Season Ends for Blades in Double-Overtime Defeat

The Steele County Blades junior hockey club rallied from a deficit three times on Sunday, but lost 6-5 in double overtime at the Minnesota Blue Ox to get swept out of the US Premier Hockey League playoffs. The Blue Ox won Saturday's series opener 4-0 at the Coon Rapids Ice Arena in the Midwest West Division playoffs.

The fifth-seeded Blades were down 2-0 on Sunday less than eight minutes into the game, but roared back to tie it at 2-2. Connor Movalli scored from Matthew Ebersole at 15:04. Ryan Brouillette added the tying goal just under a minute later with an assist from Gavin Ellis. The Blue Ox responded to grab a 3-2 lead at first intermission.

The Blades Ethan Second scored 1:21 into the second period from Luke Juergensen and Braden Trivelpiece to tie the game at 3-3. The Blades took their only lead at 11:36 on Movalli's second goal. Jake Stordahl and Ebersole assisted. Minnesota notched two goals before second intermission to carry a 5-4 lead into the break.

Steele County forged yet another tie on Trivelpiece's power play marker from Noah Yerdon about nine minutes into the third. The game went to overtime tied at 5-5.

The Blue Ox peppered Blades goalie Josh Brown with 12 shots in the first overtime, but he stoned them all and the game carried into the second OT. The Blue Ox scored a power play goal at 2:18 to get the victory and sweep.

The Blue Ox outshot the Blades 59-46 Sunday after having a 44-23 shot advantage Saturday. Fans were allowed into the rink and the Blades' faithful were represented in a strong way.

This season was the ninth for Blades hockey in Owatonna.

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