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Nick Fairbanks scored the game’s only goal at 8:20 of the third period to lead the North Branch Vikings to a 1-0 win over the Chisago Lakes Wildcats.  It was the first time the Vikings beat the Wildcats in the history of the rivalry between the two schools.  Brandon Waldo picked up the lone assist on Fairbanks’ goal.  The game was played last Thursday, February 11 at the home arena for both teams – Chisago Lakes Arena.

On the winning goal, a good forechecking effort by the Vikings kept the puck in the zone.  Fairbanks took a shot from the left side and, as Wildcat goalie Bryce Thompson went down into the butterfly, the puck flew between his pad and blocker and into the back of the net.

The Vikings outshot the Wildcats for the first time ever, 34-30, and both goalies played well.  Thompson stopped 33 of the 34 shots he faced and Viking goalie Trevor Mellen stopped all 30 shots he faced to pick up the first Vikings’ shutout in three years.  “Trevor had a great game,” said Viking head coach Matt Cottingham.  “He made all the saves he should have and also made all of the ones you don’t always make.  When you’re on, you’re on and Trevor was on tonight.”

In the first period, the Vikings had three golden opportunities right away, including a shot by Ryan Byrkit form ten feet in front of the net.  But Thompson made some great saves to keep the game scoreless early.  Early in the third period, Wildcat Landon Lushanko got behind the Viking defense on a breakaway.  Mellen came up with a big save to keep the game at 0-0.

Cottingham said “I think we had more good opportunities to score in this one.  And as long as we kept it 0-0, I thought it would put more pressure on Chisago.  Last time we played them, we kept it close but we got outshot tremendously.  This was different.  The shots were about even, Trevor was playing well and I don’t think the boys felt scared or nervous with the lead.  They played the game how were supposed to play it.  We have been playing better and better every game since our little hiccup with Princeton.  We cleared the air on some issues after that one and now we are all on same page and having fun.  Our one common goal is make it to the state tournament.”

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