Grand Forks Red River's unblemished record this year took on its biggest test of the season Tuesday night against rival Grand Forks Central. In the end, though, the Roughriders are still undefeated. Red River defenseman Nick Manske's goal through traffic in overtime lifted Red River to a 6-5 win over Central in a jam-packed Purpur Arena. Red River, the No. 1 team in the state, improved to 17-0. Central, which hadn't lost since the New Year, dropped to 13-5-1. The No. 3-ranked Knights, who lost for the first time in 10 games, held two two-goal leads.
The Knights led 5-3 with 7 minutes, 31 seconds left in the third period after Boe Bjorge scored five hole on Red river goalie Jacob Mehlhoff. But the Riders responded quickly. Jacob Knecht cut the lead to 5-4 with a snipe from the slot just 22 seconds after Bjorge's goal. Red River's Mitch Soderberg sent the game to overtime with a game-tying goal with 3:26 remaining. That set up the goal for Manske, whose slap shot found its way past Central freshman goalie Kaleb Johnson, who finished with 28 saves. "(Manske's goal) seemed like it had eyes," Central coach Grant Paranica said. "We had bodies in front and had a winger sliding to block it." It was Manske's second goal of the year. "I took the hardest shot I could, and it found its way home," said Manske, who scored at 2:19 of the eight-minute overtime. "I saw someone lay down in front of me, and I just wanted to get it in." Manske's goal came moments after Central's Grant Johnson, who finished with a goal and two assists, had a chance in front of Mehlhoff. "We could've won in overtime, but (Red River) had its chance and they capitalized," Paranica said. "I thought we played real well, and it was a good high school hockey game." Central received second-period goals from Zach Murphy and Nick Lund. Tyrese Murph and Bjorge scored for the Knights in the third. "That's a top team in the state, and we were right there with them," Paranica said. "We were up two with them. I think we can play at that level." Red River coach Bill Chase credited his senior leadership for a calming influence on the bench. The Riders trailed 1-0 after the first period on a goal by Central's Johnson. Red River trailed 3-2 after the second, but Jacob Knecht scored one of his two goals with less than five seconds left in the frame to give his team momentum heading to the second intermission. "They kept coming at us," Chase said. "After the first, our heads were hanging. After the second, all of a sudden they weren't hanging. Our seniors didn't panic. They kept calm and kept going. They felt that whatever happens happens, but let's give them a battle." Red River was led by Knecht's two goals, while Max Miller, Mason Salquist, Soderberg and Manske also scored. The Roughriders have scored at least four goals in every game this season. "It was more packed than I've seen in a long time," Chase said of the atmosphere at Purpur. "Both teams fed off that and appreciated it."Grand Forks Red River's unblemished record this year took on its biggest test of the season Tuesday night against rival Grand Forks Central.In the end, though, the Roughriders are still undefeated.Red River defenseman Nick Manske's goal through traffic in overtime lifted Red River to a 6-5 win over Central in a jam-packed Purpur Arena.Red River, the No. 1 team in the state, improved to 17-0. Central, which hadn't lost since the New Year, dropped to 13-5-1.The No. 3-ranked Knights, who lost for the first time in 10 games, held two two-goal leads.
The Knights led 5-3 with 7 minutes, 31 seconds left in the third period after Boe Bjorge scored five hole on Red river goalie Jacob Mehlhoff.But the Riders responded quickly. Jacob Knecht cut the lead to 5-4 with a snipe from the slot just 22 seconds after Bjorge's goal.Red River's Mitch Soderberg sent the game to overtime with a game-tying goal with 3:26 remaining.That set up the goal for Manske, whose slap shot found its way past Central freshman goalie Kaleb Johnson, who finished with 28 saves."(Manske's goal) seemed like it had eyes," Central coach Grant Paranica said. "We had bodies in front and had a winger sliding to block it."It was Manske's second goal of the year."I took the hardest shot I could, and it found its way home," said Manske, who scored at 2:19 of the eight-minute overtime. "I saw someone lay down in front of me, and I just wanted to get it in."Manske's goal came moments after Central's Grant Johnson, who finished with a goal and two assists, had a chance in front of Mehlhoff."We could've won in overtime, but (Red River) had its chance and they capitalized," Paranica said. "I thought we played real well, and it was a good high school hockey game."Central received second-period goals from Zach Murphy and Nick Lund. Tyrese Murph and Bjorge scored for the Knights in the third."That's a top team in the state, and we were right there with them," Paranica said. "We were up two with them. I think we can play at that level."Red River coach Bill Chase credited his senior leadership for a calming influence on the bench.The Riders trailed 1-0 after the first period on a goal by Central's Johnson. Red River trailed 3-2 after the second, but Jacob Knecht scored one of his two goals with less than five seconds left in the frame to give his team momentum heading to the second intermission."They kept coming at us," Chase said. "After the first, our heads were hanging. After the second, all of a sudden they weren't hanging. Our seniors didn't panic. They kept calm and kept going. They felt that whatever happens happens, but let's give them a battle."Red River was led by Knecht's two goals, while Max Miller, Mason Salquist, Soderberg and Manske also scored. The Roughriders have scored at least four goals in every game this season."It was more packed than I've seen in a long time," Chase said of the atmosphere at Purpur. "Both teams fed off that and appreciated it."
