The Devils Lake boys’ hockey team fell 7-4 to Fargo North on Monday, Jan. 12. (Photo by Mojo Hill)
DEVILS LAKE — For the first time this season, Devils Lake boys’ hockey has lost two games in a row.
A largely successful campaign to this point took a small step backwards Monday, as the Firebirds (7-4, 4-3) fell 7-4 to Fargo North (8-4, 4-4) at Burdick Arena.
“We’ve gone through a lot this year with injuries, people out for other situations,” Devils Lake head coach Landyn Swenson said. “But at the end of the day, we’ve still got to come, next guy up, and go from here.”
One of those injuries is senior goalie Matt Graue.
Sophomore Devin Kempel has filled in nicely, though, with a save percentage just under 90% since he took over. He made 26 saves in 32 opportunities on Monday.
Four goals in the second period, including two about a minute apart, ultimately doomed Devils Lake after taking a 1-0 lead.
“We didn’t come ready to play in the first two periods,” Swenson said. “I thought our third period was a lot better after making a couple changes. But we had our opportunities and just didn’t capitalize at the right times.”
Each team wasted a power play in the first period. Devils Lake had a breakaway around the middle of the period but couldn’t get a clean handle on the puck.
It was still scoreless with slightly under 3:00 on the clock. Kempel made a diving save, and the Firebirds’ defense recovered quickly and got it down the other end.
Weston Stromme passed the puck in the middle to Hayden Volk, who swung full-strength and made a long-range shot into the net. Volk celebrated as his teammates swarmed him by the glass.
Stromme added to his team-high point total with the assist. Devils Lake, despite just three shots on goal in the first period, went up 1-0.
Kempel made nine saves in the opening period.
“He’s stepped up as a young kid put in that situation,” Swenson said of Kempel.
The Spartans tied it during a power play in the second period. After attacking the goal relentlessly, including a shot that dinked off the post, one finally went in — off the stick of Holden Erbele — with 43 seconds left in the power play.
Devils Lake created more opportunities for itself after the first period. The Firebirds managed 20 shots on goal between the final two periods.
“It just comes down to work ethic,” Swenson said. “When you’re working hard, you’re going to create your own opportunities.”
The Spartans, though, took a 2-1 lead with 4:59 left in the second period. Henry Wuitschick scored with the help of two assists.
Devils Lake cleared a couple more close ones from its defensive zone. Nash Riggin found himself in a breakaway — and he capitalized, tying it at the 2:37 mark.
Then, it took precisely 19 seconds for Fargo North to untie it.
Leyton Olson made the Firebirds’ celebration short-lived. Another minute and 13 seconds later, Ethan Ness scored after Kempel had deflected one a moment earlier.
The two goals, scored rapidly in succession, sent Devils Lake to the locker room for the final period break facing a 4-2 deficit.
Devils Lake had a 1:33 power play to start the third period, carried over from before the break. The Firebirds missed a few chances — before the ever-reliable Stromme found the net with 15 seconds left in the power play. Jackson Schumacher and Thomas Connor had assists.
Still down by a goal, Kempel made a couple of nice saves during a North power play. The Firebirds had an uncontested shot saved. Riggin shot another one too high. The Firebirds battled in a cluster at the net but couldn’t achieve the elusive tying goal.
With 5:24 left, Stromme went to the penalty box for holding. Nine seconds later, Andrew Schiltz placed one perfectly in the corner of the net to give North a two-goal cushion, 5-3.
Another nine seconds thereafter, Kempel tried to trap a soft shot heading in his direction. But it deflected off of him, then slid past the goal line.
Devils Lake did get one goal back, making the previous one loom larger. Volk scored his second goal of the game with 2:02 left, assisted by Jamison Hanson.
Three of Devils Lake’s goals were scored by underclassmen, with the freshman Volk and sophomore Riggin. Volk now has six goals on the season, while Riggin has five.
“Young kids coming up,” Swenson said. “They put the work in in the offseason. They play hockey all year round. So them and their parents, they put a lot of work into that. And it shows on a daily basis.”
Down 6-4, the Firebirds played with an empty net over the final couple minutes. They continued to attack the offensive zone. But North got it out with 48.9 seconds on the clock and scored an empty-net goal, putting the final dagger on the board.
The Firebirds won’t get much time to digest their loss. They’ll head down to Fargo on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after this one ended, to play the same Fargo North team at John E. Coliseum.
“We’re going to not dwell on it overnight,” Swenson said. “And we’re going to come back ready to go tomorrow.”
Swenson added that he expects Graue to be healthy for Tuesday’s contest.
“[Kempel]’s played great. We’re not going to take that away from him,” Swenson said. “And now it’s just a battle from here on out.”
After taking on the Spartans again Tuesday, Devils Lake returns home Thursday to face seventh-place Fargo Shanley.
