---

Chisago Lakes 6, Cooper 3

A second period four goal outburst (in a three-minute span) lifted the Wildcats to a 6-3 win over Cooper Friday, January 25 at Chisago Lakes Arena. With two Wildcat players out on disciplinary sanctions, CL avenged a 2-1 upset loss to the Hawks earlier this season at New Hope Ice Arena.

The Wildcats scored the only goal of the first period at the 2:50 mark. Senior defenseman Trevor Nowack picked up the puck deep in his own zone and broke towards the blue line. He spotted freshman forward Cory Lushanko at the Hawk blue line. Nowack fired a pinpoint pass to Lushanko for a breakaway opportunity. Lushanko skated toward the net, deked right and backhanded the puck into the net from the left side to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. The Hawks tied it up just over six minutes into the second period with a shorthanded goal on a similar play.

The fireworks started at 12:16 into the second period. With the teams skating 4-on-4, Wildcat senior defenseman Jeremy Patterson skated into the Hawk zone at the right point and fired a shot. The puck hit the pad of a Hawk defenseman standing just a few feet in front of Patterson and bounded back to Patterson. Patterson picked up the puck, skated around the defense and put it in the net to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead.

Less than a minute later, the Wildcats stretched their lead to two. With the Wildcats on a 5-on-3 power play, senior forward Tony Skoog unleashed a slapshot and Jon Lien, parked in front of the net, deflected the puck into the net to put the Wildcats up 3-1.

The Wildcats scored another power play goal almost exactly a minute later. From deep in the Cooper zone, senior forward Jeremiah Bergren passed the puck out to junior defenseman Cale Arhart at the left point. Arhart's shot from the point was on net, and bounced out to a charging Andy Slagle, who slammed the puck home to give the Wildcats a 4-1 lead.

Junior forward Derek Budde capped off the second period scoring with a goal at the 15:18 mark, assisted by senior forward Tyler Willis. That gave the Wildcats what looked like a commanding 5-1 lead after two periods.

The Hawks hadn't given up yet. They scored two goals in the third period, the second at 10:37, to cut the Wildcat lead to two. But, Budde gave the Wildcats a little more breathing room with a goal at 13:31.

Sophomore forward Tommy Johnson carried the puck into the zone down the right side. He used his speed to skate around the defenseman on the outside, and passed the puck from the right side of the right circle to Budde in the low slot. Budde one-timed the puck into the net, making the final score Chisago Lakes 6, Cooper 3.

"For our guys to step up and perform the way they did with the team facing some adversity was a good sign," said Wildcat head coach Corey McKinnon. "Our special team really stepped it up tonight. It was good to see our guys move the puck well and score a couple of power play goals and a 4-on-4 goal. And, our defense played a good game overall. Cale was poised at the point. Jon Lien used his strength in front of the net on the power play. Jeremy did a good job following his shot, staying with the puck and putting it in the net. The entire group of defensemen did a lot of things that didn't show up on the scoresheet, but they did a really nice job for us."

SCORING SUMMARY

Cooper 0 1 2-3

Chisago Lakes 1 4 1-6

First Period

CL 1 Lushanko (Nowack), 2:50

Second Period

CO 1 Schultz (Morgen0 (sh) 6:25; CL 2 Patterson (unassisted) 12:16; CL 3 Lien (Skoog) (pp), 13:24; CL 4 Slagle (Arhart, Bergren) (pp) 14:13; CL 5 Budde (Willis) 15:18

Third Period

CO 2 Nightengale (Kane) 1:37; CO 3 Schoenenmann (Frisk) 10:17; CL 6 Budde (Johnson) 13:31.

Saves: CL Krumm 27, CO Bajari 21

The Wildcats were scheduled to host St. Francis Tuesday, December 29. They'll go on the road Saturday, February 2 to take on Totino Grace at Parade Ice Garden in Minneapolis at 2 p.m.

---