Proctor Boys Get Big Win Over Marshall

Jan 14

Kerry Rodd-NSO

It’s been a long time since the Proctor Rail hockey team has pulled out a major upset, but that all changed on Thursday night when the knocked off one of Minnesota’s top ranked Class A teams, the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers, 4-2. The Rails rode the sensational play of goaltender Derek Robinson to the win.

The Rails and Toppers each scored a first period goal with Justin Scanlon picking up the tally for the Rails at 5:13 with assists to Tom Rossiter and Ian Ecklund. Pat Hurley tied the game for the Toppers at the 10:55 mark with Josh Wentz picking up the assist as the game was tied 1-1 after the opening stanza.

Proctor pulled away in the second period with goals from Ecklund at 2:15 on the power play and by Tyler Pionk at 13:56. Ecklund’s goal was assisted by Scanlon and Robert Mackereth and Pionk’s goal was assisted by Lucas McCarthy. After two periods the Rails held a 3-1 edge.

Chances of a Topper comeback dimmed drastically in the third period when Scanlon picked up his second goal of the game at the 10:42 mark with assists to McCarthy and Ecklund, pulling the Rails ahead 4-1. Marshall showed resilience when Wentz scored from Hurley on the power play with just 3:31 remaining on the power play, but the rest of the way the Rails defense and Robinson slammed the door.

Marshall came into the game ranked #13 in the latest state Class A rankings, but the Rails provided a huge upset for the hometown fans. Proctor defeated Duluth Marshall for the first time in 10 years and improved their overall record to 6-9-1.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com