HURON -- The Aberdeen Cougars won a high scoring game but lost a defensive battle in the second game.
The Aberdeen Cougars boys' hockey team beat Grand Forks (N.D.) 9-6 and lost to Gabriel-Roy (Manitoba, Canada) 3-0 on Saturday at the annual Rooster Cup tournament. The first game was all about offense and game two highlighted defense. The Cougars are 2-1 to start the season.
Aberdeen exploded for five goals in the second period against Grand Forks in the first game. The score was tied at 2-all after the first peiod and Aberdeen had one power-play goal. The Cougars picked up two more power-play goals in the second period. Thomas Hogg recorded two goals in the period and three different players tallied the other three.
Grand Forks scored three unaswered goals in the third period to pull within 8-6, but Dustin Santjer tallied a goal with 1 minutes remaining to lock up the win. After scoring three goals and an assist on Thursday night against Team Wyoming, Santjer added another hat trick and an assist against Grand Forks. Kevin Birkla recorded a hat trick and was named player of the game against Grand Forks.
In Gabriel-Roy's shutout win, goals were hard to come by for the Cougars, who finished with just 12 shots on goal. The opponents whipping 45 shots at Aberdeen goalie Nick Dalchow who stopped all but three shots. Dalchow was named the player of the game for Aberdeen.
The Rooster Cup continues today, but Aberdeen does not play. The Cougar boys' hockey team returns to action at 3 p.m. Saturday against Watertown at the Odde Ice Center. The Aberdeen Cougar girls' team takes on Watertown at 11 a.m. Saturday at home.
Aberdeen Cougars|2 5 2--9
Grand Forks|2 1 3--6
First Period: 1, Aberdeen, Kevin Birkla (Dustin Santjer), 14:53; 2, Aberdeen, Birkla (Bailey Roberts), 12:34; 3, Grand Forks, Jacob Lynns (Unassisted), 4:14; 4, Grand Forks, John Scovy (Unassisted), :45.
Second Period: 5, Aberdeen, Thomas Hogg (Unassisted), 8:58; 6, Aberdeen, Matt Harty (Jacob Milbrandt), 7:20; 7, Aberdeen, Birkla (Cameron Huff, Hogg), 5:44; 8, Aberdeen, Santjer (Hogg), 1:28; 9, Aberdeen, Hogg (Unassisted), :53; 10, Grand Forks, Brad Schumacher (Unassisted), :19.
Third Period: 11, Aberdeen, Santjer (Unassisted), 14:08; 12, Grand Forks, Bryan Miller (Unassisted), 11:40; 13, Grand Forks, Lynns (Andy Byer, Ryan Shzryer), 3:57; 14, Grand Forks, Scovy (Shzryer), 3:57; 15, Aberdeen, Santjer (Unassisted), 1:36.
Goalies: Aberdeen, Jon Loefke, 27 shots on goal, 21 saves; Grand Forks, Trey Deck, 37 shots on goal, 28 saves.
Players of the Game: Aberdeen Cougars, Kevin Birkla; Grand Forks, Karl Raymond.
Gabriel-Roy|1 2 0--3
Aberdeen Cougars|0 0 0--0
First Period: 1, Gabriel-Roy, Zachary Aminot (Chad Cunningham), 11:37.
Second Period: 2, Gabriel-Roy, Patrick Trudeau (Colton Crew, Mathieu Nolette), 16:39; 3, Gabriel-Roy, Trudeau (Nicolette), 15:44.
Goalies: Gabriel-Roy, Eric Trudeau, 12 shots on goal, 12 saves; Aberdeen, Nick Dalchow, 45 shots on goal, 42 saves.
Players of the Game: Gabriel Roy, Patrick Trudeau; Aberdeen Cougars, Nick Dalchow.