The best start in school history continues for the Park Rapids-Menahga boys hockey team.
Tucker Coborn's two goals and two assists, Kevin McMorrow's two goals, and Zach Lehrke's goal and four assists led the Panthers to a 6-1 win at Kittson Central last Saturday afternoon. Park Rapids scored three power-play goals and added a shorthanded goal to spark that win.
That win gave the Pan-thers a 4-0 record against Section 8A opponents and a 13-0 overall record. Park Rapids' previous best start was opening the 1999-2000 season with a 9-0 record. Winning 13 games in a row is another school record, topping the 10-game winning streak the Panthers had during the 2000-01 season.
Park Rapids has allowed one goal or less in seven games and has won eight games by three goals or more. Whether they win down the stretch or going away, the team's attitude doesn't change.
"The kids believe that we are going to win every game," said Park Rapids head coach Pete Stahnke. "Even when we don't play great, we find a way to win."
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After giving up the game's first goal early in the first period, the Panthers controlled the rest of the game to remain undefeated.
Lehrke and Coborn assisted on McMorrow's first goal of the game as the Panthers tied the game at 1-1 with a power-play goal at the 10:27 mark of the first period.
A power-play goal by Colter Hensel at the 6:06 mark and Coborn's first goal of the game at the 15:43 mark pushed the lead to 3-1 after the second period. Zach Knapp and Bill Winkler assisted on Hen-sel's goal while Lehrke as-sisted on Coborn's goal.
A three-goal third period sealed the win. Lehrke and Knapp set up Coborn for a power-play goal at the 7:46 mark before Coborn assisted on a shorthanded goal by Lehrke at the 9:33 mark. Lehrke and Curtis Tolle set up McMorrow for the game's final goal at the 11:33 mark.
The Panthers held a 37-18 advantage in shots as goalie Mark Smith finished with 17 saves. The loss dropped Kittson Central to 1-3 against section teams and 6-6 overall.
"We're doing all the little things right. We're getting balanced scoring and consistent defense and goaltending," said Stahnke, whose team is rated No. 14 in this week's state Class A poll. "The kids continue to work hard. They're focused, but they're also having fun. They're playing with a lot of confidence."
The Panthers also won the junior varsity game as three goals by Zak Holmen and two goals by Cody Brostrom sparked a 6-4 win over Kittson Central. Kyle Kanten had the other goal while goalie Dan Ricke made 10 saves for the win.
Park Rapids 1 2 3 6
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Kittson Central 1 0 0 1
FIRST PERIOD: 1, Kittson Central, C. Lindegard (Bergh, Albrecht), 1:29. 1, Park Rapids, McMorrow (Lehrke, Coborn), 10:27. Penalties: Park Rapids 1, Kittson Central 1.
SECOND PERIOD: 2, Park Rapids, Hensel (Knapp, Winkler), 6:06. 3, Park Rapids, Coborn (Lehrke), 15:43. Penalties: Park Rapids 0, Kittson Central 1.
THIRD PERIOD: 4, Park Rapids, Coborn (Lehrke, Knapp), 7:46. 5, Park Rapids, Lehrke (Coborn), 9:33. 6, Park Rapids, McMorrow (Lehrke, Tolle), 11:33. Penalties: Park Rapids 4, Kittson Central 3.
GOALIE SAVES: Park Rapids (Smith) 6-3-8-17. Kittson Central (S. Lindegard/Chaput) 13-12-6-31.
