NPML skaters drop two close ones

The New Prague/Montgomery-Lonsdale boys hockey team dropped a pair of tight games last week to Section 6A opponents, losing 6-4 to Orono and 4-3 to Mound-Westonka in overtime.

The Trojans were scheduled to host Northfield in their Missota Conference opener on Tuesday, Dec. 20. They will travel to Prior Lake on Thursday, Dec. 22.

They are scheduled to compete in the Kiwanis/Wells-Fargo Classic at the Rochester Rec Center next week. Their opening game is Wednesday, Dec. 29, at 2:30 p.m. against Spring Lake Park. On Thursday, they play either Richfield or Albert Lea. Their final game will be Friday, Dec. 30. Other teams in the tournament are Princeton, Mankato East, International Falls and Rochester Lourdes.

Spartans 6, Trojans 4

Orono scored first on a power play goal at 8:55, but the Trojans bounced right back, with Tyler Lapic scoring just 10 seconds later, from Drew Feuk and Nate Thomas. The momentum was short-lived, however, as Orono reclaimed the lead 24 seconds later.

The Spartans took a 3-1 lead early in the second period, then added a power play goal at 14:56. Feuk put the Trojans back in the game with a goal just 12 seconds later, with Lapic getting an assist.

Orono responded quickly, with a power play goal at 15:48. Luke Hanzel scored just 20 seconds after that, with assists going to Ryan Witty and Neal Eaton.

New Prague closed to within a goal at 5-4 when Witty scored on a power play just 1:32 into the third period, with Bryce Bartelt and Eaton getting assists. However, Orono got an insurance goal at 4:08, and held on for the 6-4 win.

Orono outshot the Trojans 28-26. Kevin Cassidy stopped 15 of 20 shots in the first two periods, while Brandon Palma stopped seven of eight in the third.

Dec. 13, at Orono

New Prague/ML 1 2 1 — 4

Orono 2 3 1 — 6

First Period: O-McClure (Smith) 8:55 pp; NPML-Lapic (Feuk, Thomas) 9:05; O-Knight (Barnum) 9:29.

Second Period: O-McClure (unassisted) 3:24; O-McClure (Erickson) 14:46 pp; NPML-Feuk (Lapic) 14:58; O-Smith (Erickson, Haglund) 15:48 pp; NPML-Hanzel (Witty, Eaton) 16:08.

Third Period: NPML-Witty (Bartelt, Eaton) 1:32 pp; O-Sherman (Neveaux) 4:08.

Saves: New Prague/ML-Cassidy 8-7-x—15, Palma x-x-7—7, Orono-Peterson 7-7-8—22



Whitehawks 4, Trojans 3

New Prague outshot Mound-Westonka 10-8 in the first period and led 2-0 going into the first intermission, but stalled out in the second period.

We took a period off by being outplayed in every aspect of the game