Prep Hockey: Grand Rapids/Greenway girls stage OT comeback in Duluth, CEC boys down Denfeld
In prep hockey on Tuesday, the Grand Rapids/Greenway girls staged a comeback to beat Duluth 3-2 in overtime, while the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys downed Duluth Denfeld 6-3.
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In Duluth, the Grand Rapids/Greenway Lightning scored early in the first thanks to Hailey Kilduff, scoring her first goal of her varsity career. Duluth answered with a power-play goal from Gracyn Schipper, then Mae McCall made it 2-1 Northern Stars after the first. The second period ended scoreless. Then under three minutes into the third Mercury Bischoff scored shorthanded to tie the game 2-2. This forced overtime, and just 36 seconds in Abby Skelly scored the game-winner for the Lightning.
Teagan Christy made 15 saves for Grand Rapids/Greenway, while Aaili Anttila made 35 saves for Duluth. The Lightning (17-5-1) next host Hibbing/Chisholm in their regular season home finale Friday, January 31 at 7 p.m. at Yanmar Arena. Duluth (9-8-5) turns around to host Superior Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Essentia Duluth Heritage Center.
In Cloquet, the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys set the tone early scoring three first period goals from Bobby Thornton, Hudson Snesrud on the power-play, and Jordan Sewell with 17 seconds to intermission. In the second Tristen Nephew put Denfeld on the board to trail 3-1, but Thornton scored again for the 4-1 Lumberjacks lead after the second. In the third, John Scott scored on the power play for Denfeld, but Thornton answered scoring his third for a hat-trick. Grady Knutson then made it 6-2 Lumberjacks, before Nolan Harju added one more Hunters power-play goal with two seconds left in the game.
Liam Fish made 27 saves in net for Denfeld, while Jacob Iallonardo made 17 for CEC. The Lumberjacks (16-4) next visit Hermantown Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. Denfeld (9-9) next visits Sartell Friday, Jan. 30 at 7:15 p.m.