Stubborn loss streak ends for triumphant North Stars

Prairie Centre North Stars boys’ hockey head coach Chad Wehrman could not remember how many times over the course of the season he has told his players how proud he was of them.

After starting the season 5-5, the North Stars suddenly could not seem to find that elusive win No. 6, dropping 13 consecutive games in a slump whose caliber was unfamiliar to everyone on the roster. Despite that, the team pushed through mental and physical adversity to stay competitive no matter the opponent or circumstance.

And long last, Prairie Centre got back into the win column, controlling their game against the Redwood Valley Cardinals from start to finish in an electric 8-0 victory Feb. 14 at Sauk Centre Civic Arena in Sauk Centre. 

“It was a long time coming,” Wehrman said. “Tonight, the guys put the foot on the gas and stuck with it.”

Not many high school hockey lines can put together as efficient a performance as the combination of Eli Fletcher, James Rieland and Zac Bick did. The trio were tremendous in the offensive zone, giving the home crowd constant reasons to cheer with a combined 18 points.

“That line was more skilled and faster than any line on the ice, and you could tell,” Wehrman said. “They moved the puck really well and cycled it well. They got themselves in positions to score some goals.”

That intensity was reflected not only in the box score, but through the eye test. Shift after shift, the North Stars gained possession of the puck and transitioned from the neutral zone into a smooth offense behind a reliable forecheck.

“Overall, we took care of the puck,” Wehrman said. “We got pucks deep when we needed to. That was a big help.”

Three goals in the first period were followed by two more in the second, including a well-earned goal from senior Eric Isenbart, his second score of the season. Assisting on the play was Demario Lopez, who notched his first point.

“That was Demario executing our systems and Eric going to the net and doing what we ask him to do,” Wehrman said.

Prairie Centre closes out their regular season with a rematch versus Breckenridge/Wahpeton at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at Stern Sports Arena in Wahpeton, North Dakota.

RV    0     0     0      0

PC    3     2     3      8

First period: 1. Fletcher (Rieland, Bick) 3:48. 2. Fletcher (Bick, Rieland) 7:38. 3. Kris Hanson (Jesse Williams) 8:26. Second period: 4. Rieland (Fletcher, Bick) 10:43. 5. Isenbart (Lopez) 16:26. Third period: 6. Bick (Rieland, Fletcher) 2:24. 7. Fletcher (Bick, Rieland) 5:31. 8. Fletcher (Rieland, Bick) 6:10. Goalie: Carter Holman 11-11. 

Bagley/Fosston 8, 

Prairie Centre 1

Bagley/Fosston only outshot the North Stars by nine but put the game out of each early in a nonconference matchup Feb. 10, scoring five goals in the first period in an 8-1 win at Sauk Centre Civic Arena in Sauk Centre.

Aiken Lambrecht logged the lone goal for the North Stars.

BF   5     2 1 8

PC   0     1 0 1

Second period: 8. Lambrecht (Williams, Dylan Gruenes) 10:29. Goalie: Holman 18-25 and Noah Zinniel 6-7.

Mora/Milaca 3, 

Prairie Centre 2

After a nearly-scoreless two periods, an offensive explosion saw Mora/Milaca outlast the North Stars 3-2 Feb. 9 at Mora Civic Center in Mora.

Caiden Frerichs put Prairie Centre ahead with his first goal of the season 29 seconds into the second period. The contest remained at that score until Mora/Milaca found two scores in 30 seconds to suddenly steal the advantage away in the third period. 

Owen Christians tied the game at 2-2 but Mora/Milaca scored again with under three minutes left for the victory.

PC      0       1   1 2

MM    0       0   3 3

Second period: 1. Frerichs (Rieland, Bick) 0:29. Third period: 4. Christians (Bick, Rieland) 11:01. Goalie: Holman 16-19.