Boys hockey: 2nd period dooms Irish

• Image

A Rosemount hockey player struggles for the puck.

Talk about it

The first three weeks of the season might prove just how significant the changes in attitude really are for the Rosemount boys hockey team.

The schedule certainly doesn’t help matters.

The Irish won their season opener, 3-1, almost two weeks ago at home against Rochester Century. Rosemount then knew a familiar scene was ahead.

In the second game of the season, the Irish were slated to play No. 6 ranked Apple Valley and had its first road game of the season two days later at Bloomington Kennedy.

Rosemount lost 7-0 to the Eagles before the Saturday contest was postponed due to the weather.

Yet, there were lessons to be learned in a loss to a quality team such as Apple Valley and Irish coach Scott Macho was upbeat a few days later.

“We thought it was a positive thing,” Macho said. “We walked away knowing if the guys run our systems and continue to work hard, like we did in the first period, then we can definitely keep up with a lot of teams. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. They are doing the same thing to a lot of teams. We have to put together three very good periods. If we can do that, we’ll be happy.”

Macho and the Irish feel encouraged by a strong start against Apple Valley. Rosemount (1-1) held the high-powered Eagles scoreless in the first, but were undone by a five-goal second period for the Eagles.

“I think our kids were very excited to play and we had just a fantastic first period against one of the best teams in the state of Minnesota,” Macho said. “We couldn’t have been more pleased with how our guys were playing within our system.

“We came back in the second period and they happened to pop in a shorthanded goal and it got them excited a little bit.”

Apple Valley also scored two power play goals.

Macho thought the Irish responded better in the third period.

“One bad period,” Macho said.

Rosemount’s Hank Fairchild made 39 saves in goal as the Irish were outshot 46-15.

It doesn’t get much easier for Rosemount.

The Irish have a three-game week, which started with Tartan on Tuesday. The game against Bloomington Kennedy was rescheduled for yesterday. Results for both games were not available at press time. Go to www.rosemounttownpages.com to see how Rosemount fared.

“This will be a tough week for us,” Macho said.

Tags: boys hockey, sports, rosemount, prep, irish