Austin Packers boys’ hockey ends long losing streak with 3-1 win over Worthington

In Austin Packers boys’ hockey action that you heard Tuesday evening on AM 1480 KAUS, the Austin Packers boys’ hockey team was looking to break into the win column for the first time for the 2021-2022 season Tuesday night in their final non-conference game of the season versus the Worthington Trojans out of the Big South Conference at Riverside Arena, and a second period goal from freshman forward Grady Carney proved to be the eventual game-winner as the Packers won their first game since December 26th, 2019 by the score of 3-1.

The Packers jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead only :19 into the first period when junior forward Isaac Stromlund put in a rebound off of a shot from fellow junior forward Dylan Regenscheid for his first goal of the season, with another assist also going to senior forward Cooper Guttormson.  Junior goaltender Ethan Knox, who played a huge role in the win for Austin made several big saves to keep the Packers in the lead at 1-0 until Worthington’s Caden VanBriesen scored just as Austin was returning to full strength after their only penalty of the game, a bench minor for too many men on the ice at 3:42 of the second period to tie the game at 1-1.  Austin retook the lead back at 2-1 only :31 seconds later when Carney rushed the puck up the right wing side and let go with a wrister from a shallow angle on the right side that slipped by Trojan goalie Matthew Becker.  Senior forward Aidan Pepper and junior forward Cade Morrison each earned their first assists of the season on the goal.  Junior defensman Toby Holtz added some insurance with a goal at 7:22 of the third period, with assists to Regenscheid and junior defenseman Sam Eyre to push the Austin lead to 3-1.  Several more sparkling saves from Knox and the Packer defense were enough to hold Worthington at bay the rest of the way for the win.

Knox wound up turning away 44 of the 45 shots he faced to pick up a hard-earned win in the nets for Austin, while Matthew Becker made 32 saves in facing 35 shots for the Trojans in taking the loss.  With the win, the Packers move to 1-9 overall on the season, and Austin resumes a busy week of action back at Riverside Arena Thursday evening when they play host to 1-90 and Big 9 Conference foe Albert Lea, with puck drop at 7:00 p.m.