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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Ely fends off late rally, nets first win

Patrick Slack
Posted 12/7/16

ELY - After a scoreless first half of the game, Ely emerged from a flurry of late action with a 4-2 home win over Wadena-Deer Creek on Saturday.

Both goaltenders withstood a steady stream of early …

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Ely fends off late rally, nets first win

Posted

ELY - After a scoreless first half of the game, Ely emerged from a flurry of late action with a 4-2 home win over Wadena-Deer Creek on Saturday.

Both goaltenders withstood a steady stream of early shots without a goal allowed, until Ely broke through midway into the second period.

Trea Schreffler assisted on a Jon Wenzel goal seven minutes in, then just a minute and a half later Kyle Lakner set up a Louie Meskill goal to put the Wolves ahead 2-0.

Thomas Montana scored off of assists by Nick Matilla and Joe Pierce with 9:05 remaining in the third period to seemingly put the game out of reach at 3-0.

However, the Wolverines refused to go quietly, first breaking up the shutout with 7:49 to play and then pulling within a goal with 5:43 to go.

Following a near Ely miss in the offensive zone, Wadena-Deer Creek gained numbers and a breakaway chance to knot the score with just under two minutes away, but were denied by goaltender Lori Huseby. Huseby finished with 35 saves to gain the win.

The Wolves wouldn’t allow another scoring chance, sealing the game for good on an empty-net score by Luke Olson, assisted by Pierce, with six seconds remaining.

Ely kept the momentum going early in its next game at North Shore on Tuesday, but couldn’t hold on in a 4-2 defeat.

The Wolves were outshot 20-4 in the first period, but made the most of their opportunities. Gage Merhar scored off of on an assist from Olson and Wenzel picked up a short-handed goal as Ely tallied the first two goals and took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.

North Shore would seize control in the second period, though, netting a trio of goals, two on power plays, to build a 4-2 lead it would not relinquish.

Huseby finished with 49 saves, as North Shore held a 53-23 advantage in shots on goal.