DICKINSON — Goal scoring can have a contagious impact on a tension-filled and deadlocked game. One goal can open the floodgates and change the nature of the match. This was the story inside the West River Ice Center on Thursday, featuring the Dickinson Midgets senior night match-up against the Hazen-Beulah North Stars.
Hazen-Buelah took an early lead with a goal from Adam Graney, but Dickinson was able to respond with an equalizer from Logan Gross. In the third period, the Midgets found their rhythm and scored four consecutive goals, including two from Jasper Sauvageau to take control of the match. Despite the North Stars' efforts to decrease their deficit, Dickinson secured the win with an empty-net goal.
Coach Dallas Kuntz acknowledged the team's lack of urgency early in the game, but was pleased with their response in the third period.
“Couldn’t score early, but definitely a hard-earned win,” Kuntz said. “I don't think our goalie had a chance to settle in at that time [of the first goal]. We lacked a little bit of urgency and Hazen took advantage of it.”
The North Stars started the game strong, scoring an early goal with a breakaway from Adam Graney. However, the Midgets were not easily discouraged and quickly responded with a long-range goal from Logan Gross. As the second period ended, both teams had scored one goal each, leaving the game tied 1-1.
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Dickinson had a plethora of shots of goals, tallying 43, but became zealous in their attack in the third period, scoring four goals. They took the lead 1:49 into the third period, while in power play.
Jasper Sauvageau slid the puck through the five-hole, nutmegging a defender in the process, to give the Midgets a 2-1 lead. Ty Nelson and Jacob Lucas assisted on the goal.
Just three minutes and 42 seconds later, the Midgets extended their lead to two when Izaya Hodgson maneuver the puck into the two-hole after the goaltender blocked an initial shot. And just a minute after that, Dickinson scored again, congesting near the crease, making it 4-1.
Despite their best efforts, the North Stars struggled to clear the puck and the majority of the possession was held in their defensive zone. However, when they were able to break through, they successfully decreased their deficit to 4-2.
After the second period, Kuntz had a stern talking to with the team, reminding them to never be satisfied with their performance and to always strive to improve. His words seemed to have an impact as the team came out in the third period and responded with a strong showing.
“We had a little chat with the boys in the locker room after the period and just relayed to the boys that you can never be satisfied with where you are at,” Kuntz said. “Quite frankly, our effect in the first two periods, even though we were out playing them and out shooting them, wasn't what we have come to expect from our team… They came out in the third period and definitely responded the way we wanted them to.”
The final goal of the night was an empty net goal, as Hazen-Buelah pulled their goalie to add an attacker. The final score was a 5-2 victory for the Dickinson Midgets, and a fitting way to honor the senior class of nine athletes.
Sauvageau, the highly-touted and versatile Midgets' seniors, made a significant contribution to the win, scoring two goals late.
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“I was super happy for him,” Kuntz said. “We moved him from defense to offense. Last year he was a forward, we made the switch and put him back on [defense] this year and he has been working hard to make strides in his game and last night he got rewarded.”
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