East wins on OT

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

Ryan Peterson tipped in Nathaniel Benson’s shot from the point just 1:31 into overtime giving Duluth East a huge come from behind victory over the third seeded Cadet’s of St. Thomas Academy, 6-5.

The Greyhounds were down 5-2 at the end of the second period. Peterson made it 5-3 when he got his first goal on a rebound, 2:34 into the final stanza. It stayed 5-3 until less than three minutes remained in regulation, when after the Cadet’s Alec Broetzman took a cross checking penalty.

Evan Little knocked the puck past Cadet goalie Matt Snow on the power play. 47 seconds later Nick Funk tied the game. Peterson’s second of the game and tenth of the year won it for Duluth East (15-10-4). The two teams combined for five goals in the first period.

The Cadet’s scoring on their first two shots of the game, and on three of their first four. Seamus Donohue scored at 2:43 of the second and made it four goals on seven shots. It appeared that the game’s hero would be the Cadet’s Peter Tufto who had a hand in all five STA goals, with two goals and three assists.

The Cadet’s jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period before Duluth East got a pair of goals in the final 1:37. It was Brian Bunten and Luke Dow both scoring just 70 seconds apart. The Greyhounds outshot the Cadet’s 30-21 for the game. The Cadet’s got their five goals on just 14 shots, and seemed to be in command.

The Greyhounds stormed back with three goals in the final 4:14 and earned the right to play Edina in Friday’s first semifinal, at 6pm. This was the second time these teams faced each other this season. St. Thomas (24-5) won that one, on Dec. 29th, 4-1.

The Cadet’s will face Bemidji Friday morning in the consolation bracket played at Mariucci Arena