MINNEAPOLIS — Northern Lakes head coach Tom Klein says he doesn’t believe in the hockey gods.
However, if they exist, they were not in the Northern Lakes Lightning’s favor in a 4-1 loss to the Mankato West Scarlets in the Class 1A Consolation Semifinals Thursday, March 5, at 3M Arena at Mariucci at the University of Minnesota.
“I can’t wait to watch the film and see how many grade A chances that we had and missed the net,” Klein said, “I don’t believe in the concept of hockey gods, but it just wasn’t our night.
“I thanked each and every one of the players for their role in the success of our season. We had great effort all season and in this game.”
The Lightning outshot the Scarlets 39-25, but Scarlets’ senior goalie, Mason Schreiber, saved 38 shots to stonewall Northern Lakes.
After the scoreless first period that featured zero penalties, Northern Lakes struck first with a 5-on-3 power-play goal by Kyler Rikala that was assisted by Jacob Peterson and Huck Balmer.
The goal came at the 7:12 mark of the second period. Twenty seconds after Rikala’s goal, Mankato West, still shorthanded, earned a penalty shot.
West’s Keaton Dorzek took the penalty shot that was saved by Northern Lakes senior goalie Damon John, who started in net for Sam Suja.
Northern Lakes’ goalie Damon John faces a penalty face against Mankato West in the Class 1A State Consolation Semifinals on Thursday, March 5, at 3M Arena at Mariucci at the University of Minnesota.
Bill Johnson / Picture Day Pro!
The Scarlets killed the rest of the penalty, but Northern Lakes was called for a penalty, putting West on the power-play at the 8:15 mark of the second.
Dorzek got his revenge with a power-play goal at 9:57 of the second period to tie the game.
With 41 seconds left in the second period, Northern Lakes went to the penalty box again and West took advantage nine seconds into the power play with a goal by Grady Schmidt.
Jakobe Tosch and Brooks Baukol assisted on Schmidt’s goal that put the Scarlets ahead 2-1 entering the second intermission.
“Anytime you get momentum, you want to keep it,” Klein said. “They broke our momentum.”
Northern Lakes went into the state tournament with an 82% penalty kill. The Lightning allowed two power-play goals in their quarterfinal loss to Warroad on Wednesday and gave up two to Mankato West.
Northern Lakes’ Jacob Peterson skates with the puck against Mankato West in the Class 1A State Consolation Semifinals on Thursday, March 5, at 3M Arena at Mariucci at the University of Minnesota.
Bill Johnson / Picture Day Pro!
“It’s been going our way a lot for a while on the PK, but not at this tournament,” Klein said.
The Lightning outshot Mankato West 10-3 in the third period and searched for the equalizer that didn’t come.
Tosch scored a breakaway attempt with 4:13 left to make it 3-1 Scarlets. Schmidt and Dorzek assisted with the goal. Rickey Enters added an empty-net goal with 1:20 left.
John recorded 21 saves in his final action as a Lightning player.
“I told Damon that I believed he is better than half the goalies in the tournament,” Klein said. “He validated my point. He is probably one of the best backup goalies in the state. He played a great game, especially on that penalty shot.”
Klein said he doesn’t plan on leaving the bench next year. The Lightning reached back-to-back state tournaments, but has had three head coaches the past three seasons.
“My goal is to reach 60 years of coaching,” Klein said. “I enjoy high school hockey and I retired from teaching, so it’s nice to just focus on hockey.”
Northern Lakes tallied a 17-12-1 record with wins against East Grand Forks, Bemidji and Sartell.
“We beat two teams that this program has never beaten,” Klein said. “The biggest win of the year was beating Sartell, who had 24 wins and beat us two weeks before we beat them. This was a really successful season.”
Northern Lakes 0 1 0 — 1
Second period: NL-Kyler Rikala (Jacob Peterson, Huck Balmer) PPG 7:12, MW-Keaton Dorzek PPG 9:57, MW-Grady Schmidt (Jakobe Tosch, Brooks Baukol) PPG 16:28
Third period: MW-Tosch (Schmidt, Dorzek) 12:47, MW-Rickey Enter (Brayden Keech, Isaac Ulman) ENG 15:40
Shots on goal: NL 15-14-10 39, MW 7-15-3 25
Goalies: NL-Damon John (21 saves); MW-Mason Schreiber (38 saves)