Austin Packers boys hockey team blanked by Mankato East 5-0 Thursday evening

Two teams looking to get back on the winning track were in action at Riverside Arena Thursday evening as the Austin Packers played host to Big 9 Conference rival Mankato East, and it was Owen Quist tallying two goals and an assist, and Caden Hansen added a goal and two assists for three points as well as the Cougars downed the Packers 5-0.

The Cougars outshot the Packers 60-16 for the game, and Austin netminder Daran Plunkett made several sparkling saves among the 55 shots he turned away for the game, and East netminder Brody Kunst turned away all 16 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season.  The Packers were penalized twice for 15 minutes in the game, while the Cougars were called for four penalties for eight minutes.  The Packers were able to kill off a 5-minute checking from behind major in the second period, but they were 0 for 4 on the power play, while the Cougars tallied their first short-handed goal of the season to open the scoring in the first period.

With the loss, Austin is now 3-3 on the season and 1-2 in the Big 9 Conference, and the Packers return to action Saturday afternoon at Gustafson Phalen Ice Arena in St. Paul versus the St. Paul Johnson Governors, with face-off scheduled for 3:00 p.m.