Boys Hockey Roundup: Alexandria shuts out River Lakes

By Tom Elliott

February 14, 2022 at 10:51 PM

ALEXANDRIA — Josiah Gronholz scored a pure hat trick — three goals in a row — in the Alexandria boys hockey team’s victory over River Lakes on Monday.

The Cardinals beat the Stars 4-0 at the Runestone Community Center.

Gronholz, a senior forward, tallied goals at 9:57 of the first period and at 6:45 and 8:53 of the second period.

Tyler Kludt, who assisted on Gronholz’s first goal, scored at 13:18 of the second period.

Gabe Evink made seven saves for the shutout. Ashton Fischer stopped 30 of 34 shots for River Lakes.

Alexandria is in second place in the Central Lakes Conference with an 8-2-1 record. River Lakes is 4-7 in the CLC.

Alexandria beat River Lakes 4-1 on Dec. 2 at Richmond Arena.

River Lakes plays at 7:15 p.m. Thursday at Sauk Rapids.

Central Lakes

Alexandria 4, River Lakes 0

River Lakes (11-13) 0 0 0 — 0
Alexandria (15-6-1) 1 3 1 — 4

FIRST PERIOD – (1) A: Josiah Gronholz (Tyler Kludt) 9:57.
SECOND PERIOD – (2) A: Gronholz (Gavin Olson) 6:45 … (3): A: Gronholz (Jack Lamski, Brycen Berg) 8:53, PP … (4) A: Kludt (Pieter Mulder, Nicholas Peterson) 13:18, PP.
THIRD PERIOD – No scoring.
GOALIE SAVES/SHOTS – River Lakes: Ashton Fischer 30/34 … Alexandria: Gabe Evink 7/7

Non-Conference

Northern Lakes 6, Willmar 1

lost to the Northern Lakes Lighting at Breezy Point Hockey Arena.

Tyler Seeling and Logan Verville each scored two goals for Northern Lakes.

Cullen Gregory scored on the power play for Willmar, getting an assist from Jason Malmgren at 16:41 of the second period.

Baxton Heid stopped 39 of 45 shots in goal for willmar.

The Cardinals are now 5-19. They also lost to the Lightning 6-2 on Jan. 31 in Willmar.

Willmar is host to Red Lake Falls at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Willmar Civic Center.

Willmar (5-19) 0 1 0 — 1
Northern Lakes (14-9) 0 3 3 — 6

FIRST PERIOD – No scoring.
SECOND PERIOD – (1) NL: Tyler Seeling (unassisted) 2:16, SH … (2) NL: Logan Verville (Zach Ehnstrom, Seeling) 7:53, PP … (3) NL: Isaac Peterson (Christian Crutcher) 9:54, PP … (4) W: Cullen Gregory (Jason Malmgren) 16:41, PP.
THIRD PERIOD – (5) NL: Verville (Seeling), 1:58 … (6) NL: Quady Bernu (Jameson St. Clair) 8:00 … (7) NL: Seeling (Andrew Villarreal) 11:53.
GOALIE SAVES/SHOTS – Willmar: Braxton Heid 39/45 … Northern Lakes: Nigel DeSanto 24/25