WHS icemen drop two

It was a tough end to December for the Waseca boys’ hockey team. After starting 4-1, losses to Faribault and Winona led to the team ending 2022 with a losing record for the first time this season.

Faribault 5, Waseca 3

The game against Faribault Tuesday, Dec. 20 was a close one. After a goal in the first period by the Falcons, both teams traded blows in the second. Nick Archambault of Faribault scored two goals for a 3-1 lead. Griffen Krautkremer (assisted by Kyle Ahlschlager) and Brayden Hesch-Priem hit the net for a 3-2 end to the second period.

Ahlschlager, Waseca’s leading goal scorer, tied things up 3:07 into the final period. However, Faribault scored exactly 10 minutes later and less than four minutes later, they put the game out of reach by scoring on an empty net.

What ultimately cost the Bluejays the game was the lack of shots on goal. Faribault was relentless, outshooting the Jays 41-17. Carter Martens stopped 36 of 40 shots for Waseca for a save percentage of .900.

Winona 7, Waseca 3

Waseca was stunned Friday, Dec. 30, when Winona put on a clinic against them and gave the Jays their fourth loss in a row.

A team that Waseca was supposed to face a bit earlier in the season, Winona sported a 1-4-1 record before coming into the Bluejay rink. Their only win was a close one against LaCrescent-Hokah.

The Winhawks sure didn’t look like a team that barely won one game. Teis Larsen had his way against Waseca’s defense, scoring four goals and assisting on a fifth. Aven Prodrzinski scored a goal for himself while assisting on three.

Martens faced 55 shots for the game. Meanwhile, Waseca’s offense only had 22 shots on Winona. The only person successful in scoring - and the only bright spot in the game - was Krautkremer, who scored a hat trick in the game.

It was apparent the game would be out of reach for Waseca by the end of the first when the score was 4-1. To make things worse, Ahlschlager was called for a minor penalty and a 10-minute misconduct for roughing in the third period, ultimately ending his night on the ice.

The boys looked to turn around their 4-5 record at Minnesota River Thursday, Jan. 5 and against Worthington Saturday.