Boys hockey: Raiders fall to Woodbury

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Hastings had one of the best teams in the Suburban East Conference, Woodbury, on the ropes Thursday night. Late into the second period, Hastings held a 4-1 lead.

But with just 34 seconds to play in the second period, Woodbury scored a big goal, giving them all kinds of momentum heading into the third period. The Royals then scored three unanswered goals in the third period and won, 5-4.

Hastings coach Russ Welch was thrilled his team had taken the three-goal lead against the Royals. When Woodbury scored late in the second period, though, Welch saw all that momentum change.

“That one really turned the tide,” Welch said. “We weren’t dominating, but we were in control until that second goal went in. They (Woodbury) caught fire, came out and got an early goal in the third period and tied it a few minutes later.”

Woodbury scored to make it 4-3 at 2:41. They tied it at 6:50. They won it at 14:23.

Still, Welch was thrilled with what he saw from his team.

“Our kids played gutty,” he said. “They played with enthusiasm. They moved the puck. They moved their feet. We had them down 4-1 and had a chance to beat them. We just couldn’t hang on. It proves we can play with good teams in the conference and the state when we put our minds to it.

“We’ll keep being optimistic. We just have to put 51 minutes together.”

Tom Sieh made 27 saves for the Raiders.

Hastings got on the scoreboard at 8:08 of the first period with a power-play goal by Cody Block, assisted by Austin Nelson and Brock Johnson.

Nate Flynn scored short-handed at 3:20 of the second period, assisted by Nelson and Tate Sykes.

Cole Claussen added a goal for Hastings at 8:11, assisted by Nick Huemoeller and Johnson.

The fourth Hastings goal was another short-handed score by Flynn, this one coming at 11:24. He was assisted by Andrew Lindberg and Nelson.

Vs Cretin

Hastings lost to Cretin-Derham Hall Saturday, Feb. 6, 7-2.

“We just got overwhelmed,” Welch said. “They were bigger, stronger and faster than we were. They scored 39 seconds into the game, and it was downhill from there. It was one of those nights.”

Hastings was outshot 37-14.

Sieh made 30 saves for the Raiders.

Goals were scored by Joe Lodemeier and Austin Nelson. Andrew Lindberg had an assist.

Tags: sports, prep, hockey