Austin Packers boys hockey team falls to Rochester Mayo 8-1 Saturday

The Austin Packers boys hockey team wrapped up a regular season-ending five game road swing Saturday at Graham Arena in Rochester versus the Mayo Spartans in a Big 9 Conference matchup, and it was the Spartans seeing eight different players light the lamp in an 8-1 victory.

Austin’s lone goal of the game came at 9:51 of the second period when junior forward Gavin Brekke notched his fourth goal of the season, with an assist to fellow junior forward Grady Carney, his eighth.

The Spartans outshot the Packers 41-17 for the game, with sophomore goaltender Zane Thoma making 33 saves, and Spartans goalie Mikah Nelson turned away 16 of the 17 shots he faced to earn the win in net.  The Packers were whistled for four penalties for eight minutes, while the Spartans were called for three penalties for six minutes, and the Packers were 0 for 2 on the power play, while the Spartans went 2 for 3.

Austin finishes the regular season with a record of 4-21-0, and the Packers will be the No. 10 seed in the Section 1A boys hockey playoffs versus the No. 7 seed Waseca Bluejays, with their first-round matchup facing off in Waseca at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening.  The winner goes on to play the No. 2 seeded Dodge County Wildcats at the Dodge County Ice Arena in Kasson at 7 p.m. Thursday evening.

Other Section 1A boys hockey quarterfinal games will include No. 3 seed LaCrescent-Hokah playing host to No. 6 seed Winona, and No. 1 Northfield will host either No. 8 Faribault or No. 9 Red Wing, with both games at 7 p.m. Thursday evening.  The other quarterfinal matchup will feature No. 4 seed Albert Lea playing host to No. 5 Rochester Lourdes at 7 p.m.  Thursday evening.

The Section 1A semifinals will be played at the Rochester Rec Center at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 24th, and the Section 1A final will be back at the Rec Center on Wednesday, February 28th at 7 p.m.