Top-ranked Rushmore powers past All-Stars

HURON — After being held scoreless in the opening period, the top-ranked Rushmore Thunder erupted for five goals in the second period en route to a 7-3 victory against the Huron All-Stars on Saturday at Bergman Arena.
Xavier Erickson got Huron off to a 2-0 start, scoring the lone goal of the opening period on an unassisted shot  and then scoring just 44 seconds into the second period on an unassisted shot during a power play.
The lead would not be safe, as the Thunder scored the next five goals to carry a 5-2 lead into the final period.
Ryan Nolan scored the first goal for Rushmore on a pass from Grant Wolthius on a power play.  Derrick Brown had the next goal with Wolthius and Austin Stiles combining on the assist.
Jacob Lindblome had a pair of goals for the Thunder on unassisted shots and Zach Bender scored with assists going to Wolthius and Tanner Good.

Erickson earned the hat trick for the All-Stars with the first goal of the third period during a short-handed situation.
Rushmore then capped the scoring with a pair of goals. Bender scored his second goal of the game on a pass from MacIntyre Bran on a power play and Blake DeVries scored on a pass from Camden Nayman.
John Young stopped 14 of the 17 shots he faced to earn the win for the Thunder.
Jacob Wehde tallied 28 saves for the All-Stars.
The two teams will meet again today, with a 1 p.m. game at Bergman Arena.

MIKE CARROLL/PLAINSMAN
Huron’s Xavier Erickson skates with the puck as Parker Sundby of Rushmore converges on the play during their game Saturday at Bergman Arena. Huron’s Tacher Dramstad passes the puck as he is pressured by Rushmore’s Zach Bender during their game Saturday at Bergman Arena.