Huskies Hockey: 100 Shots, 1 Win, 1 Tie [Feb. 9 Scores]
The Owatonna girls and boys hockey teams each put 50 shots on goal in Tuesday night games against Mankato West. OHS jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first period in each game as well. The Huskies won the girls game 5-1 at All Seasons Arena in Mankato, while the boys settled for a 4-4 with the Scarlets on Dudley Otto Rink at Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna.
It's still a mystery to me how the Huskies didn't convert a few of their chances in the boys game which was broadcast on Kat Kountry 105 FM with Marc Wiese providing excellent color commentary. Dom Valento had grade-A scoring chances in the closing seconds of regulation and overtime. Tanner Stendel and Ashton Hoffman were around the front of an open West net in overtime but didn't get any 'puck luck.'
Owatonna had burst to the lead with a three-goal opening period. Casey Johnson scored from Zach Kubicek at 6:08. Twenty seconds later Valento sprang Taylor Bogen for a break-away goal. Joey Dub also assisted. Johnson found an open net at 10:09 with the assist from Stendel.
West squared the game up at 3-3 with two power play goals and an even strength marker in the second. OHS took a lead 1:21 into the third period when Aaron Bangs pounded home a puck delivered somehow from Bogen in the right corner as he was falling down. Valento also assisted. It extended Bangs' goal-scoring streak to four straight games.
West evened the game at 4-4 in the closing minute of regulation with an extra attacker on the ice. See the score sheet from Hockey Hub.
The tie leaves the Huskies (5-1-1) and Scarlets (6-1-1) just behind Mankato East (7-1) and Northfield (6-1) in the dual for the Big Nine title. Owatonna plays at Winona Thursday, February 11 at 7:15 pm with coverage on Kat Kountry 105 FM
The OHS girls scored a trio of rapid fire goals in the first period at Mankato West: Sydney Hunst from Olivia Herzog and Anna Herzog on the power play at 11:14, Samantha Bogen from Sarah Snitker at 15:01, and Anna Herzog from Bogen, shorthanded, at 16:51.
Molly Achterkirch added to the lead 32 seconds into the middle frame with Bogen on the assist. West scored late in the second. Ezra Oien closed the scoring midway through the third period for a 5-1 Huskies victory. See the score sheet from Hockey Hub.
Owatonna hosts Winona Thursday on Teacher Appreciation Night at Four Seasons.
OHS wrestling swept a triangular meet, 76-3 over Austin and 54-24 over Mankato West on Tuesday. And the Owatonna gymnasts beat Austin 137.225-128.225. Lucy Macius led the Huskies by winning the all-around with a 35.625.
Scoreboard, Tuesday, February 9
Boys basketball
NRHEG 62, Blooming Prairie 44
Red Wing 72, Albert Lea 43
Rochester Century 47, Winona 46
Girls basketball
Blooming Prairie 55, NRHEG 39
Triton 58, JWP 38
Mayo 82, Mankato West 69 (Spartans will battle of unbeaten teams)
Red Wing 62, Albert Lea 52
John Marshall 67, Faribault 35
Mankato East 66, Northfield 61
Rochester Century 62, Winona 38
Stewartville 75, Kasson-Mantorville 71 (showdown of ranked teams)
Boys hockey
(tie) Owatonna 4, Mankato West 4
Mankato East 4, Faribault 3, overtime
Northfield 12, Austin 0
Simley 3, Red Wing 1
Dodge County 10, Albert Lea 0
Girls hockey
Owatonna 5, Mankato West 1
Hill-Murray 7, Dodge County 1
Huskies (the dogs, not the Owatonna High School athletes) bring winter to mind for me. But the following animals can predict the weather. (They indicate it's going to be cold).
KEEP READING: 10 Animals in Minnesota That Can Predict the Weather