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Quick goal gets East Grand Forks rolling past Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato

By DAVID LA VAQUE, Star Tribune , 03/30/21, 4:00PM CDT

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Landon Parker tipped in a shot just 25 seconds into the game en route to an 8-1 victory.

Favored East Grand Forks scored less than one minute into its quarterfinal against Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato, an early jolt or bad joke depending on each coach’s perspective.

“We wanted a quick start but that was probably even better than we could have asked for,” East Grand Forks coach Tyler Palmiscno said.

Dragons’ coach Brice Berggren could only laugh. He knew East Grand Forks held the advantage in state tournament experience and top-end players. And now this. A puck tipped in by Landon Parker for a goal just 25 seconds into the game.

The No. 3 seed Green Wave (14-8) never slowed its pace, taking an 8-1 victory Tuesday at Xcel Energy Center.

“They all skate so well,” Berggren said. “And when they get around the net, they don’t miss much.”

Not so for talented sophomore Jaksen Panzer.

“He’s been snake-bit a good portion of the year,” Palmiscno said.

Relentless as he is fast, Panzer cashed in for three goals, two of them shorthanded.

“He’s never short on chances so it was nice for him to get a couple today,” Palmiscno said. “When he’s going, he’s like a dog on a bone.”

Panzer, who verbally committed to North Dakota, impressed Parker as well.

“He’s got crazy speed and he used it well by getting on those breakaways and burying,” Parker said. “It’s nice to see that happening at the right time.”

Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato (10-9-2) prevented a shutout as Caden Besemer scored on a rebound late in the second period.

First report

Favored East Grand Forks bounced Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato from the Class 1A state tournament with an 8-1 victory Tuesday in the second quarterfinal played at Xcel Energy Center.

No. 3 seed Green Wave (14-8) started fast as Landon Parker tipped a shot from the point by Logan Spencer just 25 seconds into the game.

Zach Stocker added a goal and then Parker found the back of the net as East Grand Forks took a 3-0 lead into first intermission. Parker’s 23 goals leads his team this season.

Three additional Green Wave goals followed in the second period. Brody Schultz and Jaksen Panzer scored in a span of 40 seconds. And Panzer tallied a shorthanded goal for a 6-0 lead.

Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato (10-9-2) prevented a shutout as Caden Besemer scored on a rebound late in the second period.

Panzer completed the hat trick with another shorthanded goal in the third period.

East Grand Forks outshot the Dragons 51-9 for the game.

Check back later for more on the game.

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