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The Alexandria Blizzard ended the month of December on an 8-game winning streak and headed into 2023 with a record 19-5-1 in the 2022-23 season after picking up road wins on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31, 2022.
Alexandria ended the 2022 calendar year with a 4-1 win on the road over the New Ulm Steel on Dec. 30 and a 6-4 win at home at the Runestone Community Center over the Minnesota Loons on Dec. 31.
A pair of goals by Ashton Collings gave the Blizzard a 2-0 lead against the Steel heading into the first frame.
New Ulm (9-16-3) scored once in the second frame to cut its deficit in half heading into the third frame, but Alexandria iced the game with a goal by Ryan Hadland early in the final frame and a late goal by Jayden Luck to end the game.
Luck, Gavin Carlson, Bazl Cook, Logan Lukasezck, and Ethan Moerke each had one assist in the game, while Wyatt Johnson had two.
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Alexandria had a 38-22 shot on goal advantage in the game. Alex Lamont earned the win in net for Alexandria and collected 21 saves. Alexandria is 2-1 this season against New Ulm.
Sean Kenny put the Blizzard up 1-0 in the first period of their New Year’s Eve game against the Loons, and after he and Lukasezck scored early in the second frame, the Blizzard led 3-1.
The Loons (10-19) got some momentum back by scoring a goal midway through the frame, but the Blizzard responded with goals by Justin Wasvick and Matt McIntyre (power play) to go up 5-1 with seven and a half minutes left in the second frame.
The Loons scored once at the end of the second frame, and after two goals in the third frame, they cut their deficit to one (5-4) with 2:24 left in the game.
An empty net goal by Josiah Gronholz, with 24 seconds left, iced the Blizzard’s 6-4 win.
Charlie Larsen had a team-high three assists for the Blizzard in the win, while Hadland had two. Moerke, Gronholz, Erick Sanborn, and Cole Klingbeil all had one assist.
The Blizzard finished the game with a 36-26 shot on goal advantage. Hunter Chubb picked up the win in net for the Blizzard as he collected 22 saves in the game.
The Blizzard are 5-0 this season now against the Loons.
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Alexandria is once again on the road to play New Ulm on Friday at 7:10 p.m., and then it heads to Willmar on Saturday to face the Willmar WarHawks (12-14-1) at 7:10 p.m.
