The Mound Westonka boys hockey team played two Wright County Conference teams the week of January 23^rd. The boys skated away with two victories, at Orono and at home against Litchfield.

Tuesday, January 24 the boys faced off against the Spartans at Orono Ice Arena in what is always an exciting, entertaining game. The opening period was scoreless with both teams playing tight defense and only three minor penalties at the end of the first 17 minutes. The White Hawks were called for tripping at .45 of the 2^nd and Orono took advantage on the power play at 1.27 when Jimmy Lee stole the puck in the neutral zone and skated around the White Hawk defenseman firing a shot high into the back of the MW net. Just 13 seconds later, Gavin Payne repeated the feat from the other side and the White Hawks found themselves down by 2 early in the period.  Our boys settled down and closed the gap to one when David Bingham scooped a loose puck out of mid air high in the Orono slot and rifled a shot past the Spartan net minder at 8.07 with the Spartans leading 2-1 at the end of the 2^nd.

At 5.35 of the 3^rd the White Hawks were called for a 5 minute major for head contact and it did not look good for the visitors. That changed at 6.55 with sophomore Hunter Smith’s hard fore-check creating an Orono turnover that Charlie Curti pounced on, beating the goalie in tight for a shorthanded MW tally knotting up the game at two. The White Hawks completed the comeback at 11.50 on the power play when Blake Brady scored off a faceoff with the assists to Williams and Bingham. Late in the 3^rd at 16.04 the White hawks were called for a hook but held off the Spartans for the last 56 seconds, securing the 3-2 victory.

Friday, January 27 the Litchfield Dragons visited Thaler arena looking to avenge a 14-3 drubbing by our boys earlier in the month. The White Hawks opened the scoring at 10.45 of the 1^st on two pass feed from the corner to a breaking Alex Bakke with the assists to Bingham and Spanjers. Less than two minutes later junior Blake Brady scored an unassisted goal with a high shot from the left blue line over the outstretched glove of the Dragon goalie. Late in the 1^st at 16.36 Riley Williams collected a Nick Tschida pass and skated into the Litchfield zone, around the defenseman and goal tender tucking in the puck on the far side of the crease for a MW 3-0 lead at the end of the opening period. The White Hawks outshot Litchfield 15-2 in the opening frame and it looked like it might be a long night for the visitors.

The scoring continued in the 2^nd with Blake Brandstetter firing a hard low shot from the left point at 2.33 on the power play assisted by Tschida and Williams. Junior Jeremy Schulz added to the lead on a rebound wheeling the puck around the sprawled Dragon goaltender assisted by T. Palm and O’Borsky at 4.40. Oborsky added a goal at 9.00 on a rebound with a shot from the left circle assisted by Schulz and T.Palm. Litchfield scored late in the period on the power play and again at 16.45 off a White Hawk defensive zone mistake but could not match the MW speed and skill with the White Hawks leading 6-2 at the end of two.

There was no scoring in the 3^rd period and only one minor penalty. Mound Westonka swept the season series with a 6-2 win outshooting the Dragons 46-19 in the game. In both games this week the goaltending duo of junior Andy Seats and senior David Engel played consistent and solid as usual for the White Hawks. Both net minders are having great seasons and have kept the boys in many games when called upon. Next up for the home team, a late afternoon scrimmage at Shakopee Tuesday, February 7.