PEE WEE BOYS HOCKEY: Trojans’ PeeWee B hockey team off to 5-1 start

WORTHINGTON — The Worthington Pee Wee B hockey team, comprised of 17 fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders from the Worthington and Spirit Lake, Iowa, areas, earned a split of its games last weekend against New Ulm/Sleepy Eye and Luverne.

The Trojans are 5-1 overall and 3-1 versus Minnesota Hockey District 4 competition.

NU/SE 6, Worthington 2

On Saturday in Sleepy Eye, the Trojans suffered their first lost of the season, coming up on the short of end of a contest against New Ulm/Sleepy Eye.

Worthington started slowly, allowing NU/SE to stake a 3-0 lead, before storming back in the second period with consecutive goals by Max Carlson and Eric Heidebrink to make it a one-goal contest.

However, NU/SE proved to be resilient, scoring three unanswered goals to seal the victory.

New Ulm/Sleepy Eye outshot Worthington 30-16, with Trojan goalies Carter Ponto and Sam Fellows splitting time in net.

Worthington 7, Luverne 2

On Sunday, the Trojans traveled to Luverne and defeated the Cardinals.

Worthington took control of this game early, with 12 shots and first-period goals by Karter Honius and Ryan Newman.

After Luverne’s Matthew Jelken scored to cut the Worthington lead to 2-1, the Trojans pulled away with three unanswered goals in the second period from Heidebrink and two from Davis Moore.

Newman added two more goals in the third period to complete his hat trick, while Luverne’s Hayden Kruse added another goal for the Cardinals.

Worthington outshot Luverne 33-15, with Trojans goalie Fellows making 13 saves and Cardinal goalie Max Skattum stopping 26 shots.

Worthington 5, Sioux Falls 1

Worthington 8, River Lakes 0

The Trojans won two non-District 4 games Nov. 17-18, defeating Sioux Falls Flyers-West (Orange) and the River Lakes Stars Red.

After a scoreless first period against the Flyers and a 1-1 game after two periods, Worthington pulled away from Sioux Falls on Nov. 17 with four unanswered goals in the third period.

Carlson earned a hat trick for Worthington, with three consecutive goals that was only interrupted by a Flyers tally. Two of his goals were assisted by Heidebrink, who also scored a power play goal in the third period, assisted by defenseman Seth Voss. Bryce Olsen completed the Trojans’ scoring off a pass from Anthony Fogelman.

Worthington outshot Sioux Falls 38-12, with Ponto earning the win with 11 saves.

On Nov. 18, the Trojans overwhelmed River Lakes Red, with five goals coming in the third period to seal the win.

River Lakes, a multi-community association from the Paynesville and Cold Spring areas, stayed with Worthington through two periods, but was unable to put a shot past Fellows.

Fogelman earned a hat trick to lead Worthington, with Carlson scoring two goals in support. Also scoring for the Trojans were Newman, Emilio Matias and Voss. Tom Bauman assisted on two of the Worthington goals.

Worthington outshot River Lakes 31-16.

Worthington 4, Marshall 1

Worthington 6, Luverne 1

The Trojans’ season started with a pair of games Nov. 10-11 against Marshall and Luverne.

Setting a tone that has characterized a number of the Worthington games so far this year, the Trojans overcame a slow start and a hot goalie at Marshall to earn a victory Nov. 10.

Parker Valen, Heidebrink (two) and Matias all scored goals for Worthington. Assists came from Moore, Bauman, Fogelman and Honius.

Ponto preserved the win for the Trojans with seven saves as Worthington outshot the Tigers 35-8.

On Nov. 11, Worthington opened its home season with a solid win over Luverne.

The Trojans extended a 2-1 first-period lead with a goal in the second period and three more in the third period.

Fogelman scored two goals for Worthington, with single tallies being credited to Carlson, Heiebrink, Honius and Bauman. Matias earned two assists for the Trojans with Honius claiming the other.

Kruse scored for Luverne with an assist credited to Jelken.

Worthington outshot the Cardinals 47-10, with Fellows making nine saves. Goalie Emily Bartels played an excellent game for Luverne, making 41 saves.

Up Next

In addition to the Trojans mentioned above, other team members include Gage Anderson, Lance Hibma, O.D. Othow and Brian Dykstra. Worthington is coached by John Standafer and George Carlson.

The Trojans are back in action Saturday at Fairmont.

BANTAM

NU/SE 2, Worthington 1

Gage Langerud stopped 22 of 24 shots as Worthington dropped a one-goal decision to New Ulm/Sleepy Eye on Saturday in Sleepy Eye.

This is Langerud’s first season playing hockey.

Tony Lopez scored a goal for the Trojans.

Worthington used eight skaters in the contest and had chances to tie the game late in the third period.

The Trojans host Fairmont at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Tags: pee wee, sports, prep, hockey, boys