ELY— The Timberwolves hockey team is off to its hottest start in years as they took three of four games over the past week to improve to 6-2 on the season.
Playing at home on Tuesday, Wolves’ senior Deegan Richards lit the light twice as Ely topped International Falls 3-2. Richards put Ely on the board at the 15:27 mark of the first period on an unassisted goal, but that 1-0 lead lasted just 32 seconds when the Broncos’ Zach Youso responded to even the score. Less than a minute later, Ely was back in the lead for good on an unassisted score by senior Wes Sandy.
After a scoreless second period, Richards added an insurance goal, with a Sandy assist, just 39 seconds into the third period. The Broncos would score for the second time with less than two minutes to play, but it was too little, too late.
The Broncos outshot Ely 34-25, but Ely goalie Ben Leeson’s .941 save percentage made the difference.
In weekend action in Ely, junior Garrett Rohr notched a hat trick as the Wolves routed Moose Lake 7-1. The Wolves got on the board early as sophomore Jayden Zemke tripped the buzzer on a power play at the 1:24 mark of the first period, with an assist from senior Brecken Sandberg. Sandberg notched the team’s second goal at the 5:03 mark with assists from Richards and Sandy.
Junior Garrett Rohr notched his first goal of the contest at the 13:48 mark with an assist from freshman Owen Marolt as the Wolves finished the period up 3-0.
Drew Marolt, with an assist from Richards, added to the lead in the first two minutes of the second period. Moose Lake scored its one and only goal at the 4:56 mark, but Richards and Rohr would add two more goals, with assists from Sandy, Owen Marolt and senior Ty Walker before the period was out.
Rohr notched his third goal unassisted at the 15:22 mark of the third period to close out scoring in the contest.
Ely peppered Moose Lake goalie Eli Gilbertson with 51 shots on goal and held the Rebels to just 24 shots on the afternoon, all but one of which was turned aside by Ely goalie Ben Leeson.
Ely’s Sandberg, Walker, and junior Jace Huntbatch each spent two minutes in the box on penalties, while Moose Lake skaters were out a total of four minutes on penalties.
Playing in Ashland last Thursday, the Wolves rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the third period to outpace the Oredockers 7-5 on the strength of a Drew Marolt hat trick. Ely got on the board first at the 10:03 mark of the first period when Zemke swiped the net at the 10:03 mark with an assist from Drew Marolt.
The Oredockers responded with back-to-back goals to finish out the period.
Ely took advantage of another power play at the 2:01 mark of the second period as Drew Marolt evened the game unassisted. Ashland came back just over seven minutes later to retake the lead 3-2.
Ely tied it up at the 3:11 mark of the third period on an unassisted goal from Richards. A minute and a half later, Sandberg gave the Wolves the lead with help from Drew Marolt and Richards.
Ashland knotted the game at four less than a minute later, but Zemke put Ely back up 5-4 at the 7:40 mark. Drew Marolt scored his second goal of the game two minutes later to put the Wolves up 6-4. Ashland hit the net once again just over a minute later, but Marolt added an insurance goal at the 16:59 mark to put the game away.
Working the net, Leeson notched 41 saves on 46 shots on goal, while the Wolves notched 54 shots against the Oredockers. Both teams spent considerable time in the box, as the Wolves were called for seven penalties, all minors. Ashland was called on five penalties.
In Dec. 5 action at Silver Bay, the Wolves fell to North Shore 4-1. Walker scored Ely’s only goal at the 1:30 mark of the second period. Ely outshot North Shore 27-23 in the game.
The Wolves were set to host the Burnett Blizzard on Friday, with a 6 p.m. start. They’ll travel to Greenway next Thursday to take on the Raiders.