The Albert Lea boys’ hockey team traveled to Rochester Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for the annual Kiwanis Hockey Festival.

The Tigers played one game each day, splitting the first two games with an overtime win against Chippewa Falls on Wednesday and a loss to Fargo South/Shanley on Thursday. As of press time, results from Friday’s game were unavailable.

After climbing out to a 3-1 lead against Chippewa Falls, Albert Lea saw that lead dwindle as the game went into overtime. Albert Lea pulled it together to get the win, however, 5-4.

Senior Cole Wentzel put the Tigers up just three minutes into play with an even-strength goal, assisted by senior Carson Goodell. The Cardinals answered right back with a goal of their own less than a minute later, evening the game at 1-1.

The Tigers added another two goals before the end of the first period — the first coming again from Wentzel, who was assisted by Goodell and junior Jacob Prihoda. The second goal was from junior Owen Zelenal just over nine minutes into play; he was assisted by senior Jack Edwin and junior Campbell Cichosz.

The first half of the second period was quiet for both teams, with the first goal coming more than 10 minutes into the period by Chippewa Falls. Cichosz quickly brought the lead back to two goals 14 minutes into the second with an unassisted goal, but Chippewa Falls added another goal just before the end of the period to to bring the score to 4-3 entering the third.

The Cardinals scored the only goal of the third period, evening the score 4-4 at the 7:40 mark. Neither team found the net before the end of regulation, sending the Tigers to overtime for the fifth time in nine games this season.

It didn’t take long for Albert Lea to end the game in overtime. Just 17 seconds into the period, Edwin scored a goal assisted by Zelenak, giving Albert Lea the win.

Thursday’s game against Fargo South/Shanley didn’t end as well for Albert Lea.

The Tigers scored their lone goal of the game in the third period, already facing a 3-0 deficit. The Bruins held on to win the game, 4-1.

The Bruins scored one goal in both the first and second period, and added another in the third before sophomore Marcus Dempewolf put the Tigers on the board with an unassisted goal 11 minutes into the period. Despite the goal, the deficit would prove to be too much when the Bruins scored a fourth goal four minutes later.

The Tigers move to 5-5 on the season, not factoring in the results of Friday’s game. They will be back in action Thursday when they travel to Red Wing to take on the 3-6 Wingers.