Bruins take down the Golden Rockets
By Graeme Willson
Friday’s hockey game between the Grand Forks Border Bruins and Golden’s Rockets was a fun packed, energized fast-playing night of hockey, at the Grand Forks arena. The result was a 6-4 win for the Bruins.
The first goal was scored by Bruin’s Connor Gross, the puck connects to the net after 5:02 minutes of fast-passed power plays before Gross made that first goal. He made the goal with no assists.
Right after the puck dropped again, Bruins’ Dakota Kittle was sent to the penalty box for two minutes for tripping. When the clock reached 14:42, Bruins’ second penalty was called against Max Newton — two minutes for cross checking.
The first goal of the game for the Rocket’s was called by the Rocket’s David Larouche. He scored with 12:37 on the clock. Assists came from Ian Desrosier and Micheal Anderson.
Shortly after, Bruin’s Graham Watkins spent two minutes in the penalty box for hooking.
The Rockets pulled together an orchestrated power play led by Connor Beauchemin to score their second goal with assists from Brett DeFrias and Colton Berard with 9:18 minutes on the clock. Power plays were on the Rocket’s minds and Jacob MacPherson scored their third goal with an assist from Micheal Anderson.
The remainder of period one seem to go into slow motion as both teams were playing a little less connected in their power plays.Bruins’ Lucas Robinson got a penalty with 3:34 minutes on the clock for tripping. When the horn called to end the period, the Bruins had made 11 shots at the net with only one goal. The Rockets had made 15 shots and three goals.
Energy levels were low as the second period started. The referee blew his whistle and and gave a penalty to Rockets’ Dustin Watt for holding.
Five minutes into the period, the energy started to pick up. The Bruins’ Michael Rand scored their second goal of the game with assists from Kyle Dolly and Reid Robertson.
The pace continued to pick up as the blood began to boil in both teams, and there began to be a much rougher sport on the ice. The refs blew their whistles in unison for shenanigans on the ice and Desrosier, Connor Beauchemin and Robinson were giving two minutes penalties.
A third goal was scored by the Bruins thanks to Mitchell Dolman with assists from Max Newton and Connor Gross – the clock read 12:07.
The players seemed to be melting the ice as their blades heated up due to the high-paced friction and movement on the ice.
With just over eight minutes left in the second period, Rockets’ Colton Berard was sent to the box to cool his heels for two minutes for tripping.
The rest of second period flew by no more goals or penalty’s being recorded but with many good plays being carried out and the goalies at the top of their game. They were able to fight off the pucks and neither of them allowed any more goals. The Bruins made 24 shots during the second period and the Rockets made seven.
The players carried their high energy over into the third period, although some of it translated into rough play on the ice and the Bruins’ Matt Arlo getting a two minute penalty.
Franco Colapaolo scored the fourth goal with assists from Cole McKechney and Newton. The Rockets’ Braeden Allkins scores their third goal shortly after.
Colapaolo scores their fifth goal — his second goal this game and fifth of the season – with an assist from Graham Watkins.
The Bruins win the game with their sixth goal being scored by Lincoln Lane (his fourth of the season) with assists from Reid Robertson and Mitchell Pearson.
In the third period, the Bruins took a total of 15 shots with three goals and the Rockets took 14 shots with one goal.
“The guys showed a lot of character, they worked hard for this win, and I am proud of them,” said assistant coach Matt Zamec. “They came into this game with pride. They had just played an away game in Nelson — which we lost 10 to 3 –and these guys came back to Grand Forks and really pulled it together and we have a win to show for it.”
