Hunters defeat Spartans 3-1

The Duluth Denfeld Hunters used two power-play goals to defeat the Superior High School boys hockey team 3-1 Tuesday night at Wessman Arena.

The loss drops the Spartans to 5-2 overall and 0-2 in the Lake Superior Conference. Denfeld snapped a three-game losing streak in improving to 4-3 overall and 2-0 in the LSC.

Denfeld scored the only goal in the opening period with 11.5 seconds remaining. Logan Talarico won a draw to the right of the Superior goal back to Keith Tomassoni, who fed Andrew Doig at the left point, who then beat SHS goaltender Joel Pettingill with a low one-timer from the top of the left circle.

Superior had three power-play chances in the first period and its best scoring chance came when defenseman Chris Bishop put a shot off the cross bar while leading a 3-on-1 advantage.

Denfeld took a 3-1 in the second period thanks to a pair of power-play goals.

Levi Talarico scored three minutes into the second period with assists from Keith Tomassoni and Jason Johnson.

Superior made it 2-1 exactly one minute later when Gerald Mikel scored his first high school goal with assists from Chris Bishop and Steven Mikel. The assist by Steven Mikel was his first point of his prep career.

Denfeld regained a two-goal lead at 5:33 on Tomassoni’s one-timer with assist from Johnson and Doig.

In a scoreless third period Superior outshot Denfeld 12-3.

Pettingill finished with 18 saves for Superior and freshman Zach Thompson had 27 for Denfeld.

The Spartans will be back in action at the Duluth Marshall Holiday Tournament next week at Mars Lakeview Arena. Superior will face Appleton at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Madison Edgewood at 2:45 p.m. on Dec. 30 and Duluth Marshall at 1 p.m. on Dec. 31.

SPARTAN SPIN: Dane Sislo’s goal with 2:08 remaining gave Superior a 2-1 win in the junior varsity game. John Rochon also scored for the Spartans and Cody Schimming made 14 saves. Luke Darwin and Brandon Burd assisted on Superior’s goals. … All seven of Denfeld’s games have been played on the road.

Duluth Denfeld 1 2 0 — 3

Superior 0 1 0 — 1

First Period: 1. DD, Andrew Doig 2 (Logan Talarico, Keith Tomassoni), 16:49.

Penalties: Jason Johnson, DD (boarding), 1:06. Tyler Kaspari, DD (tripping), 5:00. David Dalbec, SHS (interference), 9:54. Kaspari, DD (interference), 14:17.

Second Period: 2. DD, Levi Talarico 6 (Tomassoni, Jason Johnson), 3:00 (pp). 3. SHS, Gerald Mikel 1 (Chris Bishop 4, Steven Mikel 1), 4:00. 4. Tomassoni 8 (Johnson, Doig), 5:33 (pp).

Penalties: Tyler Plunkett, SHS (tripping), 1:38. Joel Broberg, SHS (slashing), 5:14. Dalbec, SHS (holding), 8:13. Kyle Warner, DD (interference), 10:35. Brady Uotinen, SHS (tripping), 16:27

Third Period: No scoring.

Penalties: Logan Talarico, DD (10-minute misconduct), 14:25.

Saves: Zach Thompson DD, DD 7-8-12—23. Joel Pettingill, SHS 7-8-3—18.

Tags: sports, superior, spartans, hockey, duluth, denfeld