Eagles cruise

By PAUL DUNLAP

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- Even before the opening face-off, any hockey fan could tell that Becker/Big Lake was in serious trouble.

After the lineups were announced, the Eagles from the north had just three skaters left on the bench.

New Ulm High used its numbers advantage to score seven first-period goals, cruising to a 15-0 shellacking of B/BL in Central Minnesota Conference boys hockey action at Vogel Arena.

"What do you do? ... Everybody got lots of playing time," Eagles' coach Tom Macho said. "All four lines scored somehow or another, I think. That's all you can do in a game like this."

The onslaught would begin at the 2:56 mark as freshman Tyson Anderson, making his first varsity start, scored off an assist from Brenton Clyne. Anderson would end his first game with a goal and five assists.

Jamie Hoffmann would have a hat trick in the opening period, with the other goals coming from Brandon Schmiesing, Paul Yager and Adam Dietz.

"(Becker) was out-manned. ... I mean, literally out-manned," Macho said. "Not only did we have some better players, but when you only have eight kids you just can't keep up."

New Ulm, sitting on a big cushion, began to work on other things in the second period. Even so, the lead would grow to 10-0 after two periods on goals from Clyne, Josh Jacobs and Yager.

"We just worked on some things we'll need later on," Macho said. "The cycling, the D-to-D passing, and the kids really responded to that."

The lead could have been twice what it was, but Becker goaltender Nate Oliver came through with a number of unbelievable saves. He ended up stopping 62 shots on the night, including 24 in the second period alone.

"He was incredible," Macho said of Oliver, just a freshman. "It looks lop-sided, but we had 70-some shots on net. In between periods, even our kids were saying 'how did he make that save?'"

The third period was played in running time, but the Eagles were still able to post five more goals on the board. Even goalie Gary Wurtzberger got into the act, assisting on Brandon Rolloff's third-period goal. Wurtzberger was given credit for two saves in the game but both were dump passes that found the net.

Yager would get his hat trick at the 7:10 mark of the third, with Dietz and Hoffmann also scoring. Rolloff would end the rout with his second goal of the period at 11:20.

New Ulm, now 13-2 on the season, doesn't have much time to rest as it travels to face Delano in a 3 p.m. matchup today.

The Eagle junior varsity was almost as dominant, trouncing Holy Family Catholic 14-0 including eight first-period goals. Julian Luetmer had a hat trick for the winners, with teammates Troy Fenske, Casey Coil and Blake Thorson scoring two apiece. Thorson also had three assists.

Other goals were scored by Nathan Rodewald, Matt Aiken, Scott Hofmeister, Tyler Janni and Andy Budahn. Jeremy Mueller stopped all 10 shots he faced in the win.

BECKER/BIG LAKE 0 0 0--0

NEW ULM 7 3 5--15

FIRST PERIOD

NU-Tyson Anderson (Brenton Clyne) 2:56; NU-Brandon Schmiesing (Nate Richter) 7:02; NU-Jamie Hoffmann (Clyne, Anderson) 7:40; NU-Hoffmann (Clyne, Paul Yager) 9:01; NU-Yager (Anderson) 13:08; NU-Hoffmann (Clyne) 14:11; NU-Adam Dietz (Josh Jacobs, Bryan Abel) 14:40.

SECOND PERIOD

NU-Clyne (Hoffmann, Anderson) 3:40; NU-Jacobs (Kyle Marti) 10:14; NU-Yager (Brandon Rolloff, Corey Schnobrich) 12:50.

THIRD PERIOD

NU-Dietz (Adam Roeder, Abel) 2:55; NU-Rolloff (Gary Wurtzberger) 4:40; NU-Yager (Anderson, Marti) 7:10; NU-Hoffmann (Anderson, Yager) 8:20; NU-Rolloff (Scott Stueber, Schnobrich) 11:20.

Penalties: Becker 1-for-2, New Ulm 0-for-0; Saves: Becker (Nate Oliver) 20-24-18 -- 62, New Ulm (Gary Wurtzberger) 0-0-2 -- 2.