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Osseo 6, Chisago Lakes 3
The Class AA Osseo Orioles broke open a close game with three goals in the first four minutes of the third period and went on to beat the Class A Wildcat boy’s hockey team 6-3  Monday, December 19 at Dick Vraa Ice Arena in Osseo.

The Wildcats got on the scoreboard first when Jack Bakken scored a shorthanded goal with just under five minutes to go in the first period, assisted by Andrew Swanson.  The Orioles scored twice in the second period to take a 2-1 lead.  The Orioles put the game away with three goals in a two-minute span and led 5-1 at the 3:34 mark of the third period.  Four minutes later, Colin Dunleavy scored the Wildcats’ second shorthanded goal of the game, assisted by Dustin Palewicz, to cut the Osseo lead to 5-2.  The Orioles added a power play goal with 16 seconds left in the game, and Swanson scored on a breakaway with four seconds to go to make the final score 6-3.  The game was a bit chippy, featuring four roughing penalties.  Osseo outshot the Wildcats 29-16 for the game.
 
Roseville 4, Chisago Lakes 3
At home on Tuesday, December 20, the Wildcats played their second Class AA team in a row.  Landon Steffen scored at 9:16 of the third period to give the Roseville Raiders a 4-3 win over the Wildcats.  The Wildcats stayed in the game until the end, despite the Raiders’ 44-27 advantage in shots.  Wildcat goalie Jack Hanson stopped 40 of the 44 shots he faced.  The Wildcats actually outshot the Raiders 13-12 in the third period but couldn’t find the back of the net.
 
Jack Bakken scored an unassisted goal at 7:28 of the first period to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.  Roseville scored twice in a two-minute span late in the period to take a 2-1 lead.  

Bakken gave the Wildcats a boost heading into the first intermission when he scored with four seconds remaining in the first period, assisted by Nate Bluhm, to tie the game at 2-2.  The score stayed that way until the final minute of the second period.  The Raiders scored at 16:05 to take a 3-2 lead, but Andrew Swanson tied it up for the Wildcats at 16:48.  Ben Kerkow and Drake Thyen picked up assists on Swanson’s goal.
 
Hockey Hullaballoo
The Wildcats (0-3-1) are scheduled to play yet another Class AA team when they host the Forest Lake Rangers tonight at Chisago Lakes Arena at 7 p.m., although the nasty weather this week could see that game postponed.  You can check on the Hockey Hub or mississippi8.org before you head for the game tonight to make sure it is still on.

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