by Mark McKenzie

JAMESTOWN – Two of the top teams in boys West Region hockey tangled on Friday at Wilson Arena as Jamestown welcomed Bismarck Century to town.  The Patriots survived a late Jamestown charge and held on for a 4-3 victory.

The Blue Jays had an amazing quick start as freshman Parker Roelfsema scored just eight seconds into the game, his fourth of the season, and the home crowd was rocking.

Century got the fast start in period two as sophomore Hayden Eckart struck for his third of the season, with only 21 ticks off the clock, to knot the score at one.

The Patriots knocked in the go ahead goal about 90 seconds later to take a 2-1 lead, courtesy of senior Tanner Sornsin, his second of the season.

Jays junior Bennett Goehner tied it at two when he blasted home a power play goal midway through the second.

The third period started with the two teams tied at two, but Century’s sophomore Jackson Fylling scored his first of the season to put his team back on top 1:29 into the period.

Senior Gavin Fryhling notched his second of the year with only 5:30 remaining, and it appeared Century had put the game away but Goehner ripped in his second power play goal of the night, his third of the season with 3:46 left on the clock, and the Jays had new life.

Jamestown pulled the goalie and buzzed the final two minutes of the game but was unable to get the equalizer.

Blue Jay sophomore goalie Leif Hanson stood tall once again in the net with 22 saves and senior Vaughn Romsdal chipped in with a pair of assists.

Jamestown slips to 4-1-0-1 on the season while Century improves to 4-2-0-0.

The Jays don’t have much time to dwell on the defeat as they play Minot in a matinee on Saturday.