Austin alone atop Big Nine

Published 12:00 am Friday, January 17, 2003

The Big Nine Conference can no longer wonder whether or not the Austin boys' hockey team is for real.

The Packers pounded out a 6-2 victory over Rochester John Marshall Thursday night at Riverside Arena, sweeping the first half of the Big Nine schedule with a 9-0 league record and erasing any doubts about their legitimacy.

Brad Wiechmann scored a natural hat trick and Cole Hughes' two empty-net goals gave Austin a comfortable cushion during the closing minutes.

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"The guys played a great game," said AHS coach Troy Holtz. "They came out hard and they played well for all three periods.

"I think Brad had one of the strongest games I've ever seen him play."

AHS (11-3, 9-0) leads the Big Nine standings by eight points over its nearest competitors -- John Marshall and Century.

"The first time through we got them all," said senior defenseman Eric Hansen, who had three assists. "It makes our job a little bit harder though because people we be looking out for us now.

"We're in the driver's seat now. We just need to stick to our gameplan, it's been doing alright so far."

The Packers have won their last seven games, and nine of 10, to thrust themselves to the top of the heap. Austin plays seven of its final eight games on the road, starting with its only remaining non-conference contest Saturday at 3 p.m. at Worthington.

"We knew those guys were physical so we tried to play physical," Wiechmann said after his second hat trick of the season. "The first goal was lucky, I just went to the net and the puck came right to me."

Wiechmann scored the game's first goal 51 seconds in, putting back a rebound of a shot from Eric Hansen. Austin skated the remaining 14 minutes of the first period with a 1-0 lead, outshooting the Rockets 12-5.

The same Packer duo accounted for the second goal as Hansen hit Wiechmann with a breakout pass and the senior center sent the puck through the legs of JM goalie Josh Skinner. Wiechmann added his third goal -- his team-leading 17th tally -- less than two minutes later.

"We were taking a lot of shots, that's what (Coach Holtz) has been preaching," Wiechmann said. "Guys are starting to catch on."

Hansen's third assist of the game gave Austin a 4-1 lead when he made a perfect pass to Kevin Madson, who found the back of a wide-open net for his sixth goal of the season.

"They're hungry in the offensive zone and they take advantage of your mistakes," JM coach Aaron Neurer said.

Hughes tacked on a pair of empty-net goals as John Marshall attempted to pressure the Packers into cracking during the final period. Austin committed all four of its penalties in the last frame and sustained one- and two-man advantages with the Rockets in all-out attack mode.

Packer freshman netminder Jack Lynch got his sixth win in as many Big Nine games, raising his overall record to 6-1 with 27 saves on 29 shots. John Marshall hit three posts in the third period but the puck never bounced Rochester's way.

"We're playing well enough to compete, but not enough to win in this conference right now," Neurer said. "We got some energy going in the third period but it's disappointing that it takes that to get our guys to play 100 percent."

John Marshall (10-7, 6-3) pulled its goalie intermittently during the final 3:35 of play, sending an extra attacker at the Packer defense. Austin stood its ground and stayed undefeated in league play.

"Everytime they got the puck we had a body on them right away," Hansen said. "They did have some speed though.

"I don't think Jack was seeing the puck all too well tonight, but he made some big saves. We got what we asked for."

Because of an illness, Lynch gave way to fellow freshman Alex Petersen for the last three games. Petersen abliged with three Big Nine victories, and Lynch came back with a big win.

"Hopefully with this one we just keep building on it and just keep going," Wiechmann said. "This is huge."

Summary:

John Marshall002--2

Austin123--6

First Period--1, AUS, Brad Wiechmann 15 (Eric Hansen), :51. Penalties--JM (too many men on ice, served by Jeff Kothenbeutel) 13:18.

Second Period--2, AUS, Wiechmann 16 (Hansen), 6:36. 3, AUS, Wiechmann 17 (Dallas Williamson, Quinn Ellingson), 8:10. Penalties--Luke Romocki, JM (tripping) 9:49.

Third Period--4, JM, Jake Bosben (Kris Langlie, Kothenbeutel), 6:58. 5, AUS, Kevin Madson 6 (Hansen, Cole Hughes), 9:07. 6, AUS, Hughes 7, 12:08 (empty net). 7, JM, Jared Skovbroten (Paul Girard), 13:43 (pp). 8, AUS, Hughes 8, 14:45 (empty net). Penalties--AUS, Bryan Schaefer (cross-checking) 4:55; Jake Hovick, JM (roughing) 11:41; Hansen, AUS (roughing) 11:41; Andy Swank, AUS (roughing) 12:26; Hansen, AUS (cross-checking) 14:52.

Shots on goal--JM 5-7-17--29; Austin 12-21-12--45.

Power-play Opportunities--JM 1 of 4; Austin 0 of 2.

Goalies--JM, Josh Skinner (45 shots-39 saves); AUS, Jack Lynch 6-1-0 (29-27).