Packers can’t close the gap as Falcons prevail in Riverside
Published 9:22 pm Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Austin’s Bradley Lagerstedt moves to challenge Faribault’s Logan Peroutka during the second period Tuesday night in Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Cody Pedersen tries to control the puck against the boards in the second period against Faribault at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Zane Thoma deflects a shot during the second period Tuesday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Matthew Phanchan skates the puck into the Faribault zone during the first period Tuesday night in Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Grady Carney carries the puck into the Faribault zone during the first period Tuesday night in Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Bradley Lagerstedt tries to move around Faribault’s Jonny Simon (10) during the first period Tuesday night in Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
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The Austin boys hockey team had a small window to get back in the game, but in the end the Packers suffered their 11th straight loss when they fell to the Falcons 6-2 in Riverside Arena Tuesday.
The Packers (3-11 overall) pulled within 4-2 early in the third period when sophomore Trent Rubin slapped a shot off the goalie’s skate and Austin nearly pulled even closer just seconds later when Grady Carney had a power play wrist shot off a face off saved by Faribault goalie Dustin Boyd.
That power play came up empty and Faribault (4-8 overall) took a commanding 5-2 lead when Logan Peroutka scored a short-handed goal after a face-off Austin’s end.
Austin head coach Troy Schaefer said that his team needs to find a little more will to battle, especially when things aren’t going well.
“There is a lot to learn by everybody,” Schaefer said. “We don’t win any races to loose pucks and we need to start doing that. We’re always second for some reason and I’m not sure why that happens. We need to change that.”
The Packers were playing the game without Gahvin Schaefer, who is one of their top scorers but he is expected to return soon from an injury.
Carney, a junior, is excited to get Gahvin back, but he’s also liked what some of the sophomore Packers, like Rubin, Isaac Anderson and Kyler Flanders, Naryk Rector, and Elijah Krueger, have done.
“Some of those guys are doing insane for being in their first year as sophomores. It’ll be nice to get Gahvin back because I think he’s a huge part of our team. We just need to stop letting our emotions get to us and we need to start focusing on the little things,” Carney said. “We’re trying to stay positive and get better game by game.”
Zane Thoma had 35 saves for the Packers, who put 23 shots on goal.
Austin was out-shot 19-1 in the first period, but the shot count was 22-22 in the final two periods.
SCORING SUMMARY
Faribault 1 3 2 – 6
Austin 0 1 1 – 2
First period
(F) Brody Redding (Oliver Linneman) 12:06
Second period
(F) Ethan Amundson (Redding, Linneman) 4:35
(F) Nick Archambault (Tommy Kunze, Amundson) 8:06
(A) Gavin Brekke (Grady Carney) 10:53
(F) Archambault (Logan Vargo) 11:04
Third period
(A) Trent Rubin 1:41
(F) Logan Peroutka (Archambault) 3:30
(F) Amundson 14:57
