ONALASKA – Led by a four-point effort from Aaron Ehlenfeldt, Beaver Dam salvaged a split at this weekend’s boys hockey tournament in Onalaska with Saturday’s 4-3 win over La Crosse Aquinas.
“Overall we played well in all aspects,” Beaver Dam coach Chris Huebel said. “Defensively, we played well and limited them to 22 shots, which was a concern.
“We grew a lot this weekend. We played solid defense and didn’t give them many opportunities in the third period. Last year we gave those games away.”
The Golden Beavers (1-1) responded to an early power-play goal from the Blugolds with two man-advantage strikes of their own 2 minutes, 43 seconds apart. Ehlenfeldt was set up by Tanner Brandsma and Ryan Miller at 7:04 before Chris Flick put BD on top with assists to Ehlenfeldt and Alex Schmitt.
“After the first power-play goal, our penalty killers made the adjustment,” Huebel said. “We were very successful after that.
“Aaron’s line with Tanner and Nick Szopinski played well all weekend. I was happy with all of our lines.”
BD gave up a goal in the final 20 seconds of the first period, which could have been troublesome had the Beavers not struck 38 seconds into the second stanza. Ehlenfeldt scored off an assist from Brandsma.
Aquinas pulled even late in the period but the Beavers got the game-winner 63 seconds later. Brandsma found the net with the help of Szopinski and Ehlenfeldt.
“The kids responded well on a short turnaround,” Huebel said. “Aquinas was a real physical team.”
BD has its home opener Tuesday when Oshkosh visits.
BEAVER DAM 4, LA CROSSE AQUINAS 3
Beaver Dam 2 2 0 - 4
La Crosse Aquinas 2 1 0 - 3
First period: A – Barnes (Schreiner, Koons), 2:27 (pp); BD – Ehlenfeldt (Brandsma, Miller), 7:04 (pp); Flick (Ehlenfeldt, A. Schmitt), 9:47 (pp); A – Robinson, 16:40.
Second period: BD – Ehlenfeldt (Brandsma), :38; A – Toppen (Barnes), 13:40; BD – Brandsma (Szopinski, Ehlenfelt), 14:43.
Saves: BD (Canales) 19, A (Burg) 26. Penalties: BD 8-16, A 8-24.