ELY—The Timberwolves have been tough to topple on home ice in recent weeks and it’s apparent as the team, now 11-4, has racked up its most impressive season in years. The team wasted little time here last Saturday as they scored three times within the first nine minutes of play enroute to a 6-2 shellacking of visiting Ashland.
Drew Marolt and Garrett Rohr both lit the light twice on the afternoon, but it was Deegan Richards who drew first blood for the Wolves at the 1:55 mark of the first period, with assists from Owen Marolt and Jayden Zemke.
Rohr notched Ely’s second goal on a power play four minutes with an assist from Tommy Homer and he did it again at the 8:29 mark with an even strength goal with assists from Jace Huntbatch and Brecken Sandberg.
Sandberg, unassisted, made it 4-0 for the Wolves early in the second period. Ashland got on the board six minutes later, but Drew Marolt shut the door with back-to-back goals in the second half of the period. His first, at the 9:36 mark, came as the Wolves were shorthanded with an assist from Richards. His second came at 15:49, with an assist from goalie Ben Leeson.
Leeson posted a strong performance in the net, fending off 40 of 42 shots on goal. Ely notched 32 shots, but made more of them count.
The game was penalty-filled, as Ely players were tagged for seven infractions, including a ten-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for Sandberg in the second period. Ely’s win was its eighth straight on home ice. It’s only loss at home so far this season came on Dec. 1 when they lost 4-1 to Mora/Milaca.
Saturday’s win was a nice rebound for Ely after a loss on the road the day before. Playing at Bagley, the Wolves fell behind 2-0 early in the second quarter after a scoreless first period. Richards put Ely on the scoreboard at the 3:20 mark of the third period with an assist from Drew Marolt. Wes Sandy notched Ely’s second goal 11 minutes later but it was too little too late as the Flyers added two more goals in the third period to hang on for the win.
Ely outshot the Flyers 41-21.
The Wolves dominated their holiday tournament over the break, going undefeated in three close games. They topped Kittson County for the third time this season, 2-1, on Dec. 27. They downed St. Paul Johnson 4-3 the following day and beat Moose Lake 3-2 on day three of the tournament.