INTERNATIONAL FALLS - The Timberwolves hockey team fell 13-1 to International Falls last Friday as they returned to regular season action following a holiday tournament in which they played three games at Two Harbors.
It was a rematch of last year’s playoff game, during which Ely upset the favored Broncos. But it was a very different outcome this time around, as the Wolves managed just 10 shots on goal while the Broncos peppered Ely goalie Chase Sandberg with 62 shots.
The Broncos came out hot, scoring four times in the first period, once during a power play, while Luke Olson hit the back of the net at 13:41 to make the score 4-1.
In the second period, International Falls added seven goals and put two more in during the third period.
The Wolves participated in the North Shore Holiday Tourney, Dec. 26-28, in Two Harbors, and had their best shot at their first victory of the season against Moose Lake on Dec. 28. They outscored the Rebels for most of the game and had a 4-2 lead after two periods. With the score tied in the final two minutes, Ely came up short in the third period, losing 6-4.
Ely had 14 shots on goal in the final period. Luke Olson finished that game with his second hat trick of the season, both against Moose Lake. The Rebels and the Timberwolves will meet for the third time this season on Friday, Feb. 7 for the season finale.
Earlier in the holiday tourney, Ely lost to Proctor, 14-3, in a consolation game. In that match, Proctor came out strong with six goals in the first period and never looked back, adding four more in each of the second and third periods.
Proctor outshot the Wolves 48-11. Olson and Jason Skube both had first-period goals. Olson scored again in the final frame.
In the opening game of the holiday tourney, Logan Loe gave Ely a 1-0 lead against Mora/Milaca, but the Mustangs took control of the contest, outshooting Ely 52-9 for an 8-1 win.
Head coach Ben Johnson, in his fifth season at Ely, spent most of last month in Italy as an assistant coach with the U.S. Deaflympic team, bringing home a gold medal. In the process, he made history as the first person to win a gold medal both as a player and a coach in the specialized hockey category.
The Timberwolves were scheduled to play at Siren, Wis., on Friday, Jan. 10 and will return home on Friday, Jan. 17, to host Red Lake Falls.