ST. CLOUD -- In a penalty-filled third period, St. Cloud Apollo took advantage of a rare 3-on-3 situation to score two quick goals in a three-goal rally that overcame Willmar's upset bid, 4-3, on Thursday in boys hockey.
Raulin Magnuson got Willmar on the board immediately with a high wrist shot tipped by an Apollo player. Rory Schneider made it 2-1 after two and Joel Schendel's powerplay goal in the second minute of the third frame put Willmar up 3-1.
But then things got crazy. Apollo defenseman Brent Butkowski got a five-minute major and a game suspension for throwing a punch while tangling with Willmar's Travis Hanson, who received a minor.
One penalty followed another, resulting in the 3-on-3. Chad Hockemeyer, Dustin Christen and Steve Theis used their speed to outflank Willmar and then beat Ben Leitch for goals 35 seconds apart.
Willmar then had a 5-on-3 for over a minute, but couldn't convert. Theis got the game-winner with two minutes left.
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The Cardinals end their regular season on Saturday, back again in St. Cloud against the Tech Tigers, at 3:30 p.m. at the National Hockey Center.
SC Apollo 4, Willmar 3
Willmar (3-11, 7-16)...............1 1 1 -- 3
SC Apollo (8-9, 11-14)...........1 0 3 -- 4
FIRST PERIOD - Wil: Raulin Magnuson (unassisted) 2:15 ... Apo: Dustin Christen (Chad Hockemeyer, Brent Butkowski) 11:48, pp
SECOND PERIOD - Wil: Rory Schneider (Jordan Benson) 9:40
THIRD PERIOD - Wil: Joel Schendel (Josh Mead, Jordan Baker) 2:01, pp .... Apo: Christen (Ryan Gau) 3:47, 3-on-3 ... Apo: Hockemeyer (Tyler Scepaniak) 4:22, 3-on-3 ... Apo: Steve Theis (Hockemeyer) 14:56
GOALIE SAVES - Willmar: Ben Leitch 3-9-5-17 ... St. Cloud Apollo: Nate Hampton 4-12-9-25
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Sartell 4, River Lakes 1
Junior forward Adam Porwoll netted River Lakes' only goal.
River Lakes (0-15, 1-23-1)......0 0 1 -- 1
Sartell (9-8-1, 15-10-1)...........1 2 1 -- 4
FIRST PERIOD - Sar: Ryan Nahan (Matt Nahan, Joshua Birkland) 15:10
SECOND PERIOD - Sar: M. Nahan (R. Nahan, Spencer Malley) 10:58 ... Sar: R. Nahan (M. Nahan, Birkland) 15:21
THIRD PERIOD - RL: Adam Porwoll (unassisted) 5:53 ... Sar: M. Nahan (unassisted) 15:01, sh
GOALIE SAVES - River Lakes: Spencer Theis 17-13-6-36 ... Sartell: Brent Orndorff 6-10-12-28
