NP’s depth will be tested in upcoming boys’ Metro West ice hockey games

Facing a pair of injuries to forwards Owen Blair and Bobby Goggins, depth could become a challenge the Trojans will have to address in the next few weeks.

The two injured players will require shuffling of personnel as the Trojans face a pair of conference and non-conference ice hockey games in the next 10 days. They’ll also face a section opponent as well.

“Our depth has been dinged a bit. I guess it’s the next-man-up mentality,” said NPHS coach Brad Drazan.

At 8-3 overall, 1-0 against section competition and 1-1 against teams in the Metro West Conference, the Trojans were slated to face undefeated Luverne Tuesday night, Jan. 16, 7 p.m., in Waseca before Thursday night’s conference match against Bloomington Jefferson Thursday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m., in New Prague. Saturday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m., New Prague welcomes St. Louis Park to town.

Trojans 5, Waconia 4 (OT) Eric Berg scored the game-winner at 7:08 of overtime to ice the win for New Prague Saturday, Jan. 13, at the New Prague Community Center. Berg finished the game with the goal and three assists in addition to the goal. The Trojans dominated the extra session, outshooting the Wildcats, 8-4.

Drazan was concerned the ancillary facets of the game might overshadow the team’s focus. The win added to the emotions of senior night. It allowed New Prague to celebrate their seniors and enjoy the win. “I’m not surprised we started slow. It was predictable,” he said.

The Trojans needed two goals in the third period to force the overtime. Connor Williams scored an even-strength goal at the 9:06 mark of the third period to even the score. Berg assisted on NPHS’s fourth goal. Will Seymour scored a power play goal at 1:42 of the third, thanks to an assist from Michael Beckius, to cut Waconia’s lead to 4-3.

Williams opened the game’s scoring with 31 seconds left in the first period with assists from Seymour and Berg. After Waconia took a 2-1 lead in the second period, Seymour scored, with an assist from Berg, at 4:28 to even the score, 2-2.

But Waconia took charge, building a 4-2 lead with two goals late in the second period to force the Trojans into comeback mode. The Trojans outshot Waconia in the third period, 17-5, and forced bonus hockey with the two goals.

New Prague’s top line of Seymour, Williams and Berg played especially well carrying the attack to the Wildcats, Drazan said. “Our defense and goalie, Oskar Pomeren ke, also had a really good game,” he said.

The Trojans took...

To see more on this story pick up the January 18, 2024 print edition of The New Prague Times.