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Lewy Powell made the most of his opportunity last Saturday in Baudette.
Filling in for injured starter Ben Leeson, the high school hockey team’s backup goaltender kept the Timberwolves in the game with Lake of the Woods for most of the contest.
The host Bears finally broke through in the final period, scoring four goals in the last 10 minutes - including three on power plays - to pull away for a 6-2 win.
Ely, which fell to 1-4, had its eyes on an upset for much of the afternoon as Powell turned back shot after shot. The goaltender had 34 saves through two periods and a career-high 49 in all.
“Lewy Powell played very, very well,” said Ely head coach Jake Myers. “Ben was out with a hip injury and Lewy stepped in and made a lot of saves when we needed him to. He really stepped up.”
The Bears outshot the Wolves 15-7 the opening period and had the only goal of the frame, but Ely’s Garrett Rohr tied it five minutes into the middle period.
Jayden Zemke assisted and the contest was tied, but LOW’s Sawyer Stromlund answered back with three minutes left and the Bears took a 2-1 lead heading into the final period.
Ely got some momentum back with 13:37 left, when the team’s leading scorer - sophomore Owen Marolt - got the equalizer with help from Jace Huntbatch and Rhett Johnson.
LOW was quick to seize the edge back, as Wyatt Brown scored what proved to be the game-winner.
“We didn’t capitalize on our chances earlier with Lewy playing so well, and they went ahead and we were just gassed at the end of the game,” said Myers. “Lake of the Woods just outworked us and outplayed us in the final period.”
The Wolves gave the winners some help, being assessed for four penalties in the last 11 minutes of play.
That led to a pair of power play goals by the Bears’ Dawson Canfeld and another by Brett Baron.
Stromlund led LOW with five points while Canfeld finished with two goals and an assist. Both Brown and Eli Johnson had two-point afternoons, as did Baron.
Winning goaltender Jonah McDougall had 20 stops.
• The Wolves will look to turn things around in this week’s holiday tournament, which includes games against May-Port (N.D.), Kittson County Central and Moose Lake Area.
“It’s nice to have some rivalries,” said Myers. “But it’s also good to have a change in pace and some unfamiliar teams. It should make for a fun week of hockey.”
The keys to Ely’s success include limiting its number of penalties.
“We’re going to have to stay disciplined and stay out of the box,” said Myers. “Penalties have been hurting us.”
