BENSON -- Morris/Benson Area scored five power-play goals, plus an empty-netter to skate past Willmar 8-5 in a non-conference boys hockey opener for both teams Thursday night.
"I'm in shock," said Willmar coach Reed Larson after the drubbing at the Benson Civic Center. "Give them credit, but we've either got to learn to take fewer penalties or play better shorthanded."
Tony Schultz scored four goals for MBA.
Willmar dominated play over the first seven minutes, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Swedish exchange student Joel Jonsson at 1:54. But Jonsson was whistled for interference in the eighth minute and that ignited the Storm's special teams in a battle of Section 4A teams.
It was the first of 12 penalties called on the visitors (MBA had three penalties). Josh Griffith, Carl Lindblad and David Holte scored power-play goals for a 3-1 lead and Schultz scored at even strength with 15 seconds left.
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Larson pulled starter Kevin Maxfield immediately for Jon Mattison, but the defense shared in the blame.
"We were standing around flat footed," said Larson. "We weren't moving our feet. We had to pressure the puck more."
Goals by Jordan Benson and Josh Aslesen in the seventh minute of the second period got Willmar back in the game.
After Schultz scored on a 5-on-3 for a 5-3 MBA lead, Josh Mead and Jordan Gauer scored on MBA goalie Ross Benjamin to tie it 5-5. But Schultz scored even strength with a minute left for a 6-5 lead and Benjamin stopped all 12 Willmar shots in the final frame to allow the Storm to win going away.
"Every time we got close, we'd take another penalty," said Larson. "You can't really blame the refs; they're trying to adapt to the new rules, too."
Officials have been instructed to call a tighter game this season, watching especially for clutching, grabbing and interference, which are seen as slowing the game.
Evident from last night, the Storm are more closely attuned to the new policy than is Willmar.
MBA lost eight seniors but returned its top three scorers from a year ago in Schultz, Andrews and Griffith.
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Morris/Benson Area 8, Willmar 5
Willmar (0-1) 1 4 0 -- 5
MBA (1-0) 4 2 2 -- 8
FIRST PERIOD - Wil: Joel Jonsson (Griffin Leitch) 1:54 ... MBA: Josh Griffith (Jay Andrews, David Holte) 7:49, pp 3-on-5 ... MBA:: Carl Lindblad (Holte) 8:05, pp ... MBA: Holte (C. Lindblad) 857 ... MBA: Tony Schultz (Josh Griffith, C. Lindblad) 16:45
SECOND PERIOD - Wil: Jordan Benson (unassisted) 6:33 ... Wil: Josh Aslesen (unassisted) 6:54 ... MBA: Schultz (C. Lindlbad Jay Andrews) 8:51, pp 5-on-3 ... Wil: Josh Mead (Adam Schow) 11:33 ... Wil: Jordan Gauer (Eric Bangen) 12:15 ... MBA: Schultz (Peter Lindblad) 1:00
THIRD PERIOD - MBA: David Holte (P. Lindblad) 15:26, pp ... MBA: Schultz (Andrews) 15:41, open net
Goalie saves - Willmar: Kevin Maxfield 5-*-*-5, Jon Mattison 0-10-11-21; ; Morris/Benson Area: Ross Benjamin 11-4-12-27
