MONROE - Josh Smith, the Monroe boys hockey co-op coach, saw a lot of positives to build on despite a 6-3 nonconference loss by the Avalanche to DeForest Tuesday in their home opener at SLICE Arena.
Senior forward Hunter Walters scored three goals for the hat trick to lead the DeForest co-op, which includes players from DeForest, Poynette, Lodi, Columbus and Fall River high schools.
Senior Tyler Johnson scored two goals, and sophomore Joe Wyss had two assists for Monroe (0-2). The Avalanche trailed 3-2 to start the third period.
"Overall, I was encouraged by the way we played, and I can't wait until we play them again later in the season," Smith said. "We played really well and momentum was on our side. Then we ended up taking some preventable penalties, and DeForest pulled ahead."
The Norskies outshot the Avalanche 61-26, but Monroe stayed close on the scoreboard until DeForest scored three goals in the third period. The Avalanche committed four of their six penalties in the third period.
Walters scored his third goal with 16 minutes, 1 second to go in the final period to give the Norskies a 4-2 lead. DeForest freshman Mitchell Thompson scored the first of his two goals on a power-play goal to give the Norskies a 5-2 lead with 12:03 left.
Monroe Avalanche sophomore Colton O'Connor of Orangeville scored a goal on an assist from freshman Jared Dillon at 7:51 to cut the Norskies' lead to 5-3. With 5:21 to go, Thompson scored his second goal to seal the win.
Monroe freshman goalkeeper Heath Bear had a game-high 55 saves.
Monroe started the game strong. Johnson scored the game's first goal on an assist by Wyss about 6 minutes into the first period. Walters answered with his first goal less than two minutes later on assists from Logan Wright and Trent Bachman to tie the game at 1. Moments later, Wright scored a go-ahead goal to give the Norskies a 2-1 lead at the end of the first.
Walters scored a power-play goal early in the second period to extend the Norskies' lead to 3-1. The Avalanche didn't go away quietly. Johnson scored his second goal on an assist by Wyss to cut the Norskies' lead to 3-2.
Senior forward Hunter Walters scored three goals for the hat trick to lead the DeForest co-op, which includes players from DeForest, Poynette, Lodi, Columbus and Fall River high schools.
Senior Tyler Johnson scored two goals, and sophomore Joe Wyss had two assists for Monroe (0-2). The Avalanche trailed 3-2 to start the third period.
"Overall, I was encouraged by the way we played, and I can't wait until we play them again later in the season," Smith said. "We played really well and momentum was on our side. Then we ended up taking some preventable penalties, and DeForest pulled ahead."
The Norskies outshot the Avalanche 61-26, but Monroe stayed close on the scoreboard until DeForest scored three goals in the third period. The Avalanche committed four of their six penalties in the third period.
Walters scored his third goal with 16 minutes, 1 second to go in the final period to give the Norskies a 4-2 lead. DeForest freshman Mitchell Thompson scored the first of his two goals on a power-play goal to give the Norskies a 5-2 lead with 12:03 left.
Monroe Avalanche sophomore Colton O'Connor of Orangeville scored a goal on an assist from freshman Jared Dillon at 7:51 to cut the Norskies' lead to 5-3. With 5:21 to go, Thompson scored his second goal to seal the win.
Monroe freshman goalkeeper Heath Bear had a game-high 55 saves.
Monroe started the game strong. Johnson scored the game's first goal on an assist by Wyss about 6 minutes into the first period. Walters answered with his first goal less than two minutes later on assists from Logan Wright and Trent Bachman to tie the game at 1. Moments later, Wright scored a go-ahead goal to give the Norskies a 2-1 lead at the end of the first.
Walters scored a power-play goal early in the second period to extend the Norskies' lead to 3-1. The Avalanche didn't go away quietly. Johnson scored his second goal on an assist by Wyss to cut the Norskies' lead to 3-2.
