Junior hockey: Granite City takes control, beats Willmar WarHawks

Nov. 27—SAUK RAPIDS — The Willmar WarHawks stuck with the best team in the NA3HL's West Division, but it wasn't quite enough.

The Granite City Lumberjacks improved to 17-2-0-0 with a 5-3 victory over Willmar on Wednesday night at the Miller Buick GMC Rink.

Willmar opened the scoring with a goal by Dylan Mees at 10:21 of the first period. It was the defenseman from Mankato's third goal with the WarHawks and fourth of the season. He began the year with the West Bend (Wisconsin) Power.

The lead was short-lived. The Lumberjacks scored the next five goals, beginning with Garrett Plaude's 11th goal of the season at 1:40 of the first period to tie it up.

Willmar answered with third-period goals from Gabe Adams and Carson Wendorff. Adams is a center from Bellevue, Nebraska. Wendorff is a defenseman/forward from Litchfield.

The WarHawks' next game is at 7:10 p.m. Friday at the Willmar Civic Center Arena. Willmar takes on the Alexandria Blizzard.