Last night, the Pines boys hockey team took on school rival Lakeland at home in the historic Dome. The two schools have been rivals for a long time, especially in hockey.

Pines entered the game coming off of a 10-1 win over Medford on Tuesday, while Lakeland had a 2-7 loss vs Stevens Point Pacelli last Saturday. It took both teams a few minutes to get their feet under them, but once the first goal was scored, the wheels started rolling for Pines.

Lakeland found themselves in the penalty box early in the game, giving Pines their first of 7 power play opportunities of the night. Colton Raymond shot low on the left side of Jay Sosnoski, giving the Eagles an early lead 3 minutes into the game. Noah Wittkopf and Connor Cox helped get the puck into the zone and each took shots against the goalie, earning them assists on the play.

Noah Wittkopf was sent to the box for elbowing just over halfway into the period, forcing Pines to send out their penalty kill unit. Joe Maillette gained control of the puck and had a breakaway, going one on one versus Sosnoski and scoring a shorthanded, unassisted goal.

The scoreboard in the second period saw lots of action, just not with any goals being added to the tallies. Seven penalties were assessed by the referees in the duration of the period.

Pines served a bench penalty for having too many men on the ice, followed by coincidental roughing minors and a second roughing minor assessed to Lakeland all at the same time. Both teams had an additional penalty as well.

It was five minutes into the third period of the game before another goal was scored, twenty eight minutes after the last goal was recorded. Colton Raymond came down the ice and shot high on the right side of the net, again with help from Noah Wittkopf.

Just twenty seconds later, Pines’ top line consisting of Nick Dean, Noah Wittkopf and Colton Raymond saw themselves celebrating once again. Nick Dean came storming down the ice and fired the puck into the back of the net, giving Pines a 4-0 lead.

Carson Cox, Bailey Ramesh, and Ryon Ritzer drove the puck to the Lakeland net with Carson Cox jabbing the puck at the goalie numerous times. The puck appeared to have been saved by Sosnoski, but Lukas Sergent got the puck from him and Ryon Ritzer managed to squeeze the puck past the goalie and into the net to score Pines their 5th goal of the night.

Connor Cox notched a goal by scoring bar-down halfway through the period and sent the game into running time. The Pines student section erupted in cheer at the play as it had been between the two Cox brothers, Connor and Carson, a long running joke at the school. Carson didn’t record an official assist on the play, the assists instead going to Bailey Ramesh and Ryon Ritzer.

The Eagles found themselves on the penalty kill once again after an interference penalty against Lukas Sergent towards the end of the game. Bailey Ramesh and Nick Dean were able to set up Connor Cox in front of the net, Pines’ second shorthanded goal of the night.

Northland Pines effectively shut out Lakeland 7-0, and outshot them 55-12. The Eagles improve to 5-2 in Great Northern Conference play and 5-7-1 overall. Pines will host Fond du Lac Springs on Saturday at 3pm in the Dome for a non-conference matchup.