Boys hockey: Willmar topples Alexandria

WILLMAR — A healthier team the second time around propelled Willmar past a reeling Alexandria squad 3-2 Thursday in a Central Lakes Conference game.
Alexandria, losers of five straight, beat a banged-up Willmar team 12-0 on Dec. 13 in Alexandria.
Willmar (2-7-1, 11-8-1) struck first last night when Evan VanDenEinde netted a goal assisted by Hunter Schneider six minutes into the game.
Alexandria answered 2½ minutes later, but after both teams skated a scoreless second period, Willmar collected two goals early in the third, Schneider unassisted and VanDenEinde again from another Schneider pass.
“It was a good team effort and big win for us,” said Willmar coach Dan Tollefson. “It was a section and conference win and we needed it. Everyone played well and got good goaltender and shot well.
“We’ve got the weekend off and hopefully we can get healthy because we’ve got a tough Brainerd team (at home) on Tuesday.”
Joe Benson made 22 saves against an Alexandria team that has been outscored 15-5 in its current five-game losing streak.
Willmar 3, Alexandria 2
Alexandria (6-4-1, 8-10-1) 1 0 1 — 2
Willmar (2-7-1, 11-8-1) 1 0 2 — 3
FIRST PERIOD – Wil: Evan VanDenEinde (Hunter Schneider) 6:01 … Alex: Jack Wensman (Tom Schmidt) 8:30
SECOND PERIOD – no scoring
THIRD PERIOD – Wil: Schneider (unassisted) 2:01 … Wil: VanDenEinde (Schnieder) 6:24 … Alex: Wensman (Schmidt) 14:39, pp
GOALIE SAVES – Alexandria: Ben Allen 7-7-13-27 … Willmar: Joe Benson 8-6-8-22