The Alexandria boys hockey team improved to 10-6-1 and 6-2-1 in Central Lakes Conference play with a 2-1 victory over Sauk Rapids-Rice Thursday.
Alexandria has swept the season series against Sauk Rapids-Rice (5-13, 2-6 CLC) with Thursday’s win and a 9-4 win on Dec. 14, 2021.
Senior Josiah Gronholz led the Cardinals’ offense with one goal and one assist. Gronholz scored the game-sealing goal for the Cardinals in the second period (14:42) unassisted and short-handed.
Gronholz leads the Cardinals this season in goals with 15 and in points with 37. He also leads the team in assists with 22, one ahead of Tyler Kludt.
Senior forward Brycen Berg scored the first goal of the game on an assist from Gronholz and Kludt. That goal put the Cardinals ahead 1-0 midway through the first period.
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Sauk Rapids-Rice made it a one-goal game 2:44 into the final frame, but a goal that would have tied the game at the buzzer was called off.
Senior Gabe Evink earned the win in net for the Cardinals with 25 saves.
The Cardinals finished with a 33-26 advantage in shots on goal. Ten penalties were committed in the game, six on the Cardinals and four on the Storm.
Alexandria is on a four-game road winning streak. The Cardinals return home for a battle with Little Falls (17-2) on Monday. Puck drop is at 7:15 p.m.
Little Falls beat Alexandria 7-6 earlier this season on Dec. 7, 2021.
Alexandria girls take care of River Lakes
The Alexandria girls hockey team (Section 6AA) bounced back from a shutout loss to Willmar Tuesday with a 4-0 victory Thursday over Section 6A opponent, the River Lakes Stars .
Two Cardinals scored their first varsity goals, freshman forward Julia Doherty and sophomore defender Kylie Lattimer.
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Junior forward Lauren Maras and senior forward Hanley Block scored the other two goals for the Cardinals.
Senior defender MaKenna Aure led the Cardinals in assists with two while Block and Maras had one, as well as freshman forward Kennedy Ellingson.
Senior goal HaileeAnn Bailey earned the win in net for the Cardinals, pitching a shutout and making 17 saves.
The Cardinals move to 10-9-1 (6-4 Central Lakes Conference) on the season while the Stars fall to 13-10 (3-7 CLC).
Alexandria continues its busy week with a home game at 7:15 p.m. Friday against the Grand Rapids/Greenway Lightning (13-8, Section 7AA).
