Raiders fall in season opener, 3-1

The Hastings boys hockey team lost its season opener on Tuesday night to Eastview, 3-1.

Hastings fell behind 1-0 in the first period on a quirky goal. From behind the Hastings net, an Eastview player threw the puck to the front of the net. The puck bounced off the back of a Hastings player and went into the net.

Eastview then added two more goals midway through the second period to take a 3-0 lead before Hastings countered.

Tate Sykes scored the goal, assisted by Jake Caneff. It came at 12:23 and it was shorthanded.

“That was a fantastic goal by Tate,” coach Russ Welch said. “It was really a highlight-type goal. It was a big-time goal. That one was fun to watch.”

Hastings had a two-on-two break. Sykes trailed on the play but came in fast and yelled for the puck. Caneff saw him, fed him the puck and Sykes buried a one-timer into the upper corner.

Hastings goalie P.J. Piotrowski got the start. He made 24 saves on 27 shots.

“He played good enough to win,” Welch said.

Meanwhile, the Eastview goalie came up big, recording 27 saves on 28 shots.

“The difference in the game was their goalie,” Welch said. “He made some very good saves. We had a lot of quality shots on goal.”

Hastings travels to Eagan Dec. 1 to face the Wildcats.

Tags: raider hockey, sports, hastings, prep, minnesota, spiral