The boys hockey team opened the season Saturday 11/26 against the HIBBING BLUEJACKETS. There was a large crowd on hand for the thanksgiving weekend game. HIBBING traveled down for the day after losing their home opener 6-1 to LITTLE FALLS.

          The game started out at a brisk pace with HIBBING controlling the play for several minutes of the first period. The WHITEHAWKS took two penalties early in the period. The first came just one minute into the game with WILL GRIFFITH getting the gate for holding. Three minutes later at 3.53 of the period CHARLIE HALES was penalized for a trip. HIBBING was not able to score on either power play but did hold a 10 to 3 shot advantage roughly half way thru the period. The WHITEHAWKS did start to get some breaks after a high sticking call at 13.20 of the first and a late period trip at 16.53 by the BLUEJACKETS. Shots on goal at the end of the first were MOUND six and HIBBING eleven with no score.

          MOUND started the 2nd period on the power play and was not able to capitalize. At 5.40 of the 2nd JACK BRANDSTETER was called for a trip. HIBBING took advantage and scored on the power play with a high shot over the shoulder of MOUND goalie DAVID ENGEL at 7.01 of the period. About a minute later, ENGEL made a difficult save when the BLUEJACKETS came down the on a two on one. The game was (junior) ENGELS first varsity action and he finished the game facing 34 shots on the evening. The WHITEHAWKS tied the game at 7.55 on a low hard slapshot by (senior) defenseman MATT PEARSON from the left point. The goal was scored with our 4th line on the ice. They provided consistant pressure when on the ice with a buzzing, attacking style by the 1st year high school players. (HUNTER SMITH, ADAM SJOQUIST, TANNER PALM) SMITH notched his first varisty point with an assist on PEARSONS goal. HIBBING took the lead later in the 2nd with a goal by (sophomore) ADAM JOHNSON. he scored after a flurry of shots and rebounds in close on ENGEL. Senior HIBBING player NICK DECENZO had 3 assists on the night and is the leading returning scorer from last years team. The second period came to a close with both teams taking minor penaltys late in the period.