Sports

Jacks win benefit game

By Tyler Ohmann

12/10/2013

The lone game for the Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) hockey team this past week was for a special cause.

DCB traveled to Melita, Manitoba to play in a game in which the proceeds were donated to the family of Trent Skelton.

Skelton, a former Lumberjack from the ‘90s was injured in an accident a month ago. The money raised was donated for medical costs and to help out Skelton’s family.

The fans received quite a barn burner as well as the Jacks rallied back from a 5-1 deficit to tie the game and then won in a shootout 2-1.

“It was a good night for Lumberjacks as we got the win and we helped out the Skelton family,” stated Jacks head coach Travis Rybchinski.

The Melita Bison opened the scoring in the first period as Dale Dobbyn took a pass from Randy Loucks to score the opening goal.

DCB tied the game later in the first as Tyler Elshaug used assists from Anthony Mancini and Connor Hicks to tie the game.

The Bison then went on a tear, scoring four straight goals to go up 5-1 in the first half of the second period. One goal came from Loucks and Dobbyn notched his second goal as well.

DCB finally struck back with 5:20 left in the second period as Matt Mehlhaff notched a marker. James Kelly and Ethan Hicks earned helpers on the play.

The Jacks then scored three times in the final frame to draw the game even.

Cody Bronson struck first with an unassisted goal at 16:09. Mehlhaff struck again less than two minutes later as he took a pass from Kelly and found the back of the net.

Defenseman Casey Barile tied the game at 9:24 as Reed Loucks and Kelly assisted.

Kelly and Bronson each scored in the shootout to give the Jacks the shootout win.

“It was an honor helping out a good family and we were happy to do it,” Rybchinski stated. “It was so inspirational to hear Trent’s wife talk before the game and how strong the family is and how great the community of Melita is.”

DCB plays their final home game before the semester break at 7:30 p.m. tonight as they host Minot State University.

The Jacks close out their first semester schedule this weekend as they travel to take on alumni Seth Serhienko and Iowa State University.