INT’L FALLS— The Wolves have been indomitable on home ice in recent weeks, but they proved they can manage just fine on the road on Tuesday as they downed the Broncos here, 4-2, to improve to 12-5 on the season.
After a scoreless first period, Ely senior Drew Marolt put the Wolves on top in the opening minutes of the second, with a goal at the 3:56 mark off an assist from senior Deegan Richards. Freshman Owen Marolt added a second Ely goal just 30 seconds later, with the assists going to Richards and Drew Marolt.
The Broncos weren’t about to give in, however, and they came bucking back later in the frame with two Parker Olson goals, the first on a power play, to tie the game at two. Richards broke the log jam at the ten minute mark of the third period, with assists from Drew Marolt and junior Garrett Rohr. Sophomore Jayden Zemke found the open net in the final minutes as the Broncos pulled their goalie to lift Ely to the 4-2 final.
Ely junior goalie Ben Leeson had a strong night in the net, fending off 39 of 41 shots on goal. The Wolves notched 28 shots but made them count.
Playing in Baudette last Friday, the Wolves struggled to contain Lake of the Woods as the Bears peppered Ely goalie Ben Leeson with 53 shots on goal on their way to a 5-1 win. The Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period and padded their margin with two more goals in a second period that featured five straight Ely penalties. Sophomore Jayden Zemke and senior Brecken Sandberg both hit the box twice in the period— Zemke for tripping and interference, Sandberg for slashing and unsportsmanlike conduct. Leeson was also tapped on a tripping charge.
The Bears added one more early in the third period to go up 5-0. The Wolves scored their only goal of the evening in the third period as freshman Owen Marolt lit the lamp at the 8:29 mark on an assist from Zemke.
The Wolves will get a chance to even the score when they host the Bears Friday night. They’ll be home on Saturday as well when they take on Park Rapids. They travel to Proctor next Tuesday.