BISMARCK -- The boys hockey team with the best record in the state proved how it got to this point Thursday morning against Dickinson High.
Calvin Krueger had a goal in each period to finish with a hat trick and help Bismarck High defeat the Midgets 7-1 in the West Region tournament quarterfinals at VFW Arena.
The Demons (20-1), the top-seeded team in the tournament, broke away from the eight-seeded Midgets midway through the second period and poured on the goals in the third.
"The third period was the key, them coming out and scoring quick," Dickinson coach Tom Folske said.
Tyler Richter scored an unassisted goal on Midgets goaltender Joel Otto just 17 seconds into the third period to put Bismarck ahead 5-1.
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"If we would have scored that goal, the whole complexion would have changed," Folske said.
Kevin Burke scored Dickinson's (5-18) only goal with 13:52 left in the second period, tying the game 1-1.
But Derek Pauler and Kruger scored goals two minutes apart later in the second to put Bismarck ahead 3-1.
Otto had 46 saves, including 19 in the second period.
"Joel kept us in it early but failed to get the help he needed to finish the job," Folske said.
Dickinson plays fifth-seeded Mandan at 10 a.m. MST today in the loser-out game. The Midgets beat Mandan 4-3 at home on Dec. 12, giving Folske hope the team can extend its season at least another day.
"The way we came out and played today and played Monday (in a 4-0 victory over Jamestown in the tournament play-in game), I think if we do our jobs and play that kind of hockey, it's very doable," Folske said.
Dickinson 0 1 0 - 1
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Bismarck 1 2 4 - 7
FIRST PERIOD: 1. B, Calvin Krueger (Adam Peterson, Ben Peterson), 6:16.
SECOND PERIOD: 2. D, Kevin Burke (John O'Brien, Cole Frenzel), 3:08. 3. B, Derek Palmer (Paul Sorensen, Nate Clausnitzer), 7:51. 4. B, Krueger (Carson Winkels, Sorensen), 9:51 (sh).
THIRD PERIOD: 5. B, Tyler Richter (unassisted), :17. 6. B, Nick Romanick (Richter), 6:54. 7. B. Krueger (B. Peterson), 7:34. 8. B, Jared Hochhalter (Winkels, Sorensen), 11:54.
SAVES: D, Joel Otto 11-19-16--46. B, Lawrence Dvorak 8-3-1--12.
RECORDS: Dickinson 5-18-0, Bismarck 20-1-0.
