Being short-handed is never good, but the kids on B2 Gold made it look easy. With 3 of their second-year players at Wolf Ridge ELC and another out ill, B2 Gold took the ice against Chaska/Chan Purple with only nine skaters. Talking to a few kids ahead of the game, they knew they were going to be tired, but all seemed up to the challenge.

Prior Lake came out swinging with Tyson Wollenberg finding the back of the net just 36 seconds into the 1st period. A little less than 5 minutes later Blake Chapman buried a nice pass from Carson Barbera to make it 2-0. However, starting the second period you could tell the boys were a little gassed and Chaska/Chan pounced, scoring back-to-back goals to even the score at 2-2 with just over 6 minutes to play in the 2nd.

Goalie Coach Dan Buettner an outspoken motivational speaker stated after the game, “seeing the game tied was all these kids needed to re-energize. We (coaches) didn’t need to say much, these kids did not want to lose.” A sloppy shift change on the part of Chaska/Chan and the ensuing bench minor for too many players on the ice gave Prior Lake the opportunity they needed. Fifteen seconds into the power play, Blake Chapman (assist from Cayden Campbell) scored his second goal of the game. From that point on, Prior Lake never really took their foot off the gas. Luke Westrum, back for his first game following a nasty bout with a winter bug, closed the 2nd period scoring on a pass from Dylan Wicke making it 4-2.

The 3rd period was all Prior Lake. If the kids were tired, you could not tell by the way they skated. Tyler Sporney and Carson Barbera each added 2 goals in the 3rd to make it 8-2 and keep B2 Gold undefeated. Prior Lake finished with 21 shots on goal. Goalie Ben “The Suitcase” Buettner sent Chaska/Chan packing with an .818 (9/11) save percentage for the game; elevating his season save percentage to .825 (66/80). Following the game, cupcakes were served for Dylan Wicke’s birthday and the kids were back to their regular goofy 10 & 11-year-old selves.

Wollenberg, Westrum and Beuttner, the three bench coaches for the game all agreed that while early in the season with some tough games to play, the team sure does have chemistry; and win or lose, that what makes a team a team!

B2 Gold has a scrimmage against Rosemount on Sunday before heading to Cloquet the following weekend.