Sports
Jacks get first win, split home series with Finlandia JV
Tyler Ohmann
11/19/2013
The Dakota College at Bottineau Lumberjack hockey team got into the win column this past weekend with a 6-4 victory over Finlandia JV at home last Friday.
The weekend series ended in a split, however, as the Lions came back and knocked off the Jacks 3-2 in Saturday’s contest.
“We played well on Friday, and down as we struggled at times on Saturday and seemed disinterested,” stated Jacks head coach Travis Rybchinski. “We were excited for the win last night and deserving so but I felt we did not get mentally prepared this morning for the game and the coach will take that responsibility.”
“This was a series between two evenly matched teams,” Rybchinski added.
First in Friday’s win, the Jacks used a strong second period to beat the Finlandia JV 6-4 for their first victory of the season.
DCB scored three times in the second frame, the first of which came off of a penalty shot by freshman James Kelly.
Kelly, who had scored six goals in the Jacks’ first seven games, was credited with a penalty shot as he was held going to the net. He then beat Finlandia goaltender Colin Longeway to put DCB up 1-0.
Cody Bronson would put the Jacks up by two with a goal midway through the second period. He was assisted by Cody Anderson and Matt Mehlhaff.
Later in the second Kelly struck again as he took passes from Mehlhaff and Lucas Lindholm and pushed it past Longeway.
Finlandia would get on the board to cut the lead to 3-1 early in the final frame, but the Jacks’ Kyle Roberts would extend the lead to 4-1 with a goal shortly thereafter. Brett Hebel assisted on the play.
DCB would get their fifth goal about three minutes later as Rugby native Kyle Volk found the back of the net. Mehlhaff earned his third helper of the night on the goal, which wound up being the game-winner.
The Lions would rally from then on in the third and score three times in the next 10 minutes to cut the lead to 5-4. However, the Jacks would close the door with a goal by Kelly at 1:09 as he earned the hat trick late in the third.
Ryan Miner was stout in net for the Jacks as he stopped 45 of the Lions’ 49 shot attempts. Longeway had 27 saves for Finlandia JV.
“We had many positive things happen this weekend.Our goal tending made the save when we needed it,” Rybchinski stated. “We got some better defensive team play. We got contributions from everyone and different times and I thought we were a tougher team to play against than we have been all year.”
Feeling good about the win the Jacks may have underestimated the Lions on Saturday afternoon as they ran away with a 3-2 win.
DCB was in control early as they played strong for much of the first period and struck first as a shot by Kelly would find the back of the net. Reed Loucks and Hebel were credited with assists on the goal.
From then on the Lions took over the game as they scored twice in the second period to take a 2-1 lead. The lead would expand to 3-1 after a goal midway through the third period.
Hebel would cut the lead to one late in the third for DCB on a pass from Mehlhaff, but it was too little too late for the Jacks.
DCB was out shot 41-26 in the contest, as Miner stopped 38-of-41 shots from the Lions.
“We need to get in a routine and follow that routine. Players have to be accountable,” Rybchinski stated. “Right now is the time we have to get better each day and prove it to yourself and each other that we are getting better. We need to push each other and get the best out of everyone and everyday.”
The weekend split pushed the Jacks’ record to 1-7-1 on the season. Their next series will be again at the Lumberdome at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday against South Dakota State University.
DCB doesn’t know much about SDSU.
“We know they’ve been competitive in their games against North Dakota State University, so they should be a good team, but that’s about all we know,” Rybchinski said.
DCB will honor the Jacks’ football team before Friday’s game as the Jacks’ grid iron warriors were selected to play in the Salt City Bowl in Hutchinson, Kan. on Dec. 7.