Boys Hockey: Penalties slow Wingers against Northfield

Bad penalties are creeping back in for the Red Wing boys hockey team as the Wingers played a man down on six occasions in a 3-2 loss to Northfield Thursday in Northfield.

“Offensively, 5-on-5, we definitely had some good opportunities,” Red Wing head coach Mike Belisle said. “What killed us were the penalties. They scored two power-play goals. Enough said. And they were non-play penalties.”

Junior Preston Blaney made 23 saves for the Wingers in the loss and spent six minutes of the opening period fending off Northfield’s power play. Senior Marcus Dodge and junior Ryan Rehder scored for Red Wing. The Wingers (8-7-1, 5-3-1 Missota) outshot Northfield 33-26 in the game.

Adam Yetzer scored two power-play goals for Northfield, including the game-winning goal in the third period, and Andrew Scofield notched a goal in the second period.

Yetzer’s first goal came on a power play at 10 minutes, 29 seconds of the first period to put Northfield up 1-0. Red Wing was outshot 11-8 in the opening period.

Scofield put Northfield up 2-0 early in the second period but Dodge answered less than minute later at 3:09 with the assists to junior Anthony Kimmes and sophomore Joe Partington. Rehder added his goal 51 seconds later to pull even with Northfield at 2-2.

Coming out of the second intermission, Yetzer scored quickly on another power play at 1:51 with assists going to Torr Legvold and Colton Woodruff. The Wingers put plenty of shots on goal in the third period but Northfield’s goalie Isaak Tjaden made some point-blank saves to preserve the win, Belisle said. Tjaden finished with 31 saves.

Belisle said that while the penalties are frustrating, Red Wing’s willingness to play to the final buzzer gives him hope as they move toward sections. The loss was not a step backward because the Wingers played well despite adverse conditions, he said.

“We played well tonight and we played all the way to the end,” Belisle said. “These guys believe they can win in any situation. That’s what we need come sections.”

Red Wing hosts North St. Paul Thursday at Prairie Island Arena.

Tags: boys hockey, red wing, sports, prep