DeCenzo, Johnson power Hibbing-Chisholm past International Falls

International Falls fell victim Thursday to a Hibbing-Chisholm squad that wasn’t too happy with its recent poor play.

The No. 8 Bluejackets (13-7-1), still ranked in the top 10 after losing four of five between Jan. 11 and Jan. 31, overwhelmed the Broncos 7-0 at a crowded Bronco Arena.

“We played way better than we’ve played,” said Bluejackets head coach Mark DeCenzo, noting his team only played hard in parts of games instead of the full 51 minutes during its rough patch. “We made better decisions and we competed. ... If we wouldn’t have worked hard, they would’ve run us off the rink.”

Instead, it was the Bluejackets running the Broncos off the rink.

“We came out hard and played all three periods,” said Bluejackets goalie Nathan Tromp, who stopped 16 shots in the shutout.

Nick DeCenzo posted a hat trick with two assists, Adam Johnson had two goals and an assist and Jake Doherty finished with a goal and an assist. Nine different Bluejackets got in the box score.

Glenn Walls took the loss for International Falls (9-10-1), finishing with 26 saves.

A visibly agitated Broncos head coach Mike Bolstad declined comment after the game — the Broncos’ worst shutout loss of the season.

Hibbing-Chisholm led 2-0 after two periods, but took off in the third. Things really unraveled for the home team when Johnson, a sophomore who came in with 59 points (30 goals, 29 assists), scored shorthanded on a 5-on-3 to make it 4-0 at the 5:54 mark. It was Johnson’s second short-handed goal of the game.

DeCenzo made it 5-0 and tallied his hat trick with a SportsCenter-like move on Walls at the 11:27 mark. DeCenzo, a senior, also came in with 59 points (16G, 43A).

Hibbing-Chisholm 7,

I. Falls

HC 1 1 5—7

IF 0 0 0—0

First period — HC, Nick DeCenzo (Billy Wherland), 4:09.

Second period — HC, Adam Johnson (Jake Doherty, Cole Schafer), SH, 2:46.

Third period — HC, DeCenzo (Joe Anderson, Johnson), PP, 3:30; HC, Johnson (DeCenzo), SH, 5:54; HC, DeCenzo (Mike Pechovnik), 11:27; HC, Doherty (Pechovnik, DeCenzo), 14:17; HC, Greg Gargano (Taylor Persson), 16:58.

Goalies — HC, Nathan Tromp, 16 saves; IF, Glenn Walls, 26 saves.

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