Austin Packers boys hockey team falls to Winona 5-1 Friday night

The Austin Packers boys hockey team was in Winona Friday night to kick off a regular season-ending five-game road swing versus the Winhawks in a Big 9 Conference and Section 1A matchup, and in a game that saw the Packers take a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal early in the second period, the Winhakws rallied back to score the next five, including three from high-scoring senior forward Teis Larson to win 5-1.

After a scoreless first period, sophomore forward Kyler Flanders gave Austin a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal, his third goal of the season at 4:10 of the second period, with assists to Isaac Anderson, his second, and to Gahvin Schaefer, his fourth.  The Winhawks then tallied three goals to take a 3-1 lead after two periods, and they added a pair of goals at 9:29 and 14:29 of the third period for the 5-1 win.

The Winhawks outshot the Packers 33-11 for the game, and sophomore goaltender Zane Thoma turned away 28 of the 33 shots he faced, while Winona goalie Damon Noland made 10 saves in facing 11 shots to earn the win in net.  The Packers were whistled for two penalties for four minutes, while Winona was called for three penalties for six minutes, and the Packers were 1 for 3 on the power play, while the Winhawks were 1 for 2.

Austin is now 4-17-0 on the season overall, and 1-9 in the Big 9 Conference, and the Packers are back in action in Red Wing versus the Wingers Monday evening, with face-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m.