HDM 2018: Moorhead downs Centennial in overtime thriller

ST. CLOUD --The final outdoor game at Lake George required 7:34 of extra time, but the Moorhead Spuds would skate away with a win against the Centennial Cougars.
Perhaps fans who were watching began to have flashbacks to the University of Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State University women's game earlier in the day -- a game that the Huskies would ultimately win in the sixth round of a shootout. However, Moorhead senior forward Carter Randklev would ensure that didn't happen again.

As the clock trickled down - there were only 25.8 seconds remaining in the overtime period -- Randklev launched the puck past Centennial's goalie, Bryce Crowley. Those in the stands wearing orange erupted, and the players threw themselves into a joyful hug out on the ice.
"I knew the overtime was getting down to the end of it and I just kind of sat out front hoping that the puck would hopefully get thrown out to me and it did," Randklev said. "From there I have no choice but to score because, for my teammates and my community, that's what I try to do for them."

It certainly wasn't a runaway game for the 13th-ranked Spuds (12-6-0), although after the first period it looked like it might be. Cole O'Connell scored 4:08 into the game, and Kyler Kleven added another tally at 10:42 of the first. Moorhead took a two-goal lead into the first intermission and certainly looked like the stronger team.
Centennial came out firing in the second period, though, and quickly dug themselves out of the hole. William Francis scored a short-handed goal 2:42 into the middle stanza, then Hayden Brickner picked up a power-play goal just over five minutes later.
"That's a very good team that we played against, they did an outstanding job of making it tough on us especially in that middle period," said Moorhead coach Jon Ammerman. "They took advantage of their opportunities."
"After the first period we kind of felt like we were a little comfortable," agreed Randklev. "In the second period I think we kind of let up a little bit when we shouldn't have and they took advantage of that because that's what good teams are going to do."
The third period would solve nothing, and it started to seem as if overtime wouldn't either. Of course, that's when Randklev took his team - and community - on his shoulders. The senior has three goals in his past three games, on each of his last three shots.
Two of them were game-winners.
Long after the final buzzer had faded, there were still hundreds of Moorhead faithful on the ice. Families, friends, and well-wishers flooded onto the rink to celebrate with the team, taking photos and making memories on an unforgettable Hockey Day.
While the Cougars and their fans undoubtedly wish they could have covered the ice in red rather than orange, their battle back demonstrated why they too are one of the best teams in Minnesota; with a 10-4-3 record, Centennial is ranked eighth in Class AA.
"Our guys played so hard, maybe the hardest they've played all season long in all three zones," said Centennial head coach Ritch Menne. "It was just a terrific, terrific atmosphere and we're unbelievably proud of all of them."
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