by Steve Huglen

The Roseau Rams traveled south to challenge two old rivals on their home ice December 6-7. The Rams tied North Wright County (NWC) 4-4 in an exciting overtime game. NWC is a past and very recent close rival of the Rams. It was the #3 seed River Hawks that knocked off the #2 seed Rams in last season’s heartbreaking 8AA semi-final game in Roseau in February. The River Hawks feature five players that have either signed Division I college letters of intent or made commitments and they returned the bulk of their team from last season that came within a goal of winning 8AA. They also added a DI forward in Maddie Skelton (signed with U of Vermont) who transferred in from Cambridge. NWC was moved into Section 7AA after last season and so there will be no rematch in the playoffs this year.

The Rams whirlwind trip next took them to the home of the Buffalo Bison for a Saturday afternoon 2:00 pm game. The Bison would claim a tough 4-3 section win on this day. There is also some interesting history the Rams have with the Bison as well. Back in 2014, Roseau defeated Buffalo 3-0 in the Section 8AA championship game in Bemidji to advance to the state tournament. But in 2015, the Bison returned the favor by knocking off the Rams in Brainerd by a 4-2 margin. And then in 2016, the two rivals met again in the playoffs, this time in the semi-finals at the Rams Center. In that game, Buffalo held a 2-0 lead heading into the 3rd period before the Rams, facing elimination, exploded for 5 straight goals to take a 5-2 win which ended the Bison season instead.

ROSEAU 4

NORTH WRIGHT

COUNTY 4

@ MONTICELLO 12/6/19

This overtime game had the intensity and drama of a section playoff game. By the time it was done, the Rams outshot the River Hawks 49-34, including 11-6 in OT. There was plenty of back and in forth in this game. NWC carried a 1-0 lead into the 2nd period and then struck again just 41 seconds into the 2nd period to lead the Rams 2-0.

Celine Stroot then cut the lead to 2-1 with an even strength goal assisted by Mariah Huglen. The Rams would then score two more consecutive goals to take a 3-2 lead in the middle period. Anika Stoskopf scored from Kate Helgeson and then Kate scored the go ahead goal from her sister Sophie and Kayla Santl. With 1:10 left in the 2nd period, NWC tied it with their 3rd power play goal of the game and 2nd goal of the game by Maddy Skelton.

The teams traded goals in the 3rd period. The Rams got a power play goal of their own to go up 4-3 when Mariah Huglen scored with an assist to Anika Stoskopf. The River Hawks made it 4-4 with 6 minutes to play with an even strength goal and this game would go into overtime. Roseau outshot NWC 11-6 in the extra 8 minute period but neither team could score and the final ended 4-4. It was a good game between two good and competitive rivals.

Josie Johnson was in goal for Roseau and stopped 30 of 34 shots. Anna LaRose was the goalie for NWC and made 45 saves on 49 Roseau shots.

BUFFALO 4 ROSEAU 3 @ Buffalo 12/7/19

After playing a tough and emotional overtime game in Monticello on Friday night, the Rams were back on the ice in Buffalo for a 2 pm face-off with the Bison in an 8AA game. This one ended up with a disappointing result on the score board as Roseau came up one goal short before getting back on the yellow school bus and heading back up north.

Buffalo’s star Jada Habisch scored an unassisted goal late in the 1st period to make it 1-0. The Rams answered in the 2nd period with three straight goals to grab a 3-1 lead before Habisch scored again to make it 3-2 Rams after two periods. Roseau’s goals in the period came from Memphis Mertens with assists to Celine Stroot and Olivia Urness. Then it was Anika Stoskopf scoring from Kate Helgeson and Celine before Sophie Helgeson scored an unassisted goal off a long rush down the ice.

The Rams had a tough 14 seconds in the 3rd period where things got away. Buffalo tied it 3-3 8:20 into the period and then came right back 8:34 into the period to score what would end up being the game winner. Roseau had 2 penalties in the game and Buffalo had just 1. The Rams outshot the Bison by a 30-18 mark.

Justine Vonasek was between the pipes for Roseau and made 14 saves on 18 shots. Isabel Varner had 27 saves on 30 shots for Buffalo. The loss dropped the Rams 8AA record to 1-1 on the season.

by Steve Huglen

The Roseau Rams traveled south to challenge two old rivals on their home ice December 6-7. The Rams tied North Wright County (NWC) 4-4 in an exciting overtime game. NWC is a past and very recent close rival of the Rams. It was the #3 seed River Hawks that knocked off the #2 seed Rams in last season’s heartbreaking 8AA semi-final game in Roseau in February. The River Hawks feature five players that have either signed Division I college letters of intent or made commitments and they returned the bulk of their team from last season that came within a goal of winning 8AA. They also added a DI forward in Maddie Skelton (signed with U of Vermont) who transferred in from Cambridge. NWC was moved into Section 7AA after last season and so there will be no rematch in the playoffs this year.

The Rams whirlwind trip next took them to the home of the Buffalo Bison for a Saturday afternoon 2:00 pm game. The Bison would claim a tough 4-3 section win on this day. There is also some interesting history the Rams have with the Bison as well. Back in 2014, Roseau defeated Buffalo 3-0 in the Section 8AA championship game in Bemidji to advance to the state tournament. But in 2015, the Bison returned the favor by knocking off the Rams in Brainerd by a 4-2 margin. And then in 2016, the two rivals met again in the playoffs, this time in the semi-finals at the Rams Center. In that game, Buffalo held a 2-0 lead heading into the 3rd period before the Rams, facing elimination, exploded for 5 straight goals to take a 5-2 win which ended the Bison season instead.

ROSEAU 4

NORTH WRIGHT

COUNTY 4

@ MONTICELLO 12/6/19

This overtime game had the intensity and drama of a section playoff game. By the time it was done, the Rams outshot the River Hawks 49-34, including 11-6 in OT. There was plenty of back and in forth in this game. NWC carried a 1-0 lead into the 2nd period and then struck again just 41 seconds into the 2nd period to lead the Rams 2-0.

Celine Stroot then cut the lead to 2-1 with an even strength goal assisted by Mariah Huglen. The Rams would then score two more consecutive goals to take a 3-2 lead in the middle period. Anika Stoskopf scored from Kate Helgeson and then Kate scored the go ahead goal from her sister Sophie and Kayla Santl. With 1:10 left in the 2nd period, NWC tied it with their 3rd power play goal of the game and 2nd goal of the game by Maddy Skelton.

The teams traded goals in the 3rd period. The Rams got a power play goal of their own to go up 4-3 when Mariah Huglen scored with an assist to Anika Stoskopf. The River Hawks made it 4-4 with 6 minutes to play with an even strength goal and this game would go into overtime. Roseau outshot NWC 11-6 in the extra 8 minute period but neither team could score and the final ended 4-4. It was a good game between two good and competitive rivals.

Josie Johnson was in goal for Roseau and stopped 30 of 34 shots. Anna LaRose was the goalie for NWC and made 45 saves on 49 Roseau shots.

BUFFALO 4 ROSEAU 3 @ Buffalo 12/7/19

After playing a tough and emotional overtime game in Monticello on Friday night, the Rams were back on the ice in Buffalo for a 2 pm face-off with the Bison in an 8AA game. This one ended up with a disappointing result on the score board as Roseau came up one goal short before getting back on the yellow school bus and heading back up north.

Buffalo’s star Jada Habisch scored an unassisted goal late in the 1st period to make it 1-0. The Rams answered in the 2nd period with three straight goals to grab a 3-1 lead before Habisch scored again to make it 3-2 Rams after two periods. Roseau’s goals in the period came from Memphis Mertens with assists to Celine Stroot and Olivia Urness. Then it was Anika Stoskopf scoring from Kate Helgeson and Celine before Sophie Helgeson scored an unassisted goal off a long rush down the ice.

The Rams had a tough 14 seconds in the 3rd period where things got away. Buffalo tied it 3-3 8:20 into the period and then came right back 8:34 into the period to score what would end up being the game winner. Roseau had 2 penalties in the game and Buffalo had just 1. The Rams outshot the Bison by a 30-18 mark.

Justine Vonasek was between the pipes for Roseau and made 14 saves on 18 shots. Isabel Varner had 27 saves on 30 shots for Buffalo. The loss dropped the Rams 8AA record to 1-1 on the season.

Roseau Bantam VFW AA

Submitted by Bantam AA The Bantam VFW AA’s had a slower than normal week this week. After coming out of our home tournament with a 3-1 record they traveled to TRF to face the Prowlers. Thief River had a short bench but played tough with it being 3-2 late in the 3rd. Roseau scored an empty netter to win the game 4-2. Saturday they went to EGF. Roseau jumped out to an early lead by capitalizing on some early opportunities to go ahead 3-0. Dillon Johnson was solid in net and kept Roseau in the game despite being outshot. EGF scored a couple in the second to narrow the gap but Roseau hung on to win the game 3-2. The Bantams are now off for a couple weeks over the holiday break and will play East Grand Forks again in Roseau on Sunday Dec 29th.

Roseau 10UA Weekend

Submitted by Roseau 10UA 10UA had a district game this weekend against Crookston at the Rams Center. Roseau 10UA easily won by a score of 13-0 with a shutout for Madalyn Lisell. Goal scores were Tatum Preteau (4), Ella Ketring (2), Clara Baumgartner (2), Launa Ullman, Megan Skoglund, Brooke Broten, Madelyn Magnusson and Maryn Byfuglien (1). The girls head to Bemidji on Dec 21st.