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Moorhead tops Centennial in overtime for Hockey Day victory

By Drew Herron, SportsEngine, 01/20/18, 6:00AM CST

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Carter Randklev's top shelf wrist shot with 26 seconds left pushed the Spuds past the Cougars.


Moorhead senior Cole O'Connell carries the puck deep into the offensive zone against Centennial. O'Connell scored the Spuds' first goal in their 3-2 overtime victory over the Cougars on Jan. 20. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

Carter Randklev felt a sense of urgency creeping up on him in overtime of Moorhead's game against Centennial on Saturday night. The senior's teammates felt it too.

After surrendering a two-goal lead in the second period, the Spuds were forced to hammer away on net with twice as many shots as the Cougars --  but left with little to show for it.

When finally given the chance to do something about it, Randklev seized the moment. With 26 seconds remaining in overtime, Randklev’s top-shelf wrist shot found the back of the net and lifted Moorhead to a 3-2 victory over Centennial at Lake George in St. Cloud.

“I knew it was getting towards the end of overtime, and I figured I would go hang out in the slot, and hopefully somebody would get the puck to me,” said Randklev, who leads the Spuds with 18 goals this season. “It came to me, and I had no other option than to finish it.”

It was a memorable close to an unforgettable day.

“For us to have that guy with the puck in front of the net at that point of the game, you can’t ask for anything better,” Moorhead coach Jon Ammerman said. “What a finish.”

Moorhead raced out early with two first-period goals -- one from Cole O’Connell four minutes in and another a short time later by teammate Kyler Kleven.

But Moorhead (13-6-0, 3-3-0) took a step back in the second period, allowing two special teams goals (one shorthanded and another on the power play) that let Centennial (10-4-3, 4-1-2) hang around and threaten to spoil the Spuds’ effort.

A scoreless third period pushed for the extra session, where Moorhead, ranked No. 13 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, found its footing and tipped things in its favor.

Senior forward Jack Stetz retrieved the puck from the corner in the waning seconds and delivered a well-placed centering pass that set up Randklev.

Stetz said the Spuds felt it was only a matter of time before the weight of the offensive pressure would break through to reward Moorhead.

“In overtime, it felt like we took over,” Stetz said. “This was a game we wanted; we didn’t want to lose.”

This was Moorhead's second time participating in Hockey Day Minnesota, having hosted it in 2011. Many of the current Spuds were in attendance seven years ago, including O’Connell, then a fifth-grader who dreamed of taking part in the experience.

The trip to St. Cloud for this year's event was all he hoped it would be.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking,” O’Connell said. “There are a lot of people here, and you want to play well in front of everyone. The whole town came down for this and it was so much fun to be a part of. This was a great experience, and everyone had a lot of fun.”

After the game, live music emanated from the winter garden just beyond the east end of the rink as Moorhead took its time leaving the ice while posing for photos with friends and family. The Spuds soaked it all in.

“This is an incredible experience,” Randklev said. “Second greatest, right behind playing in the state tournament (last year). This is a special experience, especially for our seniors. We’re a tight-knit group, and to share this experience and to win it like we did, it’s something that we will remember for the rest of our lives.”

Ammerman hopes this victory, only the Spuds' third against a Class 2A foe since the new year, can jumpstart his team toward a section run after some early January stumbles.

“It’s kind of been the story of our season,” he said of the game against No. 8-2A ranked Centennial. “We’ve outchanced and outshot (opponents), but we just can’t make that next step. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come.”


Moorhead senior Carter Randklev chases the puck into the corner against Centennial on Saturday evening. Randklev scored the overtime winner in the Spuds' 3-2 victory over the Cougars. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

First Report

Carter Randklev’s top shelf wrist shot with 26 seconds left in overtime lifted Moorhead to a 3-2 victory over Centennial in the matinee of Saturday's Hockey Day Minnesota event at Lake George in St. Cloud.

The Spuds, ranked No. 13 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, outshot No. 8-2A Centennial for most the way, but were left without much to show for it until Randklev’s game-winner.

Cole O’Connell got the scoring started for Moorhead (13-6-0, 3-3-0) a little more than four minutes in, and six minutes later, the Spuds added to their lead with a goal by Kyler Kleven.

The Cougars (10-4-3, 4-1-2) leveled things with two special teams goals in the second period -- a shorthanded goal from William Francis less than three minutes in and a power-play goal by Hayden Brickner midway through the period.

After a scoreless third period and an almost equally empty extra session, Randklev converted on a centering pass from teammate Jack Stetz in the waning seconds to secure the victory for the Spuds.

Lance Leonard earned the win between the pipes for Moorhead, stopping 20 of the 22 shots he faced. Centennial split goaltending as Travis Allen made 13 saves on 15 shots he faced over the first period and a half, and Bryce Crowley made 22 saves on 23 shots.


Centennial goalie Bryce Crowley handles a rebound against Moorhead during Hockey Day Minnesota 2018 in St. Cloud. The Cougars fell to the Spuds 3-2 in overtime. Photo by Jeff Lawler, SportsEngine

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