Flanders gives Packers a boost in third straight win
Published 9:47 pm Thursday, February 6, 2025
Austin’s Alex Whipple advances the puck. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Grady Carney collides with Faribault’s Dustin Boyd in Riverside Arena Thursday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Kyler Flanders skates past Faribault’s Nick Archamboult in Riverside Arena Thursday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Landon Hill skates past Faribault’s Riley Slinger in Riverside Arena Thursday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Kade Overocker puts a hit on Faribault’s RJ Wasilowski in Riverside Arena Thursday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Cody Pederson clears the puck for the Packers. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Eli Krueger battles for position with Faribault’s RJ Wasilowski. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin goalie Tait Johnson eyes a slap shot against the Falcons. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
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With each game, the Packer boys hockey team has come together even closer and Austin didn’t back down as it won its third straight game when it beat Faribault 5-1 in Riverside Arena Thursday.
The Falcons (5-14-1 overall) briefly tied the game at 1-1 when Nick Archamboult scored early in the second period, but junior defenseman Kyler Flanders responded with a slap shot goal just 20 seconds later, and he added his second goal of the night when he converted another shot to make it 3-1 in the third.
“(My slap shot) is probably what I’ve worked on the most,” said Flanders, who assisted on Austin’s first goal on a shot just inside the blue line. “I’ve worked on that shot a lot and I have a high confidence in it.”
As Austin’s offense was rolling, the defense locked down. The Packers fired off 41 shots and freshman goalie Tait Johnson had to make just 19 saves to get the win.
Austin senior defenseman Cody Pederson said the team’s depth and attitude have made a huge difference this season and that showed when Austin immediately bounced back after letting Faribault tie the game.
“If someone makes a mistake, someone always steps up and has their back. We don’t yell at each other and we don’t complain. We just take it to the next play and do the best we can,” Pederson said. “In the past, we didn’t have as much depth as we do this year. But now we have so many players that can skate, shoot the puck, and do anything that we want.”
The Packers (13-7-1 overall) have now beaten Faribault three times this season. Flanders credited the coaching staff for coming up with an effective gameplan.
“We had a gameplan. We know who they’re top guys are and we matched their energy,” Flanders said. “Our coaches do a great job of watching the other team and seeing who their top guys are.”
Maxx Joseph, Leighton Ruhter-Wencl and Cooper Jacobsen each scored one goal.
Austin beat Faribault by scores of 5-3 and 3-1 in the first two meetings of the season.
SCORING SUMMARY
Faribault 0 1 0 – 1
Austin 1 3 1 – 5
First period
(A) Maxx Joseph (Cooper Jacobsen, Kyler Flanders) 6:19
Second period
(F) Nick Archamboult (Cole Goodwin) 1:20
(A) Flanders 1:40
(A) Flanders (Kade Overocker, Elijah Krueger) 15:01
(A) Jacobsen 15:19
Third period
(A) Leighton Ruhter-Wencl (Trent Rubin) 5:11
