Last week the Moose were able to add two wins to their record. One win came on Tuesday, Jan. 8, at home against the Prairie Center North Stars and the other on the road Saturday, Jan. 12, against the River Lakes Stars.
Moose 4, Prairie Center 0
The Moose were able to stop the North Stars offense with a strong defensive and offensive effort. During the first period the Moose were able to score twice.
At just over a minute into the first, Reese Carstens sent a centering pass from behind the net up to Colton Jones. Jones put the puck in the net for the 1-0 lead.
Some great puck work and passing led to a score of 2-0. The goal came from Spencer Nelson who scored glove side with four minutes left in the first after a pass from Neal Wagner and Mitch Gifford.
In the second period, the Moose doubled their lead. Just 20 seconds after a North Stars’ slashing penalty, Nelson got a pass from Tyler Mros which then Nelson put into the net, top-shelf. Three minutes after Nelson’s second goal, the goalie gave up a rebound that Mros stepped up to get a shot off of. That shot went into the net, and the goal was signaled with the ding of the pipe. Mros’ goal was assisted by Nelson and Drew Brockman.
The third period remained scoreless for the Moose and the North Stars. The scoreless third period allowed for goalie, Darien Jones, to end the game with a shutout.
Moose 4, River Lakes 3
Saturday the Moose traveled to Paynesville to take on the River Lakes Stars, which turned out to be another win. Offensively the Moose were able to connect again in order to win their second game of the week.
The first goal of the game came for the Moose at just under five minutes left in the first period. Neal Wagner came out of the corner and shot the puck into the back of the net for an unassisted goal. The Stars would answer the Moose’s goal with a goal at 48 seconds left.
In the second, the Moose’s Reese Carstens scored a goal off of a rebound with assistance from Colton Jones and Patrick Splinter. Four minutes later the Moose would score again. Despite being shorthanded, McRae Haney tossed the puck up over the defender right to Jones. Jones lost his balance and fell to his knees, but yet was able to get back up and score a shorthanded goal.
Four minutes later the Stars would beat the defender to skate the puck in and score making the score 3-2. With two minutes left, Wagner scored his second unassisted goal for the 4-2 lead. Going into the third, the Stars would try to close the gap, but were only able to get a goal at 11 seconds left. The Moose would take home another win and a monumental win for head coach Sheldon Weston.
Weston’s 300th win
Saturday evening’s win against the River Lakes Stars was the Moose’s head coach Sheldon Weston’s 300th career win. This season is Weston’s third season with the Monticello-Annandale-Maple Lake association. Prior to the Moose, Weston was the head coach for the Sauk Rapids high school team for 20 years. Weston is a native of the northern Minnesota hockey town, Roseau. He spent his college hockey career at St. Cloud State. This achievement is a noted accomplishment for Weston.
■ This week the Moose were scheduled to host Buffalo at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, at Moose Sheritt Arena. The Moose play Rogers at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17, at Monticello High School.