Boys hockey: Another slow start dooms Red Wing

Red Wing coach George Nemanich couldn't have been more disappointed with how the Wingers started in Friday night's 6-2 loss in New Prague.

The Trojans quickly found themselves up three goals after the completion of the first period, and prompted a goalie change for the Wingers. Junior Sam Amendolar started in net and senior Abe Rohan closed out the game for Red Wing.

"We started off about as poorly as you can possibly start," Nemanich said. "It's disappointing to start off a game like that at this point in the season."

Nemanich pointed the sluggish start to simply a lack of both effort and focus. He did, however, credit his team for a much improved effort in the following two periods.

Sophomore Jordan Holicky started things off in the first period for the Trojans scoring an unassisted goal at 3:37. Cole Mason and Tyler Witty also added goals in the decisive first period.

Sophomore Jake O'Borsky of the Wingers scored an unassisted goal at 3:07 in the second period. The Wingers had a handful of decent scoring opportunities in the second, including two breakaways, but failed to capitalize.

"Of course we woke up in the second," Nemanich said. "But, by then it was too little, too late."

Red Wing's burst of energy early in the second was short-lived, as New Prague answered with two quick goals with six minutes left.

The Wingers showed another sign of coming back in the third scoring just 1:39 into the period off a goal from Jack Strusz. Jared Nelson and O'Borsky assisted on the goal.

According to Nemanich, this disappointing loss to a team that they had previously beat makes the section race even more of a mystery.

"This puts us back in a tight section race," he said.

Red Wing will meet another member of its section Monday as they square off against Northfield in a Missota Conference matchup. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. at Prairie Island Arena.

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