Austin was not looking past Winona to the Granite City Classic, but the Packers played like it for first period. Fortunately they came back with a vengeance in the second.

The Packer boys' hockey team scored eight goals in the second period and overcame an upstart Winona squad for a 10-3 Big Nine Conference rout Thursday night at Riverside Arena.

Seniors Eric Hansen and Willie Granholm each had two goals and an assist as the Packers upped their overall record to 3-2 with the lopsided win that for one period did not materialize. The Winhawks (1-6, 0-5) led 3-2 after the first period and had the confidence and momentum heading into the first intermission.

"We weren't really on top of our game," Granholm said of the first period. "We weren't playing our game. But we came out and played hard in the second period. It really helped getting that goal right away to start the period."

Granholm scored the equalizer just nine seconds into the second period, and seven more goals came for the Packers for the remainder of the period. Both teams were scoreless in a penalty-filled third period under the running clock.

"We knew that they were a good team and that they were going to come at us," said Winona coach Fran McDevitt. "They got that first goal right away in the second period and it just snowballed. From there we went back on our heels.

"They were just faster than we were. We just let them inside and we got caught watching the puck too much."

Thirteen different Packer players attributed points in the win. Two players -- John Bastyr and Mike Urlick -- scored their first varsity goals. Bastyr, before leaving the Austin bench with flu-like symptons, scored two goals.

"In the first period we were just too pretty to try and get the puck out of the defensive zone," said AHS coach Troy Holtz. "Between periods we realized we were down 3-2 and it was a reality check for us. Our goal is to come out and win the conference, and we need to come out and take care of these games.

"In the second period they proved what they could do."

Urlick scored his first career goal at the 7:03 mark of the second, and Bastyr added his second goal of the game just 15 seconds later.

"I thought all of the lines played good," Hansen said. "It was a well-rounded game."

Austin plays Dec. 26-28 at the Granite City Classic tournament in St. Cloud, where last year the Packers placed fourth.

Summary:

Winona300--3

Austin280--10

First Period--1, WIN, Dustin Grossell (Brian Zaborowski), 2:01. 2, AUS, Eric Hansen (Kevin Madson), 2:53. 3, AUS, John Bastyr (Paul Leathers, Pete Nelson), 4:04. 4, WIN, Patrick Mahoney (Zaborowski, Andy Biesanz), 9:17 (pp). 5, WIN, Adam Kowalczyk (Scott Meska, Hans Brabbit), 11:47. Penalties--Eric Kanz, WIN (slashing) 6:58; Quinn Ellingson, AUS (boarding) 6:58; Willie Granholm, AUS (hooking) 8:03.

Second Period--6, AUS, Granholm (Cole Hughes), :09. 7, AUS, Hansen, 3:26. 8, AUS, Mike Urlich (Hughes, Hansen), 7:03. 9, AUS, Bastyr (Andy Swank), 7:18. 10, AUS, Madson (Granholm, Adam Edge), 9:17. 11, AUS, Brad Wiechmann (Ellingson), 10:03. 12, AUS, Granholm, 12:50. 13, AUS, Williamson, 13:25 (sh). Penalties--Mark Meisel, WIN (roughing) 1:22; Granholm, AUS (roughing) 1:22; Zaborowski, WIN (holding) 9:20; Zach Konken, AUS (interference) 9:20; Williamson, AUS (hooking) 10:07; Nelson, AUS (hooking) 13:10.

Third Period--no scoring. Penalties--Madson, AUS (elbowing) 4:27; Billy Kendall, WIN (slashing) 6:58; Konken, AUS (roughing) 7:43; Jack Lynch, AUS (roughing, served by Ellingson) 8:10; Hansen, AUS (hooking) 10:03; Brabbit, WIN (holding) 10:03; Meska, WIN (holding, unsportsmanlike conduct major served by Drew Krings); Hughes, AUS (high sticking) 14:21; Williamson, AUS (roughing) :00.

Shots on goal--Winona 7-7-3--17; Austin 17-23-4--44.

Power-play Opportunities--Winona 1 of 7; Austin 0 of 2.

Goalies--Winona, Andy Nadeau (44 shots-34 saves); Austin, Jack Lynch 3-1-0 (17-14).