Eagle boys slay Dragons 7-2

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Avenging an earlier overtime loss at Litchfield, the New Ulm High boys' hockey team had little trouble disposing of Litchfield-Dassel-Cokato, 7-2 Saturday at Vogel Arena.

New Ulm applied heavy pressure on the Dragon goal most of the game. Several early point-blank shots were denied until junior David Hitchcock scored on a power play 2:38 into the game on a wraparound to the right of the Dragon net. Brett Burgau got the assist.

The Eagle cheering section got in gear with some of its unique chants. At one point, they chanted "quit your crying" during a break in the action in which the Dragon Coach was discussing an issue with officials.

After another LDC penalty, the Eagles peppered the goal with shots. Hitchcock fired a close-in shot that was stopped. Jay Geisthardt's shot hit the pipe. He broke free for a shot a few minutes later but was denied. Chris Reinarts put New Ulm up 2-0 on an unassisted goal at 9:47 in the first period.

The Eagles continued to apply heavy pressure on the Dragon goal. They outshot LDC, 25-6 in the first period.

Scott Roiger made it 3-0 Eagles 1:52 into the second period on a point-blank shot as he skated in front of the crease. Blake Thorson got the assist.

The Dragons got on the scoreboard at 7:32 of the second period when Matt Raisanen tallied unassisted. Litchfield-D-C fans chanted their own fainter version of "zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, heu, heu, heu." New UIm rooters answered by chanting "scoreboard, scoreboard" and pointed towards it.

Play got very physical at times with players getting tangled up in mid air and falling to the ice together.

Geisthardt put the Eagles up 4-1 at 13:13 on an unassisted breakaway, faking a shot to bring the Dragon goalie out of the net and putting the puck behind him. New Ulm outshot the Dragons 10-3 in the second period.

Reinarts scored again :59 into the third period to make it 5-1, New Ulm. Brandon Kohn had the assist.

Jeff Schnobrich scored on a rebound shot at the 2:00 mark, putting the Eagles up 6-1. Hitchcock got the assist. New Ulm rooters chanted "warm up the bus."

Roiger scored again at 4:51 to make it 7-1, Eagles. Hitchcock got the assist.

Matt Raisanen scored on the power play for the Dragons at 7:13 on a blast from the left point, making it 7-2.

New Ulm fans chanted "nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, hey, goodbye" with 3:45 to play.

The Eagles outshot the Dragons for the game, 44-19.

Coach Tom Macho was happy his team finished the game strong.

"We probably should have had more than two goals in the first period with 25 shots," Macho said. "The first period set the tone. One of my major points of emphasis after the second period was finishing well, which we did. Everybody had a part in it."

Macho used all four lines and six defensemen in the game.

New Ulm Senior Chris Reinarts felt team play was a strong point.

"We kept hustling after loose pucks," Reinarts said. "We killed off most of our penalties and played well as a team, which is what we need to do to get ready for the playoffs."

New Ulm plays at Rochester Lourdes at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. They host Owatonna at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11 in the final high school hockey game to be played in Vogel Arena.