Sports

Tetons finish off Jacks

By Tyler Ohmann

02/18/2014

The Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) hockey season came to an end last Tuesday as rival Williston State College (WSC) topped them 6-1 to win the best-of-three series that sends the winner to nationals.

The Tetons scored four goals in the first period, one that was on the power play to take an early lead, and never looked back.

“What has hurt us all year has been lack of discipline and we showed it again tonight,” said Jacks head coach Travis Rybchinski. “Before you knew it we were down 4-0, and six penalties in the first period, you just can’t give a good team like that those odds, and expect to win.”

DCB stabilized in the second period as they scored their lone goal, a power play marker by Cody Bronson, assisted by Bret Hebel.

“Our second period was there, and we just dug ourselves into too big of a hole,” Rybchinski said.

The Tetons also added one in the second, and one final tally in the third to score their six goals. All six goals came from different players. Former Bottineau-Rugby and DCB player Logan Millican, assisted on the final goal in the third period.

However, the third period was also marred with violent and angry outbursts. Several DCB players were injured after sustaining hits, and two, Bronson and goaltender Ryan Miner, were ejected.

The ejections were much to the happiness of the WSC crowd, which was bussed in from Williston, and was raucous.

“I didn’t like the way the game ended,” Rybchinski said. “They were up 6-1, and they were running our guys, and we had three guys hurt in the last three minutes from cheap hits from them.”

“We’ll remember that next year,” Rybchinski added.

Miner finished with 37 saves in 43 opportunities before being ejected. On the other side WSC goalie Tyler Ampe stopped 19-of-20 DCB shots.

DCB loses several sophomores after this season, including former Bottineau-Rugby standout Kyle Volk.

Though DCB finished with a record of 5-19-4 on the season, Rybchinski still believes they made in an impact at the college.

“If you look at our win and loss record, it wasn’t a good season,” Rybchinski said. “But we made a lot of good strides, and we did over 30 different groups and community service, and got back in with the youth hockey.”

“So this team has left their mark, it’s just too bad, because we should have 10 more wins than we did,” Rybchinski added.

That season came to an end last Tuesday, though, as WSC advanced to try and win back-to-back national titles.