MONROE - The Monroe Avalanche's 8-1 loss to Monona Grove in a Badger South Conference showdown had a little bit of everything from power play goals to short-handed goals and an unexpected ejection in a heated game.
Monona Grove senior Zach Johnston scored two goals and senior Travis Johnston scored one goal and had three assists to propel the Silver Eagles to the conference win over the Avalanche Thursday, Jan. 16 at SLICE.
Tempers flared at the end of the second period when it appeared a Monroe player threw a punch in a cluster of players near the Silver Eagles' bench. The Avalanche were called for two minor penalties and one major penalty. The Silver Eagles were called for minor penalties and Monroe freshman Tyler Johnson was ejected.
"That's not hockey," Monroe coach Nate Brown said. "I'm proud of my guys because they weren't talking or whining to the refs. They (Monona Grove) do that to each team they play. It's no secret to each team in the conference. When there is a mess like that it's hard on the refs. I thought they did a good job. It was both teams. There was no one on their team that was innocent. We just can't get lured in because they always call the second one."
The Avalanche (3-6, 0-6 Badger South) were called for nine penalties and the Silver Eagles were called for seven.
"We have a lot of talent on this team," Brown said. "We have to go all out on the ice all the time. You have seen our bench. We have just 12 guys."
Monona Grove junior Derek Provenzano scored a goal 12 minutes, 15 seconds into the first period on an assist from Hayden Johnson. Travis Johnston punched in a goal in the last 2 minutes of the first period to give the Silver Eagles a 2-0 lead.
The Silver Eagles scored three goals in the second period. Zach Johnston scored two goals in the second to help the Silver Eagles take a 5-0 lead. Both teams played a little more physical late in the second period before pushing, shoving and an apparent punch was thrown.
"We just made some stupid mistakes that we can't have," Avalanche senior Jake Trickel said, who scored the team's only goal in the third period. "We have to stay out of the (penalty) box. As a player you just have to try to contain yourself and know that you have to be out there for your team. They have a couple of players when they do good they get a little chippy, it bothers us and we retaliate back at them."
The Silver Eagles entered the third period with a 5-0 lead. Monona Grove freshman defenseman Alex Baldwin scored a power play goal at 28 seconds in the third on an assist by Travis Johnston. About 2 minutes later, Monona Grove's Alec West scored a power play goal on an assist by Andrew Schuchardt to give the Silver Eagles a 7-0 lead.
Trickel scored a short-handed third period goal off a pass from junior Brett Jones to put the Avalanche on the board.
"All I saw was Jones pass the puck up the ice," Trickel said. "I thought I could out-run them. It just feels good to score against a high caliber team like Monona Grove."
The Silver Eagles outshot the Avalanche 43-17. Monroe senior goaltender Ethan Studer had a game-high 35 saves.
"He (Studer) played a really nice game," Brown said. "We have a lot of talented guys. As far as in my mind, it's just a matter of getting those breaks."
Monona Grove senior Zach Johnston scored two goals and senior Travis Johnston scored one goal and had three assists to propel the Silver Eagles to the conference win over the Avalanche Thursday, Jan. 16 at SLICE.
Tempers flared at the end of the second period when it appeared a Monroe player threw a punch in a cluster of players near the Silver Eagles' bench. The Avalanche were called for two minor penalties and one major penalty. The Silver Eagles were called for minor penalties and Monroe freshman Tyler Johnson was ejected.
"That's not hockey," Monroe coach Nate Brown said. "I'm proud of my guys because they weren't talking or whining to the refs. They (Monona Grove) do that to each team they play. It's no secret to each team in the conference. When there is a mess like that it's hard on the refs. I thought they did a good job. It was both teams. There was no one on their team that was innocent. We just can't get lured in because they always call the second one."
The Avalanche (3-6, 0-6 Badger South) were called for nine penalties and the Silver Eagles were called for seven.
"We have a lot of talent on this team," Brown said. "We have to go all out on the ice all the time. You have seen our bench. We have just 12 guys."
Monona Grove junior Derek Provenzano scored a goal 12 minutes, 15 seconds into the first period on an assist from Hayden Johnson. Travis Johnston punched in a goal in the last 2 minutes of the first period to give the Silver Eagles a 2-0 lead.
The Silver Eagles scored three goals in the second period. Zach Johnston scored two goals in the second to help the Silver Eagles take a 5-0 lead. Both teams played a little more physical late in the second period before pushing, shoving and an apparent punch was thrown.
"We just made some stupid mistakes that we can't have," Avalanche senior Jake Trickel said, who scored the team's only goal in the third period. "We have to stay out of the (penalty) box. As a player you just have to try to contain yourself and know that you have to be out there for your team. They have a couple of players when they do good they get a little chippy, it bothers us and we retaliate back at them."
The Silver Eagles entered the third period with a 5-0 lead. Monona Grove freshman defenseman Alex Baldwin scored a power play goal at 28 seconds in the third on an assist by Travis Johnston. About 2 minutes later, Monona Grove's Alec West scored a power play goal on an assist by Andrew Schuchardt to give the Silver Eagles a 7-0 lead.
Trickel scored a short-handed third period goal off a pass from junior Brett Jones to put the Avalanche on the board.
"All I saw was Jones pass the puck up the ice," Trickel said. "I thought I could out-run them. It just feels good to score against a high caliber team like Monona Grove."
The Silver Eagles outshot the Avalanche 43-17. Monroe senior goaltender Ethan Studer had a game-high 35 saves.
"He (Studer) played a really nice game," Brown said. "We have a lot of talented guys. As far as in my mind, it's just a matter of getting those breaks."
