Bearcats hockey team defeats Panthers

By Editor | January 20, 2025 |

By Coach Josh Rynning
After coming off a three-game winning streak and winning the Ely Christmas Tournament, the KCC hockey team took on Park Rapids, Minn., on Saturday Jan. 4.
With a week to practice and prepare for the game, the Bearcats came out hard and ready to go. Kamden Gullickson-Palmer scored the first goal of the game to start the long scoring streak for the Bearcats.
Battling through the first period, Isaac Gustafson and Eli Muir both scored to end the period with a 3-0 Bearcat lead.
To start the second period, the Park Rapids Panthers came out ready to battle back. With the Bearcats picking it up after a few minutes in the second period, Gullickson-Palmer scored his second goal of the night for KCC to make it a 4-0 game at the end of the second period.
With a win on their minds, the Bearcats were ready to keep scoring in the third period.
KCC’s Wyatt Samuelson scored twice on breakaways to make it a 6-0 game. Park Rapids’ Lou Wesa scored for the Panthers making it a 6-1 game, until Samuelson scored the final goal of the game giving him a hat trick and finishing the game with a 7-1 Bearcat win.
Stats:
1st Period — Scoring: KCC – Gullickson-Palmer Goal (even strength) (Folland) 5:45; KCC – Gustafson Goal (even strength) (Muir, Turner) 9:01; KCC – Muir Goal (even strength) (Gustafson) 13:27. Penalties: Muir, KCC (Roughing, Minor, 2.0 min) 9:48. Goalie Changes: Felton, PRAHS 13:27.
2nd Period — Scoring: KCC – Gullickson-Palmer Goal (even strength) (Samuelson) 6:12. Penalties: Ravnaas, PRAHS (Cross-Checking, Minor, 2.0 min) 1:30; Muir, KCC (Interference, Minor, 2.0 min) 6:24; Huff, KCC (Interference, Minor, 2.0 min) 11:05; Przekwas, KCC (Tripping, Minor, 2.0 min) 13:02. Goalie Changes: None.
3rd Period — Scoring: KCC – Samuelson Goal (even strength) 4:25; KCC – Samuelson Goal (even strength) 5:08; PRAHS – Wesa Goal (even strength) 5:57; KCC – Samuelson Goal (power play) (Muir) 12:57. Penalties: Ravnaas, PRAHS (Roughing, Minor, 2.0 min) 2:41; Gustafson, KCC (Roughing, Minor, 2.0 min) 2:41; Wiste, PRAHS (Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Minor, 2.0 min) 11:50; Finney, KCC (Roughing, Minor, 2.0 min) 11:50; Crissinger, PRAHS (Roughing, Minor, 2.0 min) 11:50. Goalie Changes: None.

BEARCATS #21 WYATT SAMUELSON moves the puck down the ice in a game against Moose Lake at the Ely Tournament. In the game against the Park Rapids Panthers, Samuelson recorded a hat trick to help the Bearcats to a 7-1 win. (Photo courtesy of Lindsey Gullickson)

BEARCATS #22 KAMDEN GULLICKSON-PALMER scored the first goal of the game against the Park Rapids Panthers on Saturday, Jan. 4. He also scored a goal in the second period. (Photo courtesy of Lindsey Gullickson)