The play was heated, 10 goals were scored, 72 shots were on net, eight penalties were issued and momentum swung on a pendulum all night.  

By the end of three periods and overtime, nothing separated St. Louis Park and Chaska, as they skated to a 5-5 tie Tuesday night at Chaska Community Center.

The result is pretty much right on point in the Metro West Conference, where the race for a league title is as wide open as any around.

“It’s such an even conference,” said Chaska co-coach Sean Bloomfield. “When you look at the other scores (Tuesday night), it really is a case of anybody can beat anybody on any given night.” 

Chaska (14-6-1, 2-1-1) rallied from three goals down to catch St. Louis Park twice (4-4 and 5-5) before the game wrapped up in a draw. In the Metro West, four of the six teams are tied for first or second place.

Hawks sophomore defenseman Mike Koster finished with three points and notched the game-tying goal late in the third period with a well-placed, top-shelf slap shot that sailed over the glove hand of Orioles goalkeeper Atticus Raasch. It set up a wild, if indecisive, finish.

“That’s high school hockey, sometimes you go ahead and the other team comes back,” said St. Louis Park coach Colin Hohman. “It was a fun game to watch and our kids gave a good effort.”

It was St. Louis Park (15-5-1, 3-1-1) who struck first when junior forward Willy Basill scored just 3:03 into the first period. When Chaska tied it later in the first, the Orioles answered by scoring three unanswered goals to give the visitors a healthy lead.

Chaska leveled things in the third period with goals from Rhett Pitlick and Shane Lavelle (his second) making it 4-4, and then Koster knotted the game again at 5-5 with 4:36 to play. The Hawks made use of a pair of 5-on-3 power plays, both of which they turned into goals.

“We knew if we popped one (goal) in, then it would give us some momentum to work with,” Bloomfield said. “We stressed it between periods, just keep that momentum.”

For St. Louis Park, Basill finished with a pair of goals, and Jonathan Sorenson added a goal and two assists for the Orioles. Raasch stopped 32 of 37 shots he faced.

In net for Chaska, Ben Urbanciz made 30 saves on 35 shots.

“Both goalies made some timely saves, and that’s why it finished tied,” Hohman said. “Both guys made saves when they needed to.”

Chaska overcame a three-goal deficit and rallied late to tie visiting St. Louis Park Tuesday night in a 5-5 final at the Chaska Community Center.

Hawks sophomore defenseman Mike Koster finished with three points, and notched the game-tying goal late in the third period with a well-placed, top-shelf slap shot that sailed over the glove hand of Orioles goalkeeper Atticus Raasch.

St. Louis Park struck first when junior forward Willy Basill scored just 3:03 into the first period to give the Orioles an early lead. After Chaska tied it later in the first, St. Louis Park scored three unanswered goals to push the visitors out front.

Chaska (14-6-1, 2-1-1) tied the game again early in the third period with goals from Rhett Pitlick and Shane Lavelle (his second) making it 4-4. With 4:36 to play, Koster scored the goal that knotted the game at 5-5.

Basill finished with a pair of goals, and Jonathan Sorenson added a goal and two assists for the Orioles (15-5-1, 3-1-1). Raasch stopped 32 of 37 shots he faced.

In net for Chaska, Ben Urbanciz made 30 saves on 35 shots.

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