After renewing budding rivalry, Trojans head to break
After rebounding from a tough loss, New Prague High School’s boys’ ice hockey team is playing well and rolling. It might not be a time to rest for the holiday break.
But New Prague coach Brad Drazan said the team will work on some of the nagging little things that still need to be cleaned up heading into the meaty part of the schedule where the Trojans will face Metro West teams. He’s planning practices over the break, workouts that include a 3-against-3 tournament.
But first, the Trojans renewed a rivalry with Northfield, a team that ended their season last year in the section championship game in Rochester. Players on the teams know each other. The teams also compete hard against each other in baseball and on the gridiron, Drazan said.
“We’ve got a nice rivalry going with them,” Drazan said.
Thursday, Dec. 21, 7:15 p.m., the Trojans will host Rochester Lourdes. They won’t play again until Jan. 4 at Chaska. Drazan said the conference features some of the better Class AA teams in the state, notably Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Chanhassen, Orono and Chaska.
Trojans 5, Rochester Mayo 2
New Prague won an important game Saturday, Dec. 16, over a team the Trojans could likely face in the section playoffs later this season.
New Prague controlled the contest, outshooting the Spartans in each of the three periods, and the game, 33-18. The Trojans built a 4-0 lead with two power play goals before Rochester Mayo scored twice. NPHS finished off the scoring with an empty-netter with 22 seconds remaining.
Connor Williams scored New Prague’s opening goal with assists from Michael Beckius and Will Seymour at 7:28 of the opening period.
Seymour gave the Trojans a 2-0 lead with a goal at 14:39 of the second period. Eight seconds into a power play, Williams’ second goal gave his team a 3-0 lead. Braeden Woitas and Eric Berg assisted on the goal.
New Prague upped the lead to 4-0 when Berg scored at 9:05 of the third period. Sean Christenson set up the goal. After Mayo scored twice, at 11:08 and 12:08, Beckius found the back of an open net to ice the win.
NP goalie Cole Murphy stopped 16 of 18 shots in the win.
Hastings 4, Trojans 2
New Prague battled from a 2-0 deficit to tie the score in the third period only to see the Raiders close them out with the Dec. 12 game’s final two goals at Hastings Civic Arena.
Trailing 2-0 after two periods, Will Seymour tied the score with a pair of goals. He scored 26 seconds into the period on assists from Connor Williams and Michael Beckius, and again at 1:16 of the period. Seymour’s goal came on the power play off assists from Braeden Woitas and Eric Berg.
But the Raiders stormed back, scoring the game-winning goal at 14:36 and an insurance goal on the power play with 27 seconds left in the contest.
Hastings took six penalties in the contest, twice as many of the Trojans. Both teams scored a power play goal. The Trojans outshot Hastings, 43-30.