Eagles stay unbeaten

By PAUL DUNLAP

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm boys hockey team shrugged off a slow start Thursday night, scoring five goals in both the second and third periods en route to a 12-3 rout of Fairmont in South Central Conference play.

The Eagles' No. 1 line of Jamie Hoffmann, Travis Thorson and Brent Clyne did most of the damage, combining for eight goals and 10 assists -- including hat tricks from both Hoffmann and Thorson. Chris Reinarts added a pair of goals for the winners.

"We didn't come to play at first," New Ulm coach Tom Macho said. "(Fairmont) did everything right early; they forced us to make mistakes and were able to capitalize on them. We finally got things together and were able to pull away."

The Cardinals actually drew first blood on the power play as Dave Supalla beat goalie Gary Wurtzberger over the shoulder for a quick 1-0 lead just 1:36 into the game. New Ulm responded midway through the period on a pair of goals 10 seconds apart, from Clyne and Hoffmann, but Fairmont came right back to tie the game at 8:12 on a Dustin Zellmer goal. Wurtzberger faced just two shots in that period with no saves.

"(Wurtzberger) was frustrated," Macho said. "He was standing down there all by himself most of the time, and he said after the second period that he just wasn't doing the job. I think he was bored a little bit."

The onslaught would begin just 1:57 into the second period as Corey Schnobrich scored on assists from Scott Stueber and Kyle Marti. Clyne would then be stopped on a penalty shot by goalie Brady Meyer at 3:08, but instead of demoralizing the team it picked it up. That same line would score just 14 seconds later on Thorson's first goal, and he would add two more in the period along with Reinarts' first goal as New Ulm pulled away for a commanding 7-3 lead after two periods. Zellmer scored his second goal in the final minute to keep the Eagle lead at four.

"We thought we were in a dogfight, and when we didn't get that (goal) on the penalty shot it hurt a little bit," Macho said. "But that line came back within seconds to score and just kept going. We responded real well."

The Cardinals just couldn't keep up against their quicker opponent, and frustration led to several needless penalties. Hoffmann scored twice in the third period to get his hat trick, with Nate Richter, Clyne and Reinarts also finding the back of the net as freshman Anthony Garakani replaced Meyer between the pipes.

"They helped us out a lot with their penalties," Macho said of the Cardinals, whose 11 penalties helped New Ulm score four power-play goals. "We were able to run the power play quite a bit and tire them out."

The Eagles (5-0) will now face Becker-Big Lake in nonconference action at 1 p.m. Saturday.

New Ulm's junior varsity dominated as well, disposing of Fairmont 12-2. Matt Aiken and Troy Fenske led the squad with four goals apiece, with Pat Wenk adding a hat trick. Brandon Kohn scored the other Eagle goal.

FAIRMONT 2 1 0 -- 3

NEW ULM 2 5 5 -- 12

FIRST PERIOD

F-Dave Supalla (unassisted) 1:36 PP; NU-Brent Clyne (Jamie Hoffmann) 7:29; NU-Hoffmann (Clyne) 7:39; F-Dustin Zellmer (Erich Kliewer) 8:12.

SECOND PERIOD

NU-Corey Schnobrich (Scott Stueber, Kyle Marti) 1:57; NU-Travis Thorson (Hoffmann, Scott Stewart) 3:22; NU-Chris Reinarts (Nate Richter, K.Marti) 4:20; NU-Thorson (Clyne) 6:13 PP; NU-Thorson (Hoffmann, Clyne) 13:32 PP; F-Zellmer (Supalla) 14:23 PP.

THIRD PERIOD

NU-Richter (Reinarts) 1:59; NU-Hoffmann (Thorson, Clyne) 3:29 PP; NU-Clyne (Hoffmann, Thorson) 3:48; NU-Hoffmann (Brandon Rolloff) 8:25; NU-Reinarts (Richter) 12:30.

Penalties - Fairmont 11-for-22, New Ulm 5-for-10. Saves - Fairmont 52 (Brady Meyer 13-22-9 -- 44; Anthony Garakani 8 -- 8), New Ulm 4 (Gary Wurtzberger 0-1 -- 1; Isaac Forstner 3 -- 3).