TROJAN BOYS HOCKEY: Waseca overpowers Worthington boys

WORTHINGTON — Levi Leach scored the only goal of the game for the Worthington Trojans in a 6-1 loss to the Waseca Bluejays Saturday during a non-conference boys’ hockey game.

“I think we kind of reverted back to how we had been playing at the beginning of the season,” WHS coach Nate Grimmius said. “That is to say, we played with a lack of intensity and we took too many penalties.”

Worthington and Waseca both took eight penalties in the game, but the Bluejays were the only ones who were able to generate momentum through the man-advantage.

“I really anticipated coming into this game that we would hang in there with them more than we did,” Grimmius said. “We just couldn’t match their intensity.”

The Bluejays picked up their first goal of the game 3 minutes, 56 seconds into the first period on a shot by Wyatt Krampitz that beat Trojan goalie Rylan Scholtes down low. Waseca went up by two goals later in the first period on a rebound in front of the net that Michael Kunz slipped past Scholtes.

“I thought we would come out better than we did in the first period,” Grimmius said. “I didn’t think we would be down two to nothing. I said that in the locker room after the period. I was really expecting us to be a lot closer than that.”

Things only got worse for Worthington in the second period.

The Bluejays scored three more times in the second and the Trojans struggling to stay out of the penalty box.

“We talked about it in the locker room all year, that we have struggled coming out in the second period,” Grimmius said. “It was the same show today in the second.”

Michael Priebe, Daniel Stroda and Dan Riha scored for Waseca in the period.

“On those first few goals, there were misplays by the defense and they were some weird shots that got through,” Grimmius said. “They were weaker shots that you just don’t expect to land in the back of the net.”

The Trojans finally got on the board in the third period on Leach’s goal, but Priebe scored on a penalty shot for the Bluejays to stop any thoughts of a comeback.

“Towards the end of the third period we picked things up a little bit, but it still wasn’t the level of play I was looking for,” Grimmius said.

Trojan goalie Scholtes made 24 saves on 30 shots, while the Worthington offense put 28 shots on Bluejay goalie Zac Weichert.

“Tonight was just a lack of hustle and a lack of effort,” Grimmius said. “Plain and simple, if we are standing still then the puck goes around us. In this game, it is a fast sport and you have got to keep your feet moving.”

The Trojans (3-12) travel to Luverne to take on the Cardinals in the second game of a boys/girls doubleheader Tuesday.

If the Trojans want to be competitive with the Cardinals come Tuesday, Grimmius knows that his team will need to pick up their game and stop the march to the sin bin.

“It starts with staying out of the penalty box,” Grimmius said. “The game is pretty simple; if you go to the box it is going to limit your chances of winning. Luverne will hurt you on their power-play if you go to the box.”

Waseca 2 3 1 — 6

WHS 0 0 1 — 1

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