WILLMAR -- Joel Schendel flipped in the winning goal while nearly on one knee in overtime, lifting the Willmar Cardinals to a 6-5 win over Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato in non-conference boys hockey Saturday.
The game winner, just 1:25 into the extra period, gave the junior right wing a hat trick before an excitable crowd at the Civic Center.
It was Willmar's first win after losing 8-5 at Benson and 8-0 at St. Cloud Tech.
"We knew after two losses this was a big game for us," said senior wing Josh Aslesen, who got Willmar off to an explosive start by scoring just five seconds into the first period. "The coaches told us that if we win this one, there was the chance to start turning our season around."
Litchfield/DC (1-2) did all it could to tag the Cardinals with another setback. This spirited Highway 12 rivalry featured colored mice and a dead fowl decorating the ice in the second period.
ADVERTISEMENT
But the six-goal third period was the biggest crowd pleaser of the night.
Schendel opened the sniping with a power-play goal -- his first tally of the season -- at 4:07 to give Willmar a 3-2 lead. John Barrick answered for LDC at 7:48 and then at 9:48 Charlie Hamm's pretty wrap-around put the Dragons on top 4-3.
Willmar retaliated 37 seconds later with Eric Bangen crashing the Dragon net to tie it 4-4. It marked the fourth straight power play goal of the period.
At 11:15, Schendel stole a blue-line pass and took off down the slot. He released a slap shot just as he was checked by Alex Sundin. The missile punched the net over goalie Lucas Johnson's left shoulder.
The 5-4 lead looked secure until Willmar took a high-stick penalty with 2:03 left. A minute later, Jordan Lecher, who scored LDC's first goal, aimed a bullet from the left wing that smacked off goalie Kevin Maxfield's stick and dribbled across the line, tying the game 5-5 with 1:13 left in regulation.
Willmar dominated in OT.
Schendel was skating his second shift when Willmar pressed the attack.
"Griffin (Leitch) had the puck up top and he saw me down by the left post," said Schendel. "It came right to my stick and I just bombed it in."
ADVERTISEMENT
Johnson faced 35 shots, three in OT, and Maxfield 26.
The Cardinals celebrated with their fans as the new edition of the Cream Can was passed over the glass to reside in Willmar for the first time since the legendary rivalry trophy was revived two years ago.
Willmar 6, Litchfield/DC 5
Litchfield/DC (1-2) 1 1 3 0 -- 5
Willmar (1-2) 2 0 3 1 -- 6
FIRST PERIOD - Wil: Josh Aslesen (unassited) 00:05 ... LDC: Jordan Lecher (Cody Hansen, Tucker Osterberg) 2:17 ... Wil: Griffin Leitch (Richard Norris) 16:59
SECOfD PERIOD - LDC: Charlie Hamm (Lechner, Alex Euerle) 3:56
THIRD PERIOD - Wil: Joel Schendel (Josh Aslesen, Mitch Schneider) 4:07, powerplay ... LDC: John Barrick (Charlie Hamm) 7:48, pp .... LDC: Hamm (unassisted) 9:48, pp .... Wil: Eric Bangen (Jordan Gauer) 10:33, pp ... Wil: Joel Schendel (unassisted) 11:15 .... LDC: Lecher (Alex Sundin) 15:47
ADVERTISEMENT
OVERTIME- Wil: Schendel (Leitch, Gauer) 1:25
Goalie saves - LDC: Lucas Johnson 6-11-10-2-29; Willmar: Kevin Maxfield 11-5-5-0-21
