USM 3 vs Delano 4

     In the consolation game of the Bob Nelson Tournament at Blake School in Minneapolis, the University School boys ice hockey team dropped a close game to Delano School of Delano, MN by a 4-3 score. 

     USM outshot the Tigers 11-3 in the first period, but the goaltending of Delano’s Ryan Pinoniemi and USM’s Ben Myers kept the game scoreless.

     The scoring floodgates swung wide open in the second as a total of six goals were scored.  Delano began the outburst.  Drake Hunter took a shot from the top of the circle and Andrew Ernest knocked in the rebound at 1:20.

      Delano increased its lead to 2-0 at 5:17.  Delano defenseman Chaz Heikkila sent a pass out of the Delano zone to Bobby Emmer.  Emmer cruised through the reaching sticks of three USM players in center ice and moved into the USM zone unimpeded.  He pulled up along the right side boards and rifled a hard shot that beat Myers high on the far side.

     The Wildcats got their first goal at 10:32.  Alex Tesensky picked off a Delano pass at center ice and galloped down the left side of the Delano zone.  As he neared the low end of the circle, he laced a pass back to the slot to Simon Leahy.  Leahy moved around a defender and sent a pass back in to Tesensky, who had moved to the edge of the crease.  Tesensky quickly snapped the puck past Pinoniemi, making the score 2-1.

     USM scored their second exactly two minutes later.  Mucking for the puck in the Delano corner, Aaron Storch kicked the puck off a Delano stick to Tesensky.  Tesensky swung around and lined a pass to Leahy all alone in the high slot.  Leahy one-timed it past Pinoniemi to tie the game.

     Delano moved ahead for good with two goals in the last minute of the second period.  Fighting for the puck behind the USM net, Tyler Heinonen got it and popped it out front to Emmer who was as uncovered as a bed in the desert in summertime.  Emmer popped the puck past Myers at 16:04.

     Heinonen scored the eventual game winner unassisted.  He got a loose puck in center ice and saw that the USM defensemen were hanging back in the USM zone instead of moving out to stop his progress.  So he calmly skated it across the blue line and gunned a high shot past Myers’ shoulder with just 4 seconds left in the period.

     USM scored a short-handed goal for the third period’s only tally.  Penalty killing, Storch got the puck inside the USM zone and sent a clearing pass into center ice to Corey Roadhouse who had dashed ahead.   Roadhouse sped off on a breakaway.  He swept in on Pinoniemi and flipped the puck over the goalie’s glove at 3:27.

     In the game Pinoniemi made 23 saves while Myers made 21.

     Delano is now 1-1.  USM, on the other hand, has not yet won in the young season and is 0-3.  The Wildcats hope December is kinder than November as they return to Wisconsin for a home series against teams from Wausau.  On Friday, December 4th, USM hosts D.C. Everest High School at 7:00 p.m.  The Wildcats then face highly ranked Wausau West at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 5th.