With Orono moving from the Wright County Conference to the Metro West Conference this year, the Spartans would have just one shot at their former conference rival, Delano.
In their lone meeting of the 2021-22 regular season, Orono took advantage.
The Spartans defeated the Tigers at their home rink 3-2. The win not only gives Orono bragging rights for the rest of the regular season but also a chance for the Spartans to turn some things around after a slow start.
Less than a minute after Delano had tied the game up at one early in the third period, Orono’s Bradley Walker snuck a backhander into the net to put the Spartans ahead 2-1. Orono never relinquished the lead from there as the Spartans took down their west-metro rival, 3-2, on Thursday at Delano Area Sports Arena.
The Spartans (4-5-1, 2-1-1) came out ready against their Class 1A, Section 2 rivals. Orono outshot Delano, ranked No. 5 in the Dec. 15 Class 1A coaches’ poll, 11-8 in the opening period.
Despite the Spartans leading in shots, neither team netted a goal in the game’s opening period.
Minutes into the second period, Orono got the game’s first goal. Sitting open in the slot, Spartan sophomore defenseman Brody Finnegan converted on his chance to make it 1-0. The goal was Finnegan’s second of the season.
With 15:20 remaining in the third period, the Tigers (6-2, 2-0) finally broke through against Orono and tied the game at one. Delano sophomore forward Teague Collings got his team’s lone goal.
Shortly after the Tiger goal, Walker raced down and made it 2-1 via his backhanded attempt for his team-leading 8th goal of the season.
In the final minute of the third period, the scoring picked up. Orono’s Caden Bickett gave his team some insurance with an empty-net tally with less than a minute remaining in the third period.
Delano responded later in that stretch as Anders Peterson scored to cut the lead to 3-2.
Orono junior goaltender Brock Peyton gave up the two goals while slowing a Tiger offense that came into the game averaging more than four goals per game. He finished with 20 saves in a winning effort. Meanwhile, Delano goaltender Tommy Huotari stopped 18 of 20 shots.
The MN Hockey Hub poll is for entertainment purposes only.