Raiders too much

Skaters fall to Hudson, Amery

By Bob Burrows

Two good periods of hockey is not enough when you go up against one of the best teams in the state-even if you have beaten them earlier in the season.

The Wildcat hockey team found that out last Thursday when the trailed Hudson 2-1 going into the third period. But four Raider goals, beginning with a shorthanded score three minutes into the period, resulted in a 6-1 Hudson win. The Cats played better at Amery on Saturday but still came out on the short end of a 4-3 decision.

"I felt that we played two good periods of hockey," coach Rick Hansen said about the Hudson loss. "I felt that we had the momentum. Their third goal hurt us, shorthanded early in the third period, then the fourth goal broke our backs."

The Raiders led 2-0 before Lee Purintun picked up a rebound of a Luke Ross shot and lifted it over Hudson goalie Mathew Moore to cut the gap to 2-1 less than four minutes into the second period. But that was all the scoring the Cats would get, despite outshooting Hudson 33-23 in the game. Greg Anderson started in goal for the Cats and made 17 saves before being replaced by Travis Duncan in the third.

Saturday at Amery, The Cats fell behind 2-0 in the first before Travis VanDynHoven scored with an assist from Todd Schultz and Ross scored with an assist from Steve Huser to tie the score 2-2. Amery widened the gap to 4-2 before Tanner Jenkins scored with assists from VanDynHoven and Sam Johnson to make the final 4-3. Duncan and Anderson combined for 25 saves in net.

"We lost the game but I felt this was the first time in a long time that we played as a team," Hansen said. "We had some opportunities that we couldn't make good on but at least we had some opportunities. We've lost four straight games but the team's spirit is up."