Two Division I men’s hockey players from International Falls opened the 2012-13 season last weekend on opposing teams at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, but they didn’t end up on the ice against each other at the same time because they played on separate nights.
Brady Hjelle, a senior goalie for Ohio State University, faced the team he had played with for two seasons when he started in goal Friday against the University of Minnesota Duluth. He noted family members from the Falls as well as friends who attend UMD were on hand to see him.
“It’s not really any different than any other game, other than you just know the guys across from you, where most times you don’t, but it was fun playing against them,” Hjelle said.
In between two seasons playing for the United States Hockey League’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Hjelle was a goalie for the Bulldogs in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. He played in eight games last season for OSU.
“The big difference (with college hockey) is that you’ve got the older guys here — bigger and stronger — so it’s harder shots, bigger checks, that kind of thing,” Hjelle said. “The speed’s about the same. It’s just bigger and stronger guys, and they’re smarter because they’re older.”
Hjelle played all 60 minutes Friday for the Buckeyes. He got off to a rough start with the puck getting past him into the net three times within the first 5 minutes when the game-winner came on a power-play goal as UMD ended up defeating OSU, 6-2.
“It was a team effort. We were all bad (Friday night),” Hjelle said. “It’s not on any one guy. It’s the whole team.”
For the game, Hjelle made 33 saves. Three of the goals against him, including both that UMD scored in the final period, came on the power play.
“It’s hard to win a game when you’re in the penalty box as much as we were,” Hjelle said.
Hjelle also suited up for Saturday night’s game, but didn’t get to play when Collin Olson went all 60 minutes in goal for the Buckeyes.
Corrin plays Saturday
The Bulldogs’ player from the Falls, freshman defenseman Willie Corrin, had been scratched from their lineup on Friday when Hjelle was in goal, but saw action Saturday as Hjelle watched from the OSU bench.
Corrin, who played two seasons with the USHL’s Fargo Force after graduating from Falls High School in 2010, went on the ice to play his first Division I college hockey game on a shift change within the first 2 minutes of the opening faceoff.
“It’s a dream come true,” Corrin said. “I’ve always worked for this spot (in Division I).”
However, Corrin’s college hockey debut also got off to a rough start. He was sent to the penalty box twice with the first penalty coming 1:54 into the opening period for tripping, a call the UMD radio announcers disagreed with.
“I ran into a little penalty trouble and didn’t get as many shifts as I would have liked to have gotten — didn’t really get into the flow of the game,” Corrin said. “It was a good experience for me, and I just have to ratchet it up next time.”
All parents of Bulldog players were recognized Saturday.
The game also had the same ironic twist of fate for Corrin as Hjelle had a night earlier when the team with the player to see action from the Falls ended up losing. The Buckeyes were able to pick up a split in the series by defeating the Bulldogs, 3-2.
Corrin, who has previously described himself as an “offensive defenseman” and led all Fargo Force defensemen last season in assists and points, also saw ice time Saturday when UMD was on the power play in the first period.
“As a freshman, (the Bulldogs) are working me into (the power play) for me to get into it throughout the next four years,” he said.
Though last weekend’s series at AMSOIL Arena will be the closest to the Falls that Hjelle is scheduled to play with OSU this season, Corrin’s team will be back there next week when UMD hosts Wisconsin on Oct. 26-27.
