North Wright County Ties Bison, Earns Share of Conference Crown

The 2011-2012 North Wright County RiverHawks were following in the skates of some big-time players, and one big-time hockey team.

That much they knew.

But Tuesday night, in Monticello, the girls were able to blaze their own trail, doing something last year's Section 8-2A Champions and first-ever state qualifiers couldn't–win a Mississippi 8 Conference championship.

"Yeah. That's was one of our goals, to get that back into our lockeroom," said an exhausted Amanda Koep, North Wright County goaltender, said. "To do it tonight is a great feeling."

The Hawks overcame a slow start and skated to a 2-2 tie with Buffalo, who was in second place and needed a road win to overtake North Wright County (Monticello, Annandale and St. Michael-Albertville co-op) for first place. The Hawks had a 1-0 win in hand over the visitors.

So when Koep was able to turn away two shots in overtime in the final moments, the squad knew it had a title, or at least a portion of it, wrapped up.

"We've just come together at the right time," said forward Maddi Sjelin of St. Michael-Albertville. "I think, after the holiday break, we've played really well."

That's an understatment. Since dropping, uncharacteristically, three games in a row, Tim Hanson's club is 7-0-2, with wins over Orono and Wayzata in that stretch.

"Earlier in the season you could see teams beating us to free pucks and outskating us. You're not seeing that anymore. The girls have picked up the effort and it's paying off," Hanson said.

Tuesday night, Buffalo took it to NWC early, outshooting the Hawks 13-12 in the opening period, but only getting a one-goal lead.

They would take a 2-1 lead in the third, as well.

"I thought we did well battling back," Koep said. "We believe in each other. We know our team and waht we can do."

Annie Boeckers had the equalizer in the second to make it 1-1, after the Bison made it 2-1, Hallie Gudmundson answered with a power play goal in the late going to tie it up.

The Bison, to their credit, got a huge night from Lindsey Hartfiel, who stopped 44 shots. Hartfiel "stood on her head" in the late third period and overtime, stopping several of the Hawks' odd-skater rushes and turning back shots.

Koep, who sat out the first rivalry game, was equally as big, stopping 32 of 34 shots.

"They didn't get any easy ones. Amanda has been so solid lately, and that's what we were hoping for. She's not fighting the puck. She's confident, and she's seeing things better."

There's still more work to do. NWC has three games left, i Tuesday, Jan. 31, they host Hutchinson, before heading up to Moorhead for a huge Section 8 rivalry game Thursday, Feb. 2.

The season wraps with Cambridge coming to Albertville Friday, Feb. 3.

"It's a tough stretch yet. We're not done. We still want that No. 1 seed in the section and to do that we'll have to beat Moorhead up there. That will be a tough game on a Thursday night with a long drive," Hanson said. "And then to return home Friday for senior night and those girls' last game at STMA, it's going to be a long week."

For a complete game summary of the Buffalo tie, the game sheet is posted here.