Boys Hockey: Wingers suffer loss in season opener

Red Wing and Rochester Mayo were tied entering the third period, but the Spartans turned five Red Wing penalties into a pair of power-play goals and won 7-4 Tuesday at Graham Arena in Rochester. It was the season-opener for the Wingers.

"A number of them were very uncharacteristically dumb penalties, undisciplined," Red Wing coach George Nemanich said. He added: "They came from guys who should know better."

Sophomore Jack Dingle scored the game-winner at 5:45 of the third period on the power play. His shot deflected off senior Jared Nelson.

Senior Ben O'Reilly added an insurance goal at 12:00 of the final period. His goal also came on the power play.

Red Wing got off to a horrible start, allowing two goals in the first two minutes of the game. Senior Adam Truex gave the Spartans a 1-0 lead 12 seconds into the game and senior Spencer Lee scored at 1:23 of the same period.

"They actually could have made it 3-0," Nemanich said. "We weathered the storm a little bit."

Thanks to goals by junior Austin Anderson and Nelson, the Wingers trailed by just a goal, 3-2, going into the second period.

Red Wing took control of the game in the second period. After Lee scored again, senior Kas Mapel scored a power-play goal at 2:32 of the period. Red Wing senior Josh Mensing tied it at 4 with a goal at 4:12 of the second period.

"We really played well in the second period," Nemanich said. "We did what we set out to do -- take the body and be more physical and establish the forecheck. And we wracked up the shots."

Red Wing junior Sam Amendolar made 12 saves in a losing effort.

"The whole team from the goal out really needs to tighten up a little bit," Nemanich said. "We've got to tighten up the defense."

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