ROCHESTER – The second rematch of the Albert Lea Blades and Rochester Fossils went a lot like the first.

Tuesday, January 22, 2002

ROCHESTER – The second rematch of the Albert Lea Blades and Rochester Fossils went a lot like the first.

It was pretty much all Albert Lea.

The Blades, whose only loss was to the Fossils in a preseason tournament, avenged it again Saturday with a 7-1 decision at Rochester. Albert Lea improved to 9-0 in the Upper Midwest Hockey League and 13-1 overall. Second-place Rochester fell to 6-3 in league play.

&uot;It was real nice to beat them again and avenge our only loss for a second time,&uot; said Blades general manager Jason Fornwald. &uot;We’re looking forward to facing them again in the playoff tournament at Waterloo.&uot;

The Blades have outscored the Fossils 12-3 since losing 3-2 in the preseason tournament.

It was close for a while Saturday, with Albert Lea leading 1-0 at the end of the first period and 4-0 after two.

&uot;In the third period we just had a little bit more energy than them,&uot; said Fornwald.

Scott Heilman, Mike Miller and Mike Carlson – the only three defensemen who suited up for the Blades – played an excellent game, according to Fornwald.

Mike Nelson had a hat trick to lead the offense. Travis Brua scored two goals, Chad Hacker and Steve Nelson one each. Nelson, the only Albert Lean to play Division I hockey, is not a Blades regular but is on their list of substitutes.

The Blades are scheduled to host the Cedar Rapids Northlanders in a weekend series at the City Arena at 7:45 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.