Coach Roy Nystrom couldn’t say for sure if the 11 penalties taken by the Albert Lea High School boys’ hockey team was a school record.

Saturday, January 27, 2001

Coach Roy Nystrom couldn’t say for sure if the 11 penalties taken by the Albert Lea High School boys’ hockey team was a school record.

He did know one thing for sure.

&uot;That certainly is way, way too many,&uot; said the veteran coach.

The Tigers, though, were able to overcome them Friday night while defeating Mankato West 4-2 in a Big Nine game at the City Arena.

The Tigers scored three of their goals in the first period and, according to Nystrom, held on from there.

&uot;We were definitely in command in the first period,&uot; said Nystrom. &uot;But the one thing we’ve stressed all year long is we have to play 45 minutes of hockey. We just have not played three solid periods of hockey – that’s the bottom line.&uot;

The first period was definitely the Tigers’ best.

Wade Westland put Albert Lea on the board at the 5:54 mark. Tyler Hegwood assisted on the goal.

Jamie Erickson made it 2-0 at 8:30, scoring on an assist from Jeff Hoium, and Dusty Wangen scored just 17 seconds later.

East had the edge in the second period, outshooting the Tigers 11-3, but the goals were one apiece. East scored at 4:47 and the Tigers at 14:10, with Egan Mattson getting the goal on assists from Brandon Drescher and Erickson.

The Cougars scored at 11:37 of the third period.

While pleased with the win, Nystrom was not happy with the penalties and said it’s an area the Tigers need to improve. The teams combined for 18 penalties, 11 on Albert Lea.

&uot;We have to play more disciplined,&uot; said Nystrom. &uot;Eleven penalties in a high school game is almost half the game. We can’t be skating a man short for half the game. We’re doing everything possible out there to let teams back in the game. We’ve got to be a bit more disciplined.&uot;

The win improved the Tigers to 4-7 in the Big Nine and 4-10 overall. After a Saturday game against Rochester John Marshall, the Tigers host Rochester Century Tuesday at 7:30 at the City Arena.