GREEN BAY, WI – The Northstar Knights 16U team made the trip to the home of the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field for the 2020 USHL Fall Classic. Despite their first year as a program, the Knights proved they can run with the big dogs, going 3-1 on the weekend against some of the most well established programs in the country.
Friday night’s opening game had the Knights against the #6 ranked Colorado Thunderbirds. Colorado would strike first, but Cooper Fredericks would tie it up in the first, redirecting a Logan Anderson shot. Colorado would again take the lead in the second, but Dawson McCann would strike only a minute later to even it at two. Colorado would again go up one later in the period, but Caleb Elfering knotted the score at three heading into the intermission. Northstar would take the lead for good wit just under five minutes to play, as Kaleb Pitman fired a shot off the left post and in to make it the final score of 4-3. CJ Kier played lights out in net against his former club, stopping 30 of 33 shots in the victory.
Saturday saw the Knights fall in a 4-2 decision to the St. Louis Jr. Blues. Luke Schelter and Jaxon Grosdidier would both score in the first to make it 2-0 Northstar, but St. Louis would score four unanswered to win it. John Simon registered the loss, letting up three goals, and Beck Liden gave up one in relief late in the game.
Saturday night had the Knights against Detroit Compuware. Compuware would open the scoring early in the second, but Pitman would answer back shortly thereafter to tie it, his first of two in the game. Schelter would score in the second as well. Anthony McIntosh scored in the third, and Compuware would tally one more for a 4-2 Northstar victory. Kier registered the win, stopping 20 of 22.
The Knights just missed out on the playoff round, leading to a Sunday consolation game against Little Caesars. LC would open the scoring on the power play in the first, but McIntosh would fire one from the point to tie it early in the second. LC would again go up one, buth Nathan Huntington would tie it up in the third, leading to overtime. McIntosh played hero with his second goal of the day, again ripping one from the point to seal the deal for the Knights. Alexandria native Beck Liden played strong in net, stopping 25 of 27 shots on the day.
The Knights are back in action at home this weekend against the MInnesota Blades.