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Forest Lake overpowers Elk River to win section championship

By Drew Herron, SportsEngine, 02/16/17, 7:00AM CST

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Madison Nolan led the Rangers offensively with two goals and two assists.




Forest Lake senior captain Madison Nolan slips the puck past Elk River goalie Megan Jung for a short-handed goal in the first period. Nolan finished with four points as the Rangers defeated Elk River 5-2. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine


A charged start set the fuse for Forest Lake Thursday night, while senior captain Madison Nolan had a hand in four goals and killed eight penalties as the Rangers upset top-seed Elk River 5-2 at Fogerty Arena in Blaine.

After setting up teammate Kayla Kasel for the game’s first score just three minutes into play, Nolan turned the game on its tilt for good in favor of the Rangers with a short-handed goal with 3:43 remaining, indicating strongly that it would be Forest Lake’s night.

That’s the Madison Nolan effect in action.

“She’s the most underrated player in the state of Minnesota,” said Forest Lake coach Todd Gutterman. “She really can make things happen.”

The short-handed goal was indeed a piece of art, as Nolan pressured the puck carrier in the neutral zone, and faked a body movement one direction, while keeping her stick on the ice in the other. It’s a trap she likes to implement, and the puck carrier took the bait.

“I usually try to lean one way, wanting her to pass that direction. And II keep my stick on the ice, the other way,” Nolan said. “It worked out, she read my body instead of my stick, and it worked out well for me.”

It was the first of Nolan’s two goals, while she assisted on two others from Kasel as the Rangers (20-5-3) rolled past Elk River from the second period onward.

“It helped set the whole atmosphere in the arena,” Nolan said. “When our fans go nuts, it fires you up more than anything.”

The Rangers are headed back to the state tournament for the fourth time in school history, and second year in a row. To get there, Forest Lake, ranked No. 11-2A by the state coaches’ poll, had to knock off a powerful Elk River (21-7-0) team that had outshot the victors 43-36 on the night, and was given a player advantage eight times.

“I think the surprising part to me, is that we gave them eight power plays, and we still figured it out,” Gutterman said.

Elk River was left in disbelief as the Elks suffered their fourth straight section final loss, a crushing blow to a group of seven seniors.

“It’s hard to put into words, how this feels,” Elk River coach Dale Sager said. “Tonight was Forest Lake’s night,”

Missed opportunities on the power play tells a frustrating story for the Elks, who converted on just one of eight chances.

“We need some puck luck,” Sager said. “There were so many pucks in and around the crease that we just weren’t able to (put in) the back of the net. Two goals on 43 shots isn’t going to win many games. We needed to capitalize on more of our opportunities, and (Forest Lake) did capitalize on their opportunities.”

Elk River goalie Megan Jung finished with 28 saves in net, while Forest Lake goaltender Josephine Bothun stopped 41 shots in the victory.

It was Bothun who kept the Rangers in the game at times as Elk River hammered away in stretches, especially in the first period when the Elks put 21 shots on goal. The freshman’s play between the pipes, coupled with Nolan’s electric play up front, helped fuel a healthy Forest Lake crowd that traveled well, and made its impact felt.

“The fan support is awesome,” Nolan said. “Anything to get us to state, so we can all have a day off of school.”


Forest Lake goaltender Josephine Bothun stops Elk River forward Halle Johnson's scoring chance in the third period. Bothun made 41 saves in the Rangers' 5-2 victory over Elk River. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine

First Report

Madison Nolan finished with two goals and two assists to help lead Forest Lake past top-seeded Elk River 4-2, seizing the Class 2A, Section 7 championship Thursday night at Fogerty Arena in Blaine.

Forest Lake, ranked No. 11 in Class 2A by the state coaches’ poll, returns to the state tournament for the fourth time, and second consecutive year.

The Rangers (20-5-3) started fast when Nolan set up the team’s first goal, scored by Kayla Kasel a little more than three minutes into the game. A short time later, Nolan scored short-handed for Forest Lake with 3:43 remaining in the period, and Forest Lake was on its way. Kasel also finished with two goals for the Rangers.

Forest Lake killed seven of eight penalties, and survived being outshot 43-36 on the night to persevere to the victory over No. 6-2A Elk River (21-7-0).

Elk River goalie Megan Jung finished with 28 saves in net, while Forest Lake goaltender Josephine Bothun stopped 41 shots in the victory.


Forest Lake claimed the Class 2A, Section 7 title for the second straight season with a 5-2 win over Elk River Thursday night at Fogerty Arena in Blaine. Photo by Drew Herron, SportsEngine


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