East Ridge boys hockey: Raptors fall to Bears 5-2 in penalty-laden game

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In a heated game marred with 23 penalties and a large third-period fracas, the East Ridge boys hockey team fell 5-2 to 11th-ranked White Bear Lake on Thursday, Dec. 16, at the new Vadnais Heights Sports Complex.

In the game, six of the seven goals were scored on the power play or short handed.

After East Ridge (3-3; 1-2 SEC) took a 1-0 lead into the locker rooms after the first period on a power play goal by senior captain Tim Wegleitner, White Bear Lake (4-1; 3-0 SEC) scored three second-period goals to take a 3-1 lead.

However, East Ridge senior Kelvin Walz scored a power play goal 32 seconds into the third period to cut the deficit to 3-2. But, that’s as close as the Raptors would get.

White Bear Lake all but put the game on ice with 8:34 remaining on a shorthanded goal to make it 4-2, then netted an empty-net short-handed goal with 1:46 to play to complete the scoring.

But, the game wasn’t over yet.

With 26 seconds left, a fight broke out sparked from a checking-from-behind penalty on White Bear Lake. In all, nine players were tagged with misconduct penalties in the fracas, including five Raptors players.

In addition to Wegleitner’s goal, Walz had a goal and an assist in the game and Alex Idso and Braedon Hyland had assists.

Next, East Ridge takes on intra-district rival Woobdury on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 12:30 p.m. at St. Croix Ice Arena. The Royals (3-4; 1-3 SEC) have won both of the two teams’ head-to-head games in history.

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