Photo by Mojo Hill
DEVILS LAKE — Weston Stromme is the leading returning goal scorer for Devils Lake.
His two goals were the difference Tuesday in the Firebirds’ season opener against Bottineau/Rugby (0-1) at Burdick Arena. They came out fast and held on to win, 3-2.
“It felt great getting the jitters out right away,” Stromme said. “Just need to keep going.”
A year after falling one win short of the state tournament, Devils Lake started the new campaign on the right note. The Firebirds are 1-0.
Two of their players, Weston Nelson and Jackson Schumacher, won AA and nine-man football state championships — respectively — less than two weeks ago.
“You see the football team, the work they put in — they were projected to be 1-8,” Devils Lake head hockey coach Landyn Swenson said. “They come out, they win a state championship. We’re projected to be seven [out of 10] in the EDC. I don’t think that’s where we’re at. If we can put three periods together every single day, we’re gonna put ourselves in an opportunity to make a state championship, and anything can happen from there.”
While the Firebirds did enough all-around to win Tuesday’s contest, it was a strong first period that fueled them to an eventual victory.
They had a ton of early opportunities. Devils Lake made 14 shots on goal in the first period compared to just two from B/R.
“That first period, we came out flying,” Swenson said. “That was one of our main goals. If you start the game hot, you’re gonna be flying around. Good things are gonna happen.”
At 8:38, after the Braves’ third penalty, Nelson scored a power play goal to get Devils Lake on the board. Nash Riggin and Schumacher had assists.
The Firebirds threatened heavily in the final few minutes of the first period. They just missed an open-goal opportunity, but Stromme found the net right afterwards to make it a 2-0 Devils Lake lead. Cayden McCarthy and Braxton Boline had assists.
B/R had two power plays in the second period, but it could only muster one shot during each.
The Braves’ Cooper Beckman scored during equal strength with 2:39 left in the period. Despite Devils Lake owning a massive 21-5 advantage in shots on goal, it became a tight 2-1 game.
B/R committed a roughing penalty 15.3 seconds before the end of the second period. The Braves got off an uncontested shot before time expired, but it missed, allowing Devils Lake to hold the lead after two periods.
Devils Lake only managed one shot on goal during the power play, most of which took place in the third period.
B/R played much more evenly with the Firebirds in the final 17 minutes. The Braves actually had more shots than Devils Lake in the third period, by a margin of 8-6.
With 9:46 to go — Devils Lake clinging to a one-goal lead — Schumacher was hit with a boarding penalty that sent him to the box for five minutes.
It didn’t seem to faze Stromme as he got down the ice.
“I’ll take him with about anyone in the state, going in on a one-on-one with the goalie,” Swenson said.
Stromme scored just 37 seconds into the power play. His assist came from his fellow Weston, Nelson.
“My buddy Weston gave me a pass, and it was a breakaway pass,” Stromme said. “And I snuck one five-hole.”
Devils Lake nearly survived the entire five-minute power play. But, leading 3-1, the Firebirds surrendered a goal by B/R’s Casey Freeman with just eight seconds left before they’d have full strength.
So the game wound up coming down to the final minutes.
Just 14 seconds after Schumacher returned from the penalty box, Devils Lake’s Thomas Connor was charged with tripping.
“We were putting ourselves in the penalty box. That’s never a good thing,” Swenson said. “At the end of the day, we’ve got to stay out of the penalty box and keep working.”
The Firebirds almost scored shorthanded again on a breakaway by Carson Hogness. They couldn’t pad their lead, but their defense held strong as time expired to squeak away with the one-goal win.
Overall, Devils Lake outshot B/R 27-13. Senior goalie Matt Graue made 13 saves.
“We had a little lull in the second period, but we played a great game overall,” Stromme said.
The Firebirds avenged a 3-2 loss to open last season against the same team.
Devils Lake was the preseason No. 7 in the EDC coaches poll. B/R was the preseason No. 6 in the WDA coaches poll.
This is just the beginning of a season that could last until Feb. 28 if things go right.
“We want to make state this year,” Stromme said. “We’re ready to go.”
Devils Lake travels to play Jamestown on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., then hosts Grand Forks Central in the EDC opener on Dec. 2.
