Fergus icemen hand WDC 10-5 setback

Wolverines Vs. Otters — Photo by Brian Hansel Wadena-Deer Creek's Bridger Pettit (11) and Mitchell Swanson (6) draw a crowd of Otters Tuesday night as they attack the net defended by Fergus Falls goalie Jordan Salwei (1).

By Brian Hansel

January 08, 2012 at 1:59 PM

Jake Ahlgren's five-point night sparked Fergus Falls in a 10-5 victory over Wadena-Deer Creek Tuesday night at the Fergus Falls Community Arena.

The two clubs exchanged goals in the first period with Ahlgren, Bill Rodning and Devin Johnson icing goals for the Otters and Mitchell Swanson and Bridger Pettit scoring for the Wolverines.

The Otters pulled away by scoring the first three goals of the second period. Ahlgren and Peter Gaustad had even-strength goals up by the time Sam Rausch rammed home a power play shot at the 4:55 mark.

Swanson stopped Fergus' scoring barrage at the 5:58 mark with a power play shot assisted by Pettit and Christian Berg.

Johnson and Aiden Colling kept Fergus on top with goals at 7:01 and 10:12 but back-to-back goals by Pettit kept the Wolerines in the game by cutting Fergus' lead to three, 8-5.

The Wolverines tired in the third period as the Otters out-shot them 10-4. Goals by Rausch and Joe Nathe capped the scoring.

Pettit scored a hat trick for the Wolverines and added one assist. Swanson had two goals and two assists.

The Wolverines were 3-for-6 on the power play while the Otters went 2-for-5. The Otters out-shot the Wolverines 37-20.

Cory McManigle and Wesley Janson saw duty in the nets for the Wolverines. McManigle saved 17 of 22 shots while Janson stopped 10 of 15.

Berg, a junior forward for the Wolverines, suffered a neck injury in the second period when he was checked from behind by Fergus Falls' Adam Evenson. The Fergus Falls sophomore defenseman was hit was a five-minute major penalty and a 10-minute game misconduct penalty.

The Wolverines were playing their first hockey game since Dec. 20 when they hosted Northern Lakes. Their record fell to 0-8. The Otters, who hosted a round robin tournament over the Christmas break, improved to 5-6.

Fergus Falls 10, WDC 5

WDC 2 3 0 - 5

FF 3 5 2 - 10

First Period

FF: Jake Ahlgren (Casey Ward) 4:32

WDC: Mitchell Swanson (unassisted) 8:02

FF: Bill Rodning (Colton Buseth, Aidan Colling) 8:22

WDC: Bridger Pettit (unassisted) 10:12 PP

FF: Devin Johnson (Ward, Ahlgren) 15:29

Second Period

FF: Ahlgren (Ward, Joe Nathe) 1:12

FF: Peter Gaustad (Johnson, Ahlgren) 1:46