 3 BS Estoclet (McCarthy, Student) 14:24

Second Period

4 BS Estoclet (Carew, Applehof) (pp) 9:52; 5 BS Holmers (A. Shibrowski, Bergland) 11:34; 2 CL LeVasseur (Liebsch, Angrimson) 13:31; 6 BS O’Toole (unassisted) 15:03; 7 BS Estoclet (unassisted) 16:00; 3 CL Haus (Jones) 16:26

Third Period

8 BS Weisenburger (A. Shibrowski, Holmers) 1:02: 9 BS Holmers (Bergland, A. Shibrowski) 8:46; 10 BS Dwyer (McCormick) 13:10; 11 BS O’Toole (Student) 14:38; 12 BS McCormick (Grupa, Holmers) 16:00

Saves: CL Fitzer 47, BS M. Shibrowski 10, R. Ankeny 2

The Wildcats have just one game this week, traveling to Parade Ice Garden Saturday, December 23 to take on conference opponent Totino Grace at 4:15 p.m.

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