Boys Hockey: Tigers get a tie for Christmas

Tyler Jette scored first varsity goal (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Farmington led most of the night but then had to battle back late in the third period to leave New Prague Thursday night with a 4-4 overtime tie against the defending Missota Conference champion Trojans.

Missed chances and too many penalties plagued the visitors who gave up three power play goals while managing a robust 33 shots on goal, one fewer than New Prague.

"It was a bit frustrating as we seemed to be in reach of putting the game away a couple of different times," Tiger coach Keith Revels said." New Prague has a 12-senior line-up that won the Missota last year so a comeback tie is something we can live with."

The Tigers accounted for the only first period score on a goal by Justin Novak (from John Siebenaler and Tyler Jette) and then made it 2-0 early in the second on Jette's first career goal (from Novak and Siebenaler).

That's about the time the Tigers started wearing a path to the penalty box.

The Trojans scored two power play goals in the second frame although Farmington still took a 3-2 lead into the third thanks to goal by Benton Olson (from Tanner Grubb).

Farmington, which picked up three two-minute minors in the second period, was whistled for two more in the third, leading to another power play score.

"No comment on the officiating," Revels said.

John Siebenaler had two assists vs. New Prague (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The Trojans led 4-3 with the clock ticking when Jack Erickson (from Grubb and Devin Bernu) netted his second goal of the season with 4:45 left in regulation to force overtime.

The Tigers outshot the Trojans 5-3 in the extra session but neither team could find the net.

"We had a penalty shot on which their goalie made a nice save and throughout the game we had some near misses that we just couldn't get to go," Revels said.

Gage Overby had a solid night in the Farmington goal, stopping 29 of 33 shots, including a significant number while playing a man short.

Farmington, 5-3-1 overall and 1-0-1 in the conference, is idle until after Christmas when they play in a holiday tournament at Simley December 26-28. Other teams in the round-robin tourney include Cambridge-Isanti, Simley and Albert Lea.

" I think we have a bit more game than we showed at New Prague," Revels said, "and we look forward to the rematch at home which could be pretty meaningful game standings-wise.

"For now we need to take care of what we have control over and hopefully have a strong showing in our first holiday tourney in a number of years."