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Chisago Lakes 7, Irondale 5

A four goal outburst in the middle of the second period gave the Wildcats a 7-2 lead as they cruised to a 7-5 win over the Irondale Knights Thursday, January 4 at Chisago Lakes Arena.

The Knights scored first, just three minutes into the game. The Wildcats tied it up at the 7:20 mark. DJ Haus passed the puck to Jake Parenteau at the left point. Parenteau snapped a shot that looked like it would go just left of the net. But Tony Skoog was camped on the doorstep and tipped it in to make the score 1-1.

The Knights scored again two minutes later when the Wildcats coughed up the puck in front of their own net. But the Wildcats tied it again at the 11:57 mark. Scott Liebsch raced down the left side, got around the defense and passed the puck to Bob LeVasseur, who one-timed it into the net.

The Wildcats took their first lead of the game a couple of minutes later as LeVasseur picked up a loose puck in the slot and took a quick shot. Aaron Slagle put away the rebound and the Wildcats led 3-2 after one period.

Aaron Slagle, assisted by Liebsch, started the Wildcats' four goal barrage at the ten-minute mark of the second period. Jake Parenteau scored an unassisted goal at 11:27. At 12:05, Parenteau knocked a loose puck just inside the right side of the Knight blue line. Luke Angrimson skated into the zone and unleashed a devastating slapshot that zipped under the crossbar. The Knights replaced their goalie after that goal, but it didn't have an immediate effect as Liebsch scored on an assist from LeVasseur at 12:44 to put the Wildcats up 7-2.

The score remained 7-2 'til late in the third period. The Knights scored three late goals when the Wildcats went with some younger players, but the Wildcats still came away with a comfortable 7-5 win.

"We did the things we wanted to in this game," said Wildcat head coach Corey McKinnon. "We didn't take stupid penalties, we were aggressive on the forecheck and we got more shots, at least 'til we put in the young guys in the second half of the third period. Even though the score looks close, we were always in control of this game. We were able to get some minutes for some guys who don't normally play much on the varsity, including our freshman goalie, Tyler Krumm. And, our older players showed good leadership. After the game, they told the younger players they got a little experience, did their best and we still won the game."

SCORING SUMMARY

Irondale 2 0 3-5

Chisago Lakes 3 4 0-7

First Period

IR 1 Cunningham (unassisted) 3:02; CL 1 Skoog (Parenteau, Haus) 7:20; IR 2 Niedenfuer (unassisted) 9:07; CL 2 LeVasseur (Liebsch) 11:57; CL 3 Aaron Slagle (LeVasseur, Liebsch) 14:38

Second Period

CL 4 Aaron Slagle (Liebsch) 9:58; CL 5 Parenteau (unassisted) 11:27; CL 6 Angrimson (Parenteau) 12:05; CL 7 Liebsch (LeVasseur) 12:24

Third Period

IR 3 Baker (unassisted) 12:30 (sh); IR 4 Cunningham (A. Iverson, Batcha) 13:44; IR 5 Z. Iverson (Richardson) 16:00 (sh)

Saves: CL Fitzer 22, Krumm 6; IR Marcoullier 18, DeKanick 12

CL4, St. Louis Park 1

The Wildcats got their first shot at the team that knocked them out of last year's section playoffs and took advantage of it. Two goals each by seniors Ross Jones and Bob LeVasseur helped coolly dispatch the St. Louis Park Orioles 4-1 at the St. Louis Park Rec Center Saturday, January 6.

Just over six minutes into the first period, Scott Liebsch left the puck for Angrimson, then skated off for a line change. Angrimson carried the puck down the left side of the ice two-on-one with Ross Jones. Angrimson passed to Jones at the right side of the slot area, and Jones lifted a beautiful backhand shot upper shelf into the net to put the Wildcats up 1-0. The Wildcats' lead was short-lived, however, as the Orioles tied it up with a power play goal just three minutes later.

Angrimson and Jones combined for another two-on-one goal early in the second period. This time Angrimson came down the right side and sent it to Jones at the left doorstep for a one-timer. Jones nearly had the hat trick 30 seconds later on an nearly identical play, but the puck just hopped over his stick.

The Orioles hung tough, but the Wildcats finally got some breathing room midway through the third period. On an Oriole power play, the Oriole goalie came out of the net to the right corner to play the puck. He fired it toward a player at the opposite point in his own zone. LeVasseur, lurking in the zone, made a great play as he reached out to intercept the puck, whirled and fired into the open net as the goalie scrambled back toward it, too late. LeVasseur added a shorthanded empty net goal with just over a minute left in the game to seal the Wildcats' 4-1 win.

"In the last three games," said Wildcat head coach McKinnon, "we've been focusing on doing little things consistently, such as not turning the puck over when you carry it up the ice. If we take care of things like that, that are in our control and don't take them for granted, the scoreboard will take care of itself. Also, we're looking to solidify our lines to get set for the playoffs. Luke Angrimson, Ross Jones and Jeremiah Bergren are working together well. Luke moves the puck well and sees the whole ice. Ross always goes hard, is light on his feet and loves the breakaways. And Jeremiah does a lot of the hard work in the corners and helps to get the puck up the ice. The three of them complement each other very well."

SCORING SUMMARY

Chisago Lakes 1 1 2 4

St. Louis Park 1 0 0 1

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