Austin Packers boys hockey team downs Red Wing 4-1 Thursday evening
The Austin Packers boys hockey team kicked off the 2023 portion of their schedule versus Red Wing in a Big 9 Conference matchup at Riverside Arena Thursday evening, and sophomore forward Gahvin Schaefer tallied four points with a hat trick and an assist to help the Packers down the Wingers 4-1 for their first win of the season.
Senior defenseman Sam Eyre opened the scoring with a power play tally at 13:32 of the first period to make the score 1-0 Austin, with an assist to Schaefer, and he then tallied two quick goals :26 apart at 14:54 and 15:20 to boost the Packer lead to 3-0 after one period. After Red Wing’s Nicholas Wooden tallied on the power play for the only goal of the second period, Schaefer then scored an empty-net, short-handed goal with an assist from Isaac Stromlund at 15:32 of the third period for the 4-1 final.
Senior goaltender Ethan Knox was also insturmental in the Austin win Thursday night by kicking out 39 of the 40 shots he faced to earn the win between the pipes, while Red Wing netminder Ellis Petersmeyer turned away 16 of the 19 shots he faced to take the loss. Austin was 1 for 5 on the power play Thursday night, while Red Wing went 1 for 8, as the Packers were whistled for 10 penalties for 28 minutes in the game, while Red Wing took six penalties for 12 minutes.
With the win, the Packers are now 1-5 overall, and they are 1-3 in the Big 9 Conference. Austin returns to action at Graham Arena Complex in Rochester Saturday afternoon versus the Rochester Lourdes Eagles, with face-off scheduled for 1:00 p.m.