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Otters blast Storm 14-2
Published 11:06am Friday, January 25, 2013The buzzer never seemed to quit sounding Thursday night as the Fergus Falls boys hockey team cruised to a 14-2 win over the Sauk Rapids-Rice Storm.
In the first period, the Otters opened up with a goal by Sam Rausch off a Joe Nathe assist at the 5:26 mark. Colton Buseth would add a second for the Otters off another Nathe pass over two minutes later, which was followed by Rausch’s second goal of the period off a Jesse Ketonen pass. Fergus kept blitzing the net as Austin Hanson scored at the 10:42 mark off assists by Kyler Peterson and Zach Tarczon. Casey Ward would plant another Otter goal into the net off passes by Rausch and Ean Goos. Hanson would add the Otters sixth goal of the period, his second, off asssists from Tarczon and Nathe, before Matt Meyer of Sauk Rapids scored a goal to end the period 6-1 in favor of the home team.
Returning from the first intermission, the Fergus boys did not let up as Ketonen snuck in a goal six seconds into the second period on a Rausch assist. Tarczon would add back-to-back goals for the Otters at the 3:31 and 4:03 mark in the period. Buseth would notch the final goal of the period for the Otters to give them a commanding 10-1 lead after two.
Hanson would finish his hat trick as the two teams opened the third period with assists from Tarczon and Nathe. It seemed when it rains, it pours for the Storm as Alex Phillipe knocked in the Otters 12th goal with assists going to Rausch and Aidan Colling. Buseth would also pick up a hat trick as Nathe and Goos assisted. Sauk Rapids would add another goal midway through the third, but Fergus would respond again as Jacob Viger scored unassisted.
Nathe was able to claim five assists, while Rausch and Tarczon each had two goals in the win.
Fergus goalie Ian Bjorgum turned away 15 shots on goal in a prodominently offensive game for the Otters.
The Otters hope there is more in the tank as they host Little Falls Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
Spuds survive rally, beat Otter girls 7-4
MOORHEAD — The Fergus Falls girls hockey team fought tooth and nail with the hosting Moorhead Spuds Thursday, but late goals doomed the rally 7-4.
The Spuds jumped out to an early lead as Kristin Drechsel found the back of the Otters net twice in the first period. Drechsel’s first goal came unassisted and she followed that with a goal less than 10 minutes later with an assist by Jenna Ulberg.
Drechsel would finish her hat trick midway through the second period off a Tori Davis and Erin McKaig pass. Davis would give the host a four goal lead just seconds later as she slipped the puck in off a Ulberg assist.
The Otters were shaken out of their slumber after that as they responded with three goals. Megan Niblock got Fergus on the board as she slapped in a power play goal off passes by Lauren Norgren and Steph Kolstad. Norgren would add a second goal for the Otters with an unassisted buzzer ringer, while Kolstad got the Fergus girls within one with a power play goal with assists from Annie Magnusson and Sydney Kuehl.
Moorhead was in shock at the beginning of the third, but did not falter as Davis would add her second goal of the evening. The Otters continued to fight as Kolstad punched in a pass from Kuehl, but Davis would follow late in the period with her hat trick goal and Ulberg would notch her first to give the Spuds the victory.
“Drechsel and Alberg have some skill,” Otter coach Matt Koalska said. “We tried to slow them down, but they took advantage of a few lapses on our end. We played tough, but we just didn’t see the goals on the scoreboard.”
Moorhead’s Beth Myers and Brianna Storms combined for 35 saves in net, while Jordie Salwei finished with 27 saves for the Otters.
The Otters will be back at the friendly confines of the Fergus Falls Community Ice Arena Saturday as they host Thief River Falls in a 3 p.m. match up.
