Grand Forks Central top line forward Cole Hanson knows exactly what his line's plus-minus was last weekend in the Knights' only one-goal game of the year-an overtime victory over rival Grand Forks Red River.
"We felt like as leaders and seniors we let our team down by not getting on the board," Hanson said of the 4-3 game. "We were out there for two goals (against), too. It was a big pride factor in this game."
The Knights' top unit certainly looked motivated Thursday night against East Grand Forks Senior High.
Central's top line accounted for seven goals in an 8-1 win over the Green Wave at Purpur Arena-securing the Gambucci Cup for the third consecutive season.
Central improved to 16-0-0, outscoring opponents this season 134-14.
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East Grand Forks dropped to 15-5-0.
Kyler Briske and Lucas Kanta each had a hat trick, while Hanson had a goal and five assists.
"That top line of Central is as good as anybody we've seen or will probably see all year," East Grand Forks coach Tyler Palmiscno said. "They were ready from the drop of the puck, and we weren't and it snowballed from there."
Briske, who bumped his season goal total to 10, scored just 41 seconds into the game when a seemingly harmless Hunter Bjorge shot from the blue line wasn't gloved cleanly by East Grand Forks goalie Tucker Brown and Briske was there to chip it in the net.
"He's a really good player," Hanson said of Briske. "He hasn't been getting the attention he deserves this year from the media, which he should but he's not. It's great for him to get on the board a few times."
Briske and Kanta each scored twice in the first period.
"They've been unstoppable so far," Central coach Grant Paranica said of his top line. "They work well together and work the boards so well. They do all the right things. The chemistry they have is something special."
East Grand Forks' lone goal came from Cooper Holm to make it 5-1 at 5:00 of the second period. Green Wave forward Kole Chupka centered a pass from behind the net that deflected to Holm, who beat Central goalie Aaron Nielsen (16 saves).
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Brown stopped 11 shots before giving way to backup Hunter Twite midway through the second period. Twite stopped 17 of 19 shots.
The Knights' lone goal from outside the top line came from Parker Stroh at 6:57 of the second period.
Central went on to win by at least seven goals for the ninth time this year.
GF Central 8,
EGF Senior High 1
First period-1. GFC, Kyler Briske (Hunter Bjorge, Hanson) :41; 2. GFC, Lucas Kanta (Cole Hanson) 8:53; 3. GFC, Kanta (Briske, Hanson) 12:41; 4. GFC, Briske (Kanta, Hanson) 16:17
Second period-5. GFC, Hanson (Kanta, Tucker Hodgson) 2:52; 6. EGF, Cooper Holm (Kole Chupka) 5:00; 7. GFC, Briske 6:11; 8. GFC, Parker Stroh (William Lawson-Body) 6:57
Third period-9. GFC, Kanta (Hanson, Bjorge) 2:39
Goalie saves-EGF: Tucker Brown 9-2-x-11, Hunter Twite x-6-11-17; GFC: Aaron Nielsen 5-7-4-16
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