Tartan Hockey Torched 6-1 by Totino-Grace

The boys hockey team knew it would have to play one of its most disciplined games of the season when it faced off against Totino-Grace on Thursday night.

The Eagles are currently ranked fourth among Minnesota's Class A high schools behind St. Thomas Academy, Blake and Hermantown.

“We have to play very disciplined hockey tonight,” Tartan co-head coach Steve Romanchuk said before the game. “We have to play our positions without mistakes. We have to be tight. If we play loose in our zone, it could be trouble.”

So it came as little surprise when early Titans penalties led to two powerplay goals for Totino-Grace within the first 10 minutes of the game. Junior Andrew McDonald and senior Dan Heck scored the goals for the Eagles.

The Eagles then proved they could score just as effortlessly at even-strength after goals from McDonald and TJ Roo gave Totino-Grace a 4-0 advantage by the end of the first period.

Ahead four goals at the beginning of the second period, Totino-Grace continued its assault on a Tartan team that looked befuddled by the offensive outburst.

And while Tartan struggled to get the puck out of its defensive zone for much of the period, Titans goaltender Evan Hauser played an exceptionally well, stopping several point blank shots.

But Totino-Grace wasted little time reinforcing its dominance in the third period. Forward Luke Mezzenga scored to give the Eagles a five goal advantage just three minutes into the period.

A shorthanded goal from Tartan's Joey Washenberger with six minutes left in the period looked like it might provide the offensive spark the Titans sought.

But a fluke wrist shot from Eagles' defenseman Derek Heid beat Hauser a minute later to once again give Totino-Grace a five goal advantage and a 6-1 victory. Totino-Grace outshot the Titans 42 to 23 in the game.

Eagles head coach Mark Loahr found little to criticize after his team's 6-1 victory. “I thought we could have scored one or two more tonight. I thought we played pretty well apart from a couple minutes here and there.”

Titans senior captain Jay Friberg was understandably frustrated with the performance, but still saw reason for encouragement.

“We played pretty badly tonight. We couldn't finish,” Friberg said after the game. “We have the talent and potential to knock off the top teams, we just gotta keep working hard.”

Tartan next plays St. Thomas Academy on Saturday, Feb. 12.