Apollo scorches Willmar

ST. CLOUD -- Dustin Christen netted a hat trick and St. Cloud Apollo scored twice on the powerplay to sink Willmar 6-2 in a Central Lakes Conference boys hockey game Tuesday.

Willmar (1-6, 4-8) outshot the Eagles 7-4 in the first period, but Joshua Althaus and Steve Theis found the back of the net for St. Cloud Apollo to give the home team a 2-0 lead.

Christen then tallied a goal 33 seconds into the second period to put Willmar in a 3-0 hole. Todd Gregg ended the scoring drought for the Cardinals with an even-strength goal midway through the period on a pass from Grant Schow.

But the Eagles (2-6, 3-10) scored 30 seconds later to snuff out any rally from Willmar. Rory Schneider added a powerplay goal in the third period for the Cardinals.

Willmar hosts Hutchinson on Thursday.

SC Apollo 6, Willmar 2

Willmar (1-6, 4-8) 0 1 1 -- 2

SC Apollo (2-6, 3-10) 2 2 2 -- 6

FIRST PERIOD - SCA: Joshua Althaus (Steve Theis), 5:03 ... SCA: Theis (Justin Haakenson), pp, 16:32

SECOND PERIOD - SCA: Dustin Christen (Brutger Mrozek), :33 ... Wil: Todd Gregg (Grant Schow), 7:11 ... SCA: John Feichtinger (Christen), 7:41

THIRD PERIOD - Wil: Rory Schneider (unassisted), pp, 2:26 ... SCA: Christen (unassisted) 8:12 ... SCA: Christen (Theis, Jordan Jaeger), pp, 8:49

GOALIE SAVES - Willmar: Keith Dahle 2-9-7-18 ... St. Cloud Apollo: Kevin McGuire 7-11-10-28