Grafton-Park River coach Scott Petersen said the Spoilers weren't getting enough respect. He said the team wanted to prove a point in the first period.
Message received.
The No. 3 Spoilers jumped on No. 2 West Fargo from the onset Friday night as the Spoilers opened up an early big lead in advancing to the region championship for the first time since 2008.
Cole Rehovsky's two first-period goals, including one 66 seconds into the opening frame, pushed the Spoilers to a 4-0 victory over the Packers in an East Region semifinal at Purpur Arena.
"Grafton wanted it more than us," West Fargo co-coach Tim Capouch said. "Grafton came out strong and they played a really good game."
ADVERTISEMENT
Rehovsky, a sophomore forward, scored his seventh and eighth goals of the season at 1:06 and 15:40 to bookend the first period. His second goal came on a hard shot from just inside the blue line.
"We wanted to come out hard and punch our ticket to the state tournament," Rehovsky said. "We know this was a big game."
The Spoilers didn't relent in the second. Only 21 seconds into the middle period, Austin Campbell, who had a hat trick in the region quarterfinals, made it 3-0 with a rebound at the doorstep.
Paul Novak pushed the lead to 4-0 at 7:18 of the second. Novak's initial shot from deep in the slot kicked out far off a save attempt by West Fargo goalie Cameron Holland. Novak hit home the weak rebound.
Novak's tally chased Holland, who voiced his displeasure with the decision as he skated to the Packer bench.
"We wanted to come out hard and keep rolling all the way through," Rehovsky said. "We're coming together at the end of the year. All of our lines are jelling."
Holland finished with 10 saves before giving way to Josh Hanson, who made six stops.
"Our kids were really focused and prepared," Petersen said. "This is playoff time and this is when you put the pieces together. We're improving every day. It's hard to say if we're playing our best hockey right now, but we're getting smarter shift by shift."
ADVERTISEMENT
Grafton goalie Zach Suda stopped all 21 shots for the shutout.
The Spoilers, who won for the sixth time in their last seven games, advance to the region championship at 7:30 p.m. tonight versus top-seeded Grand Forks Red River.
West Fargo will play Devils Lake in a state-qualifying game at 5 p.m.
"We're going to have to show up and play as a team," Capouch said.
