Packer boys hockey team edged out by Falcons in OT
Published 4:07 pm Saturday, January 17, 2015
Austin’s Jason Stoulil controls the puck near Faribault goalie Adam Johannsen in Riverside Arena Saturday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
The Austin boys hockey team was on the verge of upsetting one of the best teams in the Big Nine, but it couldn’t close the deal in Riverside Arena Friday.
Austin’s Dan Larson handles the puck as Faribault’s Austin Dickey plays defense in Riverside Arena Saturday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
The Falcons scored a late goal in regulation to tie the game and they went on to beat the Packers 5-4 in overtime. Austin Dickey scored the game-winner for Faribault (11-3-1 overall, 8-2 Big Nine) on a slap-shot off a face-off during a power play.
“They had the momentum in overtime and it was a questionable penalty,” Austin head coach Erik LaRock said. “We killed most of it off and then we just lost the face off. We need to win that face off to stay in the game.”
The Packers (3-13-1 overall, 0-9-1 Big NIne) survived what could’ve been a disastrous second period. Austin killed a Faribault 5-on-3 power play in the frame and it also killed a five-minute power play by the Packers. Austin took a 4-3 lead when Trevor Stevens scored a goal with 6:01 left in the second, but that would be the last goal Austin would score.
“That’s what we’ve really learned is that when we get in the penalty box we have to kill it off and get back to our game,” LaRock said. “That’s where we’re focusing a little better.”
Jacob Johnson had 31 saves in net for the Packers, who had lost 7-0 at Faribault Nov. 25.
Austin’s Jace Greenman controls the puck against Faribault in Riverside Arena Saturday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin has won three of its last seven games and all fur of the losses have been by just one goal.
“We’re playing very well as of late,” LaRock said. “We’re just mentally making some mistakes that are costing us games. We’re at least playing better and we’re competing al little more. All we need to do is fix a few things and get a little better bounces and we’re going to start winning these games.”
SCORING SUMMARY
Faribault 2 2 0 0 — 4
Austin 2 1 1 1 — 5
First period
(F) Austin Lewis (Christian Von Ruden, Anthony Simons) :28
(A) Daniel Bollingberg (Kenny Ree, Jace Greenman) 1:05
(A) Kenny Ree (Bollingberg, Jason Stoulil) 3:14
Austin’s Kenny Ree handles the puck against Faribault’s Koy Payne in Riverside Arena Saturday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
(F) Von Ruden 5:32
Second period
(A) Blake Halsey (Stoulil) (power play) 1:27
(F) Austin Lewis 1:42
(A) Trevor Stevens (Brayden Merritt, Isaac Arnold) 10:59
Third period
(F) Lewis (Von Ruden) 11:11
OT
(F) Austin Dickey (power play) (Josh Nawrocki) 3:45
Shots: Austin — 32; Faribault — 36
Power plays: Austin — 1-for-5; Faribault — 1-for-7
