Proctor Journal

Peewee B1 coaches Mike Mercier, Matt Mercier, and Chris Mercier took the team to Detroit Lakes to participate in a 16 team tournament over the weekend of January 18th – 20th. The tournament included some of the top-ranked teams in the state according to “Let’s Play Hockey” newspaper.

1/18/08 – Game 1 vs Woodbury Blue

Proctor’s first game was Friday night against Woodbury Blue, ranked #13 by Let’s Play Hockey. Woodbury was up 2-0 until late in the first period, when David Misiak put the puck past the Woodbury goaltender on a shot from the point, ending the first period 2-1 Woodbury.

The Rails didn’t waste much time tying the game in the second period, as Jeremy Lopez scored 13 seconds into the period, assisted by Ty Rackliffe. Coleman Zywicki scored next for Proctor, giving them a 3-2 lead. By the end of the period, Woodbury tied it up at 3-3.

The third period was all Proctor, as they scored 4 goals to win 7-3. Lopez scored his second for the night, assisted by Coleman Zywicki. Then Alex Kiminki put one in with assists going to Christian Ripley and Cade Hella. Lopez then added two more, both assisted by Rackliffe. Goaltender Tyler Matetich had 19 saves for Proctor.

1/19/08 – Game 2 vs Detroit Lakes

Proctor’s second game, against Detroit Lakes, turned out to be a much easier one, as the Rails shut-out the Lakers 11-0. Scoring in the first period for Proctor were Jimmy Merling (assisted by Jeremy Lopez and Ty Rackliffe), Lopez (unassisted), Rackliffe (Merling), and Merling (unassisted).

Second period goals went to Merling (Lopez), Brodie Nordquist (unassisted), and Lopez (Rackliffe, Shane Gould).

Third period scoring included Coleman Zywicki (Jesse Cooke, David Misiak), Zach Smith (Christian Ripley, Cade Hella), Alex Kiminki (Cooke), and Zywicki (unassisted). Jake Mercier was in nets for Proctor in the first two periods, and Tyler Matetich in the third.

1/19/08 – Game 3 vs Wadena

The third game for the Rails was against Wadena, who is rated #1 in their district. Jimmy Merling scored the first goal for Proctor, followed by Coleman Zywicki. Wadena scored to put them within one, but Zywicki picked up another for the Rails, assisted by David Misiak. End of the first period was Proctor 3, Wadena 1.

Merling scored again, on an assist by Jeremy Lopez, less than a minute into the second period. Wadena came back with two goals, bringing the score to 4-3 in favor of Proctor. By the end of the second period, Zywicki got his hat-trick and Ty Rackliffe added a goal for the Rails.

There was no scoring for either team in the third period. Goaltender Tyler Matetich made 17 saves, as the Rails defeated Wadena by a score of 6-3, advancing them to the Championship game.

1/20/08 – Championship Game vs Stillwater

As of 1/17/08, “Let’s Play Hockey” newspaper had Stillwater ranked at #4 in the state of Minnesota. To get into the championship game, Stillwater beat Princeton, Sleepy Eye, and #8 ranked Burnsville. Though not ranked, the undefeated Rails were excited to play a team of this caliber. After starting line-up introductions and the Star Spangled Banner, the puck was dropped to start a close game that went back and forth, up and down the ice, one that could have gone either way right up until the end.

Stillwater was up 2-0 before Jimmy Merling put Proctor on the board, with assists going to Jeremy Lopez and Ty Rackliffe. Christian Ripley then scored for the Rails, assisted by David Misiak, tying the game at 2-2. Coleman Zywicki gave Proctor the lead 37 seconds later, on an assist by Jesse Cooke, ending the first period 3-2.

23 seconds into the second period, Merling picked up his second goal, again assisted by Lopez and Rackliffe. Stillwater scored the next three goals, edging them ahead of Proctor 5-4. Zywicki tied the game at 5-5 with an unassisted goal, then Lopez scored, assisted by Misiak, moving Proctor ahead again. At the end of the second period, the score was 6-5 Proctor.

Stillwater tied it in the third, but with 1:36 left in the game, Lopez scored, assisted by Rackliffe and Merling, to give the Rails a 7-6 lead. Stillwater pulled their goaltender and used the extra attacker to tie the game 7-7 with 43 seconds left, sending the game into overtime.

The sudden-death overtime was as exciting as one would expect in the championship game, with both teams battling for the win. With 1:28 left, it was over. Stillwater scored, giving the Rails their first loss for the season. Goaltender Jake Mercier had 26 saves for Proctor.

Pictures from the tournament will be online soon at www.proctorhockey.com. Proctor’s Peewee B1 team is now 16-1 overall.