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Chisago Lakes 6, Somerset 1
After crushing their first two opponents in the Thanksgiving tournament, the Wildcats kept the momentum going in their next two games, improving to 4-0 with convincing wins over the Somerset Spartans and the Northern Lakes.  Against Somerset, it was truly a team effort on the scoreboard as six different players scored goals in a 6-1 Wildcat victory.  Thomas Overgaard was the lead playmaker in this one, getting three assists in addition to scoring one of the goals.  The game turned to be more than a bit chippy, as the teams took 22 penalties between them and five of the game’s seven goals were scored on power plays.  The game was played Tuesday, November 27 at the Somerset Youth Civic Center.

Tate Swanson scored the only goal of the first period, at even strength, at the 10:25 mark to put the Wildcats up 1-0.  Thomas Overgaard picked up the assist.  The teams combined for four penalties in a relatively quiet first period. There were ten penalties in the second period.  The Wildcats took advantage of an early five-on-three in the second period as Thomas Overgaard scored just under a minute into the period, assisted by Justin Lawry and Jackson Waltman, to make the score 2-0.  Dawson Overgaard scored another power play goal 90 seconds later to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.  Sam Helland and Tucker Bakken got the assists.  Somerset scored a goal of their own at the 11:10 mark to cut the Wildcat lead to 3-1.

 The Wildcats put the game away with three goals in a four-minute span midway through the third period, which saw eight more penalties.  Chase Mehlhorn scored an even strength goal, assisted by Lawry; Johnny Bodell added a power play goal, with Waltman and Thomas Overgaard getting the assists; and Waltman finished things off with yet another power play goal, assisted by Swanson and Thomas Overgaard.

Wildcat head coach Cale Arhart said “Somerset is short on numbers, but always gives us a run.  We played an offensive-minded game, but we also played well at the defensive and Brooks Stangl played well between the pipes.  Our Green Line of Thomas Overgaard, Tate Swanson and Jackson Waltman  really showed up in this one.”
 
Chisago Lakes 7,  Northern Lakes 2
Thomas Overgaard followed up his three-assist performance against Somerset with a hat trick against Northern Lakes as the Wildcats shellacked the Lightning 7-2 last Friday, November 30 at the Hallett Community Center in Crosby.  Sam Helland assumed the playmaker role, picking up three assists.  This turned out to be another penalty-filled affair, with the Wildcats picking up 12 of the combined 21 penalties.  The Wildcats seemed to spend the game either scoring or killing off penalties, allowing just one goal on ten Lightning power plays.
After Thomas Overgaard scored a power play goal to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead early in the first period, the Wildcats scored three more times in a three-minute span midway through the period – all at even strength.  Goals by Thomas Overgaard, Jake Larson and Jonny Bodell made the score 4-0 and essentially put the game away.  Logan Mehlhorn and Justin Lawry added goals in the second period to make it 6-0.  Northern Lakes scored twice in the third period to cut the lead to 6-2, but it was too little, too late.  Thomas Overgaard completed his hat trick with just 21 seconds left in the game to finish off yet another big win for the Wildcats.

Tate Swanson, Bodell and Lawry had two assists each for the Wildcats.  Tucker Bakken, Jackson Waltman, Chase Mehlhorn and Dawson Overgaard each picked up one assist.  Wildcat goalie Brooks Stangl, who is now 4-0 with two shutouts, stopped 27 of the 29 shots he faced.

 “Thomas Overgaard had a big game,” said Wildcat head coach Cale Arhart.  “In addition to the hat trick, he was named player of the game.  For the most part, we played a solid game throughout and Brooks had a couple of crucial saves when it mattered.  But I was pretty upset with the third period as we took seven penalties.  That’s the one area where we really need improvement.  We can’t afford to be that undisciplined when we start the play the tougher teams in the middle of our schedule.”
 
Hockey Hullaballoo
The Wildcats have scored 27 goals in their first four games as they get off to their best start in recent memory.  With eight goals and six assists so far, Thomas Overgaard is tied for second in the state in goals, tied for eighth in assists and tied for second in total points.

The Wildcats will host Monticello in their first conference game of the year tonight (Dec. 6) at 7 p.m. at Chisago Lakes Arena.  After taking the weekend off, they will head to the TRIA Rink in St. Paul – which is the Minnesota Wild’s practice rink – to play Gentry Academy Wednesday, December 12 at 6 p.m.

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