Four goal second period avalanche buries Ducks in season opener

By Jim den Hollander  

Editor/Publisher  

Saukhockey.info 

A four goal second period uprising by the host MInnesota Moose threw a wrench into the plans for a strong start to the USPHL Premier Midwest-West Division season for the Dells Ducks on Friday night at Fogerty Ice Arena in Blaine, MN.

The Ducks faced its first adversity of the season through the week leading up to Friday’s game as a flu bug sent several to the sidelines for weekly practices. But Head Coach Anthony Rohde and his charges refuse to use that as an excuse, promising a better result in 24 hours when they do it all again. 

The Ducks first penalty of the season was a major, but the team killed it off in the first period and surrendered just one powerplay marker on six chances for the host Moose. The Ducks failed to score on eight chances with an extra skater including a couple two-man advantages and a Moose major in the final period. 

The Moose carried a 1-0 lead out of the first period with a late goal from Easton Harrison and Jaden Aguilera added another 68 seconds into the middle frame. 

Damien Calzada (‘06/Plainfield, iL) was the lone team member to collect a point on opening night, his unassisted goal 3:26 into the second getting the Ducks right back into the contest. 

The Moose rallied for three goals in the final eight minutes of the period to open the gap, then added two more in the third. 

Overall, the Moose held a 43-26 edge in shots in the contest including a 20-12 edge in the middle period. 

The win for the Moose was the first for Head Coach Nic Leibold who was inserted as a coach just a few weeks ago, when Joe Jonasson who had been with the team since it started six seasons ago, moved on to an assistant coach position with the Janesville Jets. 

Game two at the Fogerty Ice Arena in Blaine, MN will be played Saturday at 7:05 p.m.  

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