Doug Zmolek didn’t show up, but Doug Wick did. And he had plenty of help.

Wick, one of two former NHL players for the Rochester Rookies along with Zmolek, scored two goals as the Albert Lea Blades lost 10-5 in a Southern Minnesota Hockey League game at the City Arena Saturday.

&uot;They’re a very solid team,&uot; said Blades general manager Jason Fornwald. &uot;But they’re a team I think we can beat if we put three periods together. I guess you just can’t win them all.&uot;

It was the first loss of the year for the Blades, who fell to 4-1 in the league and 7-1 overall. It was the Rookies’ league opener.

Fornwald said that Wick, who spent time in the New York Islanders organization, was, &uot;Like a brick wall to get through on defense,&uot; but the player who gave the Blades the most trouble was Austin native Matt Ehrich, who scored four goals.

Rochester outshot Albert Lea 50-40. There were no penalties on either side.

&uot;It was a very clean, fast-paced game,&uot; said Fornwald. &uot;It was a lot of fun. Even though we lost, it was still a fun game to play.&uot;

It was a close game through the first period, after which Albert Lea led 3-2.

Rochester decided it with five unanswered goals in the second.

&uot;That was pretty much the ballgame,&uot; said Fornwald, who played the first half at goalie and allowed four goals. Rochester scored six with Josh Heilman in the net.

The Blades have another big game this Saturday, when they host the Austin Outlaws at 7:45 p.m. at the City Arena.