DUBUQUE, Iowa – The word on the rink was that the Dubuque River Dogs would be one of the better teams the Albert Lea Blades had faced this season.

Tuesday, December 11, 2001

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The word on the rink was that the Dubuque River Dogs would be one of the better teams the Albert Lea Blades had faced this season.

It sure didn’t look like it.

The Blades, Albert Lea’s adult amateur hockey team, outscored the River Dogs 22-4 in a pair of weekend victories at Dubuque.

&uot;We completely dominated this team,&uot; said Blades general manager Jason Fornwald. &uot;They’re probably the weakest team we’ve played this year. We heard they were one of the better teams. That rumor was definitely not true.&uot;

The wins kept the Blades unbeaten in the Upper Midwest Hockey League at 6-0 and improved their overall record to 9-1.

The Blades came out of the gate fast Saturday, scoring twice within the first two minutes en route to a 13-1 triumph.

Travis Brua was the leader, scoring six goals. Netting one goal each were Mike Nelson, Justin Bolinger, Harley Klimmek, Kris Ellsworth, David Nystrom, Mike Carlson, Mike Miller and Nate Ellsworth. Fornwald was in goal, estimating the shots on goal at about 60-20 in favor of Albert Lea.

Nystrom and Kris Ellsworth had two goals apiece Sunday, when the Blades won 9-3. Fornwald was again in goal, with the shots about 50-15 in Albert Lea’s favor.

The Blades have a pair of home games this weekend with the Quad Cities Senators, at 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday on the main rink at the City Arena.