Austin Packers boys hockey falls to Winona Saturday afternoon 7-2

Matt Theising scored four goals, Aven Prodzinski added two goals and Teis Larsen chipped in three assists as the Winona/Cotter Winhawks downed the Austin Packers 7-2 at Riverside Arena Saturday afternoon.

Austin was whistled for a pair of 5 minute checking from behind majors and two 10-minute misconduct penalites in the first period, and Winona took advantage of the oppprotunities presented to them as their first two goals of the game, one from Prodzinski at 9:21 and the other from Theising at 10:52 were both on the power play to give the Winhawks a 2-0 lead.  Prodzinski scored with only :05 left in the period to increase Winona’s lead to 3-0, and Charles Olson and Theising’s second of the game gave the Winhawks a 5-0 second period lead.  Austin got on the scoreboard with a power play goal from Aiden Pepper, with assists to Toby Holtz and Garret Schaefer at 13:35 to cut Winona’s lead to 5-1.  Theising’s third and fourth goals of the game at 4:20 and 10:30 of the third period boosted the Winhawk’s lead to 7-1, but the Packers’ Cooper Guttormson tallied his first goal of the season unassisted at 15:28 to make the final 7-2.

Both teams played both of their goaltenders in the game as Austin’s Ethan Knox played the first 17:36 and made 16 saves in facing 20 shots, and Bray Klapperick played the last 33:24 and made 25 saves in facing 28 shots.  Winona started backup Justin Brickner, who played the first 7:37 of the first period and made four saves in facing five shots, and starter Alex Bensons played the last 43:23 and turned aside 13 of the 14 shots he faced for the win.  Austin committed seven penalties for a total of 37 minutes, while Winona was whistled for four penalties for eight minutes.  Austin was 1  for 4 on the power play, while Winona was 2 for 7.

Austin falls to 0-5 on the season with the loss, and the Packers return to the ice in Albert Lea Tuesday night against the Tigers, with the varsity face-off scheduled for 7:15 p.m.