The crowd at Thursday's non-league challenge between the Park Rapids Panthers (Park Rapids, MN) and the host Lake of the Woods Bears (Baudette, MN), witnessed Park Rapids's ice hockey team defeat Lake of the Woods by a score of 7-3.

The Panthers (3-8) will now prepare for their challenge against Wadena-Deer Creek (Wadena, MN). The Wolverines come into the Mid-State challenge with a 3-5 record. In their last challenge, Wadena-Deer Creek by Park Rapids (Park Rapids, MN), 7-6, in a league challenge.

In their next game, the Bears battle the Kittson Central Bearcats (Hallock, MN) in a Northwest challenge, on Tuesday, January 28. Lake of the Woods will attempt to better on its 2-9 season record. The Bearcats come into the challenge with a 3-8 record after their 9-7 non-league loss to Wadena-Deer Creek (Wadena, MN).