MANKATO, Minn. — Senior forward Will Schumacher finished off a hat trick with a goal at the final buzzer to lead the Prior Lake Lakers to a 7-1 win over the East Grand Forks Green Wave on Saturday afternoon at Blakeslee Stadium. Leading 2-1 after the opening period, the Lakers scored five unanswered goals to seal the victory.
Alex Bump, a senior forward and University of Vermont commit who has also played for the Omaha Lancers in the USHL this season, added a goal and four assists for Prior Lake.
The game was played outdoors as part of the Hockey Day Minnesota festivities in Mankato.
East Grand Forks’ only goal came with 2:42 remaining in the first period.
Sam Schumacher tapped home a feed from Jaxon Panzer to cut the lead to 2-1.
Panzer grabbed the puck at center ice, skated in and sent a backhanded pass to Schumacher who was wide open in front of the net.
East Grand Forks dropped to 5-10-0 with the loss. Prior Lake improved to 9-8.
Hockey Day in Minnesota began with a Class AA girls game between Andover and Edina, which was followed by the Green Wave-Prior Lake contest.
Minnesota State, the host, downed St. Thomas 7-1 in the college game of the day while the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks wrapped up the day with a game at the Xcel Energy Center.
On Sunday, Minnesota State was scheduled to play St. Thomas in a women’s game at Blakeslee Field.
1/18: Fans enjoy the fires during Hockey Day Minnesota Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
2/18: East Grand Forks fans cheer for their team during the second period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
3/18: East Grand Forks players get ready for their game against Prior Lake Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
4/18: Fans enjoy the game during Hockey Day Minnesota Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
5/18: against East Grand Forks 18 clears the puck from the goal against Prior Lake during the first period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
6/18: East Grand Forks goalie Chase Mero (1) catches a shot by Prior Lake forward Parker Boyce (20) during the first period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
7/18: Prior Lake defenseman Justin Simonson (5) and East Grand Forks forward Caleb Schmiedeberg (8) chase the puck during the first period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
8/18: East Grand Forks forward Caleb Schmiedeberg (8) battles Prior Lake forward Will Schumacher (24) for the puck during the first period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
9/18: East Grand Forks defenseman Sam Schumacher (5) scores on Prior Lake goalie Trevor Boschee (1) during the first period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
10/18: East Grand Forks forward Grady Magner (18) sends the puck past Prior Lake defenseman Will Emerson (22) during the first period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
11/18: East Grand Forks forward Seth Aaker (27) carries the puck against Prior Lake during the second period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
12/18: East Grand Forks forward Landon Jamieson (7) makes a pass against Prior Lake during the second period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
13/18: East Grand Forks forward Landon Jamieson (7) make a pass against Prior Lake forward Sam Rice (9) during the second period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
14/18: East Grand Forks forward Jaksen Panzer (17) takes a shot at Prior Lake goalie Trevor Boschee (1) during the first period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato.
15/18: against East Grand Forks 18 clears the puck from the goal against Prior Lake during the first period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato.
16/18: Prior Lake defenseman Justin Simonson (5) and East Grand Forks forward Caleb Schmiedeberg (8) chase the puck during the first period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato.
17/18: Prior Lake forward Joseph Rice (21) celebrates a goal against East Grand Forks during the second period Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
18/18: Fans enjoy activities during Hockey Day Minnesota Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato. Jason Wachter / The Rink Live
Wayne Nelson is the sports editor at the Herald.
He has been with the Grand Forks Herald since 1995, serving as the UND football and basketball beat writer as well as serving as the sports editor.
He is a UND graduate and has been writing sports since the late 1970s.
Follow him on Twitter @waynenelsongf. You can reach him at
(701) 780-1268 or
wnelson@gfherald.com.
