We already knew the Albert Lea High School boys’ hockey team had a strong work ethic.

Wednesday, January 09, 2002

We already knew the Albert Lea High School boys’ hockey team had a strong work ethic.

Now we know the Tigers have a never-say-die attitude.

Trailing 3-1 with 9:32 left in regulation, it looked like the Tigers were on their way to defeat at the hands of the arch-rival Austin Packers at the City Arena Tuesday night. Three unanswered goals turned it into a 4-3 overtime victory.

It was the third consecutive home win for the Tigers, following December triumphs over Rochester John Marshall and Rochester Mayo, and it improved Albert Lea’s record to 4-1 in the Big Nine and 6-4 overall.

&uot;I tell you what, these guys just never stop working and they never gave up tonight,&uot; said Tigers coach Roy Nystrom. &uot;You’ve really got to give the guys credit for doing what it takes to win the hockey game. It’s another huge win for us.&uot;

And it was another strong goaltending effort for the Tigers’ Matt Tubbs, who faced 27 shots the first two periods and 32 for the night.

Tubbs managed to keep it scoreless until 11:35 of the opening period, when the Packers’ Nick Bowe scored a power play goal on assists from Brandon Schaefer and Josh Hansen.

Paul Overocker put Austin up 2-0 at 9:48 of the second, scoring on assists from Andy Swank and Danny Swank.

The Tigers finally got on the board when Wade Westland scored on a Matt Bracker assist at 3:10 of the third period.

The Swank brothers hooked up for a goal at 5:28 of the third, with senior Danny setting up sophomore Andy to put Austin up 3-1.

The Tigers quickly answered, with Tony Dugstad netting a power play goal at 6:12 on assists from Egan Mattson and Josh Tubbs. A goal by Adam Boelter tied it at 7:33; Mattson assisted.

Westland scored the gamewinner just 16 seconds into overtime, assisted by Travis Miller.

The Tigers are at Winona Thursday.