Northland Pines opened their 2015-2016 season with a big 3-1 win over the DC Everest Evergreens. The two opponents played physical and aggressive the entire game and it certainly showed on the score sheets: fifteen combined penalties were served throughout the game. 

Both teams came out strong but the Eagles were first on the scoreboard after DC Everest’s JJ Berdal drew the first penalty for holding. Jacob Czarapata and Ryon Ritzer drove the puck to the net before Joe Maillette poked the puck past Michael Janke to give the Eagles an early lead within the first two minutes. 

Two sets of coincidental minors occurred before another goal was scored, this time by the visiting Evergreens. Mathew Janke and Seth Jaglinski teamed up for the lone DC Everest goal  in the first period.

Colton Raymond scored his first goal of the night with just over a minute remaining in the first period. Raymond was set up by line mates and fellow seniors Nick Dean and Noah Wittkopf. Pines led 2-1 going into the second period. 

Neither team managed to score a goal on Ethan Polich or Janke in the second period despite great efforts. Jacob Czarapata, Sammy Spencer and Tucker Wittkopf drew penalties for Pines while Berdal was the only player from DC Everest sent to the penalty box during the second period. 

Three freshmen on Pines’ roster saw consistent ice time in their first varsity game: Jack Rhode, Tucker Wittkopf and Tyler Hunt. Rhode had several goal opportunities throughout the game including a shot that bounced off of the pipe in the third period. 

Mike Sackmann from DC Everest was assessed a checking from behind major penalty with under six minutes to play, sending the Eagles on a power play for almost the remainder of the game. With thirty seconds before the penalty would expire, Connor Cox ripped a shot from the outer edge of the circles to Colton Raymond for Raymond’s second goal of the night. 

Northland Pines outshot DC Everest 29-15 throughout the game that awarded them their first victory of the season. Next up for the Eagles is Tomahawk on December 1st as they open up Great Northern Conference play followed by a trip to Waupaca on December 4th for their first road game. 

This article and its content were provided by the students at NP Eagle Eye News, a student journalism project of the Northland Pines School District. You can follow them on Twitter @NPEagleEyeNews.