Albert Lea Blades avenge losses to Rochester Rookies

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 14, 2003

KASSON &045; The Albert Lea Blades are still waiting to see Doug Zmolek skate.

But they finally have a victory over the Rochester Rookies.

The Blades, 0-2 in previous meetings with the Rookies, defeated them 8-6 in a Southern Minnesota Hockey League game at Kasson Saturday night in which Rochester was without former NHL players Zmolek and Doug Wick.

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&uot;It was nice to finally get the win,&uot; said Blades general manager Jason Fornwald. &uot;It probably didn’t hurt that they were a little shorthanded.&uot;

While the Rookies had their best offensive player, Matt Ehrich, he was among only seven Rochester skaters. The Blades had 11 skaters, plus Fornwald in goal.

&uot;The guys skated hard,&uot; said Fornwald. &uot;We knew we had a little bit of an advantage with the extra manpower, and we didn’t want to let this one slip by. It was nice to get the win.&uot;

The win improved Albert Lea to 5-2 in the league and 8-2 overall. The Rookies, who tied Austin 6-6 the previous night, fell to 3-1-1 in the SMHL.

Trailing 3-2 after one period, the Blades took a 5-4 lead into the third and, with the score knotted 6-6 with about three minutes remaining, Travis Diaz scored the gamewinning goal.

Diaz, Marty Anderson and Kris Ellsworth all scored two goals apiece. Justin Bolinger and Jeremy Hendrickson each scored once. Fornwald estimated shots on goal at 40 apiece. Albert Lea had four penalties, Rochester three.

Mike Carlson played an outstanding game on defense, according to Fornwald.

The Blades face the other Rochester team, Landon Trophy, at 8:15 p.m. Saturday at the City Arena.