Tristan Kriech scored the game-winning goal against St. Cloud
by Erik Nelson
Sports Reporter
Elk River’s last regular-season game of 2023-24 on Tuesday, Feb. 13, needed overtime to reach a conclusion. On Elk River’s senior night, it was a sophomore who became the hero in overtime.
Tied at 1 with less than five minutes remaining in overtime, forward Tristan Kriech corralled the puck after the Elks won an offensive-zone faceoff and fired a snap shot past St. Cloud senior goalie Ben Glaesman to send the Elk River fans home happy. It was Kriech’s seventh goal of the season. The 2-1 win ensured that Elk River will finish with its second winning season in the last three seasons. Elk River finishes the regular season with a record of 15-9-1, while the Crush is now 10-13-1.
Kriech said it felt amazing to score the OT goal on Elk River’s senior night.
“[We] did it for the seniors,” Kriech said. “We were getting pucks deep and working our butts off.”
Neither team scored in the first period. Both teams had 10 shots on goal.
In the second, Elk River broke the ice at 4:51 of the period when senior forward Kole Mears deflected a shot from the blue line by senior defenseman Cooper Anderson for Mears’ 17th goal of the season. Besides Anderson, senior forward Braden Hansberger earned a secondary assist. It was the only goal scored in the second, as the Crush outshot the Elks 8-5.
With less than 90 seconds remaining in regulation and with a faceoff in its offensive zone, St. Cloud pulled Glaesman for an extra attacker. The move paid off, as Crush sophomore Lincoln O’Donnell backhanded the puck top shelf past Elks junior goalie Gavin Greniuk, spoiling Greniuk’s chance for a shutout and tying the game with 1:05 remaining in regulation.
In overtime, the Elks controlled the puck and pressure in the offensive zone for the majority of the period. After drawing a penalty, Hansberger won a faceoff, sent the puck to Anderson and Anderson fired a shot on goal. Glaesman gave up a rebound, which Kriech buried to end the game.
Elks head coach Ben Gustafson said Elk River’s win on senior night was a fitting salute to the Elks’ 10 seniors: Anderson, Hansberger, Mears, defensemen Hayden Jasper, Connor Kerber and Mason Tell, and forwards Daniel Babcock, Preston Holmes, Easton Johnson and Dylan Peterson.
“What I remember about my senior night was winning,” Gustafson said. “I know that they are going to remember this for a long time. Those guys put the younger guys on their backs. I’m proud of them. These 10 kids will always have a special place in my heart. Their leadership, commitment and hard work have made this program better. They’re good hockey players, but they’re even better people. I love them and they mean the world to me.”
Offensive Player of the Game
Kriech’s goal was his fifth power-play goal of the season.
Defensive Player of the Game
Greniuk made 26 saves on 27 shots for his 13th win of the season.
“The team kept good scoring chances away from me most of the game,” Greniuk said. “I know that my team can battle back for me no matter what the situation is.”
What’s next
Postseason play begins as Elk River hosts Bemidji (9-14-1) in the Section 8-2A quarterfinal on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m. at Cornerstone Automotive Arena. The winner will face Moorhead (12-11-1), Brainerd (9-15-1) or St. Michael-Albertville (5-19-0) in the Section 8-2A semifinal on Saturday, Feb. 24. If the Elks face Moorhead, the game will be at Moorhead Sports Center. Otherwise, it will be at Cornerstone Automotive Arena.
Elk River hasn’t made the Class 2A state tournament since 2005. Gustafson said if the Elks want to play at the state tournament for the first time in 19 years, they have to play to their identity of team defense and simplicity.
“When you come into section playoffs, every game’s going to be tight,” he said. “Every team is going to play desperate. Playing in these tight games is good. To win them is good, too. I think we have as good a chance as anybody in our section. It’s intense hockey. It’s a fun time of year.”
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