Mitchell Marlins boys hockey goes 2-1 on opening weekend
Nov. 27—MITCHELL — Playing in three home games to open the season, the Mitchell Marlins boys hockey team scored in bunches in the first two games before the scoring spigot ran dry on Sunday in a 2-1 start to the season.
The Marlins won 8-2 over Huron on Friday and 8-6 over Oahe on Saturday before falling 11-0 to Brookings on Sunday, all at the Mitchell Activities Center.
Against Huron on Friday, the Marlins took a 2-0 lead after one period and widened it to 7-1 through two frames. The Marlins were 4-for-6 on the power play and killed seven Huron power-play chances in a game that had a combined 20 penalties. Tyson Sabers and Levi Loken each had two goals, with Loken posting a four-point game and Sabers tallying three. Mick Dailey, Parker Denne, Brody Huls and Victor Contreras each scored goals, with two assists from Lukas Jerke. Huls and Dailey each added an assist for a two-point game. Ian Vaughan had 20 saves for Mitchell for the win in net, while Mitchell outshot Huron, 34-21.
Mitchell had a huge rally for their second win of the season, coming back from 5-1 down midway through the second period after Pierre led 3-0 through the opening period. Levi Loken scored four times, including the game-tying goal with 11:03 remaining in the game. Pacxton Denne scored with less than 4 minutes left and Parker Denne's power-play goal with 1:23 remaining served as the insurance marker for an 8-6 win for Mitchell. The two teams tied for shots on goal with 33 each, with five points from Loken (four goals, one assist, and three each from Pacxton Denne (one goal, two assists) and Parker Denne (two goals, one assist). Brennan Penne opened the scoring for Mitchell with a second-period goal, as well. Vaughan had 27 saves in the win for Mitchell.
On Sunday, Brookings — the three-time state defending champions — cruised with an 11-0 win, including a 47-12 edge in shots. Mitchell took 14 penalties in the loss for 35 minutes in the box, and the Rangers converted 6-of-11 power-play chances. Riley Linstad had three goals to lead Brookings, with two each for Jackson Heller and Owen Schneider. Ian Vaughan had 36 saves in the loss for the Marlins, while Addison Ronning had a 12-save shutout for the Rangers.
Mitchell (2-1) will play two games at Rushmore this weekend, with a 9 p.m. start time on Saturday, Dec. 2, followed by a 5 p.m. puck drop on Sunday, Dec. 3 in Rapid City.
MITCHELL — The Mitchell Marlins girls hockey team started the season on the Thanksgiving weekend, finishing with a tie and a loss in two contests to open South Dakota Amateur Hockey Association high school play.
The Marlins skated to a 4-4 tie against Oahe on Saturday, Nov. 25, followed by a 6-0 loss at Sioux Falls on Sunday, Nov. 26.
In Friday's matchup, Mitchell trailed 2-0 and then scored three goals in a row to take a lead and ultimately had a Brynlee Sabers goal midway through the third period that evened the matchup at 4-all for good.
Reese Amick, Livaya Mimmack and Sabers all scored in the second period, with Mimmack's goal coming on the power play. Sabers had an assist to go with two goals and Mimmack finished with an assist, as did Tristen Zimmer. Eva Ramm had 29 saves in the tie for Mitchell, while the Marlins outshot Oahe 34-33.
On Sunday, Mitchell was outshot 41-14 and the Flyers posted four goals in the second period to pull away from Mitchell. Juliana Chan and Zoe Gorra each had two goals for Sioux Falls, while Mitchell took five penalties — all in the third period — which stunted any chance for a comeback. Ramm had 35 saves against 41 shots in the game, while Sydney Fornwald had 14 saves in the shutout for the Flyers, who have already started 3-0 on the season.
Mitchell (0-1-1) skates out west this weekend, facing Rushmore in a weekend series at 3 p.m. Central on Dec. 2 and 11 a.m. on Dec. 3 in Rapid City.
