The Prior Lake boys hockey team started strong en route to a Section 2AA quarterfinal win Feb. 23.

The fourth-seeded Lakers scored three goals in the first period, two from senior Chase Gackle, in a 4-1 home win over fifth-seeded Chaska.

Prior Lake (17-9 overall) has won eight of its last nine games heading into the semifinals Feb. 25 versus top-seeded Eden Prairie (19-4-2) at Braemer Ice Arena in Edina at noon. The Eagles have won 13 straight games, a streak that started with a 7-0 home win over the Lakers back on Jan. 7.

Prior Lake and Eden Prairie met in the Section 2AA title game last year with the Eagles winning 4-2.

The other Section 2AA semifinal game features second-seeded Holy Family (21-4-1) versus third-seeded Minnetonka (15-11) at the Bloomington Ice Gardens at 3 p.m. The title game is March 1 at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, in the Lakers’ victory over Chaska, senior Jack Harris broke a 1-1 tie with a goal with 3:22 left in the first period. Gackle followed with a power-play goal with 16 seconds left in the frame for a 3-1 advantage.

The game stayed 3-1 until junior Preston Underhill sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 1:57 left to play. Gackle’s first goal came shorthanded at the 6:38 mark of the first period. Chaska answered that tally just 13 seconds later.

Senior Danny Long made 19 saves in goal for the Lakers. Seniors Kevin Fellows and Ryan Murray, junior Jack Kennedy and sophomore Jackson Jutting each had assists.

To see more photos of the Lakers’ win over Chaska, click here http://www.swnewsmedia.com/prior_lake_american/section-aa-boys-hockey-prior-lake-vs-chaska/collection_55148f7d-ea11-5430-8e6c-ffb9d04e26ee.html.

The Prior Lake boys hockey team started strong en route to a Section 2AA quarterfinal win Feb. 23.

The fourth-seeded Lakers scored three goals in the first period, two from senior Chase Gackle, in a 4-1 home win over fifth-seeded Chaska.

Prior Lake (17-9 overall) has won eight of its last nine games heading into the semifinals Feb. 25 versus top-seeded Eden Prairie (19-4-2) at Braemer Ice Arena in Edina at noon. The Eagles have won 13 straight games, a streak that started with a 7-0 home win over the Lakers back on Jan. 7.

Prior Lake and Eden Prairie met in the Section 2AA title game last year with the Eagles winning 4-2.

The other Section 2AA semifinal game features second-seeded Holy Family (21-4-1) versus third-seeded Minnetonka (15-11) at the Bloomington Ice Gardens at 3 p.m. The title game is March 1 at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, in the Lakers’ victory over Chaska, senior Jack Harris broke a 1-1 tie with a goal with 3:22 left in the first period. Gackle followed with a power-play goal with 16 seconds left in the frame for a 3-1 advantage.

The game stayed 3-1 until junior Preston Underhill sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 1:57 left to play. Gackle’s first goal came shorthanded at the 6:38 mark of the first period. Chaska answered that tally just 13 seconds later.

Senior Danny Long made 19 saves in goal for the Lakers. Seniors Kevin Fellows and Ryan Murray, junior Jack Kennedy and sophomore Jackson Jutting each had assists.

To see more photos of the Lakers’ win over Chaska, click here http://www.swnewsmedia.com/prior_lake_american/section-aa-boys-hockey-prior-lake-vs-chaska/collection_55148f7d-ea11-5430-8e6c-ffb9d04e26ee.html.