The Cedar Rapids Northlanders came to town riding high atop the Southern Division of the Upper Midwest Hockey League.

Tuesday, January 29, 2002

The Cedar Rapids Northlanders came to town riding high atop the Southern Division of the Upper Midwest Hockey League.

The Northern Division leaders knocked them down a notch. Make that two notches.

The Albert Lea Blades swept a weekend series at the City Arena, winning 11-2 Saturday and 7-1 Sunday to remain unbeaten in the league. The Blades are 15-1 overall.

Justin Bolinger, Mike Nelson and David Nystrom scored three goals apiece in the first game. Also scoring were Jeremy Hendrickson. Chad Hacker, Travis Brua, Kris Ellsworth and Harley Klimmek.

Jason Fornwald, the Blades’ general manager, went the distance in goal. He estimated the shots at about 50-15.

&uot;It was a hard fought game,&uot; said Fornwald. &uot;The score was pretty lop-sided, but this is the type of team that if we let up at all, we knew they’d be right back in it. It was pretty physical for a no-check league.&uot;

Two players sustained injuries. Klimmek hyperextended his knee and missed Sunday’s game. A Cedar Rapids player received stitches in his lip.

Nelson scored twice Sunday. Adding single goals were Bolinger, Nystrom, Hacker, Ellsworth and Hendrickson. Fornwald was again in goal, with shots on goal about 40-20.

&uot;It was the same thing, hard fought and physical,&uot; said Fornwald. &uot;Once again we had to work hard to get the win.&uot;

The next scheduled action for the Blades is Feb. 16 and 17 against Waverly at Waterloo.