Austin Packers boys’ hockey blanked by Mankato East 8-0 Thursday evening

In Austin Packers boys’ hockey action you heard Thursday evening on AM 1480 KAUS, the Packers played host to Big 9 Conference rival Mankato East/Loyola at Riverside Arena, and the Cougars saw seven different players tally at least one goal and 10 players register at least one point in an 8-0 victory.

Senior forward Landon Metcalfe tallied two goals and an assist in the winning effort, while sophomore forward Christian Theuninck and junior forward Andrew Bastian each totaled one goal and one assist.  Junior defensman Shae Gavin doled out three assists for the Cougars, who won their second game in a row to move to 2-1 in the Big 9 Conference and 2-3 overall.

The Packers, who were outshot 42-9 for the game had two Grade-A chances to score in the first period, but senior forward Cooper Guttormson was turned away by Cougar netminder Caelin Brueske on a 2-on-1 break in the opening moments of the period, and Guttormson later beat Brueske with a wrist shot from the slot to the blocker side, but the puck clanged off the left post.

Austin is now 0-2 on the young season and 0-1 in the Big 9 Conference.  The Packers return to action next Thursday, December 16th at the Rochester Rec Center versus the John Marshall Rockets, with face-off scheduled for 7:15 p.m.