Packer boys hockey team continues turnaround with big win over Governors
Published 9:21 pm Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Austin goalie Daran Plunkett makes a save during the second period against St. Paul Johnson Tuesday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Grady Carney wheels with the puck to get a look at the net during the first period against St. Paul Johnson Tuesday night in Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Cooper Jacobsen controls the puck during a Packers power play against St. Paul Johnson Tuesday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Elijah Krueger skates the puck to the net during the first period against St. Paul Johnson at Riverside Arena Tuesday night. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Cooper Jacobsen (15) chases the puck as St. Paul Johnson’s Alex Robles (6) steps up to challenge during the first period Tuesday night in Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Talan Hall (19) chase a shot to the St. Paul Johnson net during the first period Tuesday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Austin boys hockey team has flipped the script this season as they are now the ones putting up big scores in lopsided wins.
Nine different Packers registered at least one goal as Austin downed St. Paul Johnson (2-4-1 overall) 11-2 in Riverside Arena Tuesday.
Senior Isaiah Hemann scored twice for the Packers (5-3 overall), who surged to a 5-0 lead to start the game.
“This game was a spark that we needed. We were flying, we were buzzing and everyone was putting pucks in. We were crashing the net, getting rebounds and it was a really hard working game for us,” Hemann said. “A lot of these younger players are really skilled and they make us a lot better by creating opportunities for us. They play like they’ve been there before.”
Austin junior Eli Krueger scored twice, sophomore Kade Overocker had one goal, junior Narek Rector had a goal and two assists, freshman Aaden Johnson had a goal and two assists, freshman Talan Hall had a goal and an assist, sophomore Cooper Jacobsen had a goal and an assist, junior Kylar Flanders had a goal and two assists, and senior Matthew Phanchan had one goal and one assist.
“We have some younger guys that are new to varsity hockey and they’re doing great,” Phanchan said. “They’re making us a better team. When we’re all scoring, it feels so much better and it feels like a less selfish game.”
The Packers have now scored 45 goals in eight games and they have scored more than seven goals in five games.
Austin has also already surpassed last season’s win total (4), a year in which the team never scored more than six goals in a game all year long.
“It’s so much better being on this side of the puck,” Phanchan said. “It makes us a better team, knowing that we can compete.”
The last time Austin won five or more games in a season was in 2018-2019, when the team went 8-18-1 overall.
SCORING SUMMARY
Johnson 0 1 1 – 1
Austin 3 7 1 – 11
