The penalties came quickly and in a flurry for the Albert Lea Thunder — 16 total — Sunday in a 7-2 loss to Alexandria at City Arena.

The Blizzard (21-18-4) scored six power-play goals and added a shorthanded goal in a rout where Albert Lea (11-28-5) totaled 55 minutes in penalties.

Alexandria scored twice on 5-on-3 power plays and Steve Zierke tallied six points with two goals and four assists. Chris Franks scored twice and finished with five points and Nardo Nagtzaam had four points for the Blizzard.

“That was the worst officiated hockey game I’ve ever witnessed in my entire life,” said Thunder head coach Chuck Linkenheld.

Linkenheld said he planned to speak to the league about the officiating, especially after Saturday’s game where Albert Lea took eight penalties compared to four for Owatonna.

“I asked the referee whatever the memo was because I didn’t get it,” said Linkenheld, who intimated he believes the referees have a grudge against the Thunder. “The whole game was a power-play.”

Alexandria scored four times in the first period and took a 5-0 lead into the third period.

Brian Nehring temporarily made it a 5-1 game in the third and Sheldon Taylor scored his first goal with Albert Lea at the end of the game.

“It was one of those games you could throw it away and start over,” Linkenheld said.

The Blizzard outshot the Thunder 41-29 and Albert Lea remained four points behind North Iowa.

Alexandria 7, Albert Lea 2

Alexandria 4 1 2 — 7

Albert Lea 0 0 2 — 2

First Period—1, Alexandria, Steve Zierke 13 (Mike Krieg, Kyle Clay), 4:16 (pp.). 2, Alexandria, Zierke 14 (Zach Fulton), 12:28 (sh.). 3, Alexandria, Nardo Nagtzaam 16 (Clay, Zierke), 17:46 (pp.). 4, Alexandria, Chris Franks 6 (Zierke, Clay), 17:58 (pp.). Penalties—Brandon Lubin, Alb (tripping), 2:40; Alex Niestrom, Alb (hooking), 3:30; Fulton, Alx (slashing), 6:14; Franks, Alx (roughing), 11:25; Zach May, Alb (roughing), 15:27; Harry Quast, Alb (cross checking), 17:03; Zack Smoot, Alb (hooking), 17:46; Derek Docken, Alb (slashing), 19:58.

Second Period—5, Alexandria, Franks 7 (Zierke, Nagtzaam), 9:04 (pp.). Penalties—Billy Miller, Alx (roughing), 4:03; Smoot, Alb (roughing), 8:10; Quast, Alb (cross checking), 8:16; Anthony Iaquinto, Alb (roughing), 13:44.

Third Period—6, Albert Lea, Brian Nehring 7 (Alex Niestrom, Niko Kapetanovic), 3:16. 7, Alexandria, Clay 16 (Kreig, Nagtzaam), 4:22 (pp.). 8, Alexandria, Nagtzaam 17 (Clay, Zierke), 9:40 (pp.). 9, Albert Lea, Sheldon Taylor 1 (Colton Warner), 20:00 (pp.). Penalties—Niestrom, Alb (tripping), 1:06; Dmetri Culkar, Alb, major (fighting), 4:06; Culkar, Alb (roughing), 4:06; Culkar, Alb (fighting-instigator), 4:06; Culkar, Alb game misconduct (fighting), 4:06; Patrick Kinkopf, Alb (roughing), 11:26; Brett Wall, Alx (hooking), 12:45; Iaquinto, Alb (checking from behind), 18:07; Iaquinto, Alb game-ejection (fighting), 18:07.

Shots on Goal—Alexandria 18-1-22—41. Albert Lea 10-13-6—29.

Power-play opportunities—Alexandria 6 of 16; Albert Lea 1 of 4.

Goalies—Alexandria, Chris Kamal 15-10-2 (29 shots-27 saves). Albert Lea, Joe Rogers 8-15-2 (41-34).

A—320. T—2:10

Referee—Christopher Pitoscia. Linesmen—Ken Anderson, Justin Brown.