The Pine City Area Boys Hockey team celebrated its fourth straight Two Rivers Conference Championship with a 9-1 victory over Becker/Big Lake last night at the Pine City Civic Center. With their fourth straight championship win, this year's senior class has never been on a team that hasn't won the conference championship.
The game started off slow for the Dragons. They came in knowing they should beat Becker/Big Lake by several goals after defeating them 6-1 earlier in the year, but found themselves tied at 0-0 at the end of the first period. It was actually the Eagles, who struck first in the second period.
About 5 minutes into the period Jaden Keo slapped a rebound into the back of the net for Becker/Big Lake giving them a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately for the Eagles, that goal was exactly what the Dragons needed to wake up. It only took two minutes for Pine City to push forward and tie the game up as Dusty Bergstrom netted a goal and recorded his career point #99. The teams traded possession for the next ten minutes when the Dragons went down a man on a penalty. Then the short handed specialist George "Filthy" Miller buried a "shorty" for the Dragons giving them a 2-1 lead and a much-needed spark. Just one minute later Dusty Bergstrom scored his second goal of the game and celebrated his 100th career point.
The Dragons headed into the third period up 3-1 but hungry for more. That showed in the third period. Just a little over a minute into the period Justin Gamec recorded his first career goal with a long shot from the point. After that the goals poured in for Pine City as they were on a five minute power play after one of the Eagle skaters hit Alex Laven as he was trying to head to the bench on a delayed penalty. In the last twelve minutes of the game Parker Sell scored twice, George Miller scored again, Tryston West grabbed one, and Luke Fabini scored as well to give the Dragons a 9-1 win. Alex Laven recorded 19 saves on 20 shots in the win.
The win puts the Dragons at 13-8-2 on the season with two games left. More importantly it puts the Two Rivers conference championship in the rear view mirror so the Dragons can focus on their next goal, the Section 5A Playoffs.
Pine City has two games left this week before the playoffs start next week.
Scoring
Dusty Bergstrom - 2 goals (100pts)
George Miller - 2 goals, 2 assists
Parker Sell - 2 goals
Luke Fabini - 1 goal, 1 assist
Justin Gamec - 1 goal
Tryston West - 1 goal, 1 assist
Joey Milkyska - 1 assist
Howie Hodena - 1 assist
Gabe Westbrook - 2 assists
Tommy Ryan - 2 assists
Kyle Wiener - 1 assist
Jordan Stich - 2 assists
Alex Laven - 19 saves on 20 shots
Photo Credit: Lancelot Furber
